Calls upon people to join battle for survival
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Goans for Dabolim Airport Only’s campaign against the proposed Mopa airport got underway in Salcete on Sunday, with convenor Fr Eremito Rebello giving a call to Goans to join the battle for the survival of the State and its population.
Terming Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement that late Matanhy Saldanha had supported the Mopa airport as a big lie, Fr Rebello dared Parrikar, ministers and MLAs to join a public debate on the economic feasibility of two airports.
At meetings addressed in Nuvem and Curtorim on Sunday, Fr Eremito said the Chief Minister is not speaking the truth that Dabolim will be saturated by 2017.
“After the commissioning of the new airport terminal, there should be no problem at Dabolim airport till 2025. Dabolim can serve the interest of Goans forever if additional land is acquired for the airport expansion”, he thundered at a meeting at Nuvem.
Come down heavily on politicians supporting the two-airport theory, Fr Rebello said that Navy would take over the Dabolim Airport once Mopa becomes a reality.
“Dabolim Airport belongs to Goans and not the Navy. Successive governments have taken Goans for a ride. If people come out in support of the movement, we will win. This is a fight for the survival of Goa”, he said, while making an impassioned plea to Goans to attend the May 15 Lohia Maidan rally in large numbers and show the government their opposition to Mopa airport.
In his address, Rajendra Kakodkar said that Dabolim Airport is equidistant for the people of both North and South Goa and should continue to be Goa’s lone airport. ‘People from Loliem and Sanguem will have to travel 120 kms to Mopa. The situation will be the same for many areas of North Goa given the location of Mopa near the border”, he said.
