SURAJ NANDREKAR
suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Navy’s total control over Dabolim airport has been a major reason why the State government decided to opt for a second airport at Mopa but there seems to be no escape from this control as the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, appears to be desirous of wresting control even at Mopa.
Documents accessed by Herald under RTI reveal that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has put stringent conditions, and if these are adhered to, Goa will have very little or no control on the new upcoming airport too.
Ashish Sharma, Under Secretary – MoD, in a letter dated October 23, 2015 asked for space for a naval enclave besides exclusive flying hours at the Greenfield Mopa airport. The fact that the Navy will wrest control is proved by the Defence wanting the Dabolim ATC, which is under the Navy, to handle the traffic at Mopa.
“In order to effect safe and concurrent operations, both military and civil at the two airfields, the approach control should be handled by the Dabolim ATC. Any new ATS procedures to be designed are to be done in consultation with the Indian Navy,” says the letter.
It seeks a time slot of at least one hour to be made available for military flying in Mopa control zone, which forms part of sector North of Dabolim Local Flying Area.
“Provision of a Naval Air Enclave to cater for Naval aircraft operations from Mopa airfield is to be catered for. The area should be sufficient to construct an apron, hangar and admin/technical building capable of handling at least 02 LRMR (Boeing 737-800 equivalent) aircraft at a time,” the letter states.
The Ministry letter further states that facilities of the proposed airport at Mopa are to be extended for military rescue and diversionary operations free of cost.
“Operations from proposed airport should at no stage interfere with any military maritime/air operations, particularly those undertaken to combat piracy or control security operations planned from INS Hansa. Launch of military operational missions would take priority over normal operation,” it says adding, “A hotline to be established by applicant between the ATCs of the new airfield and INS Hansa for instantaneous coordination on all times.”
No reply to CM, CS letter
Following the MoD letter on October 23, 2015 with stringent clauses, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Chief Secretary RK Srivastava replied to the Union Ministry to drop two clauses but the MoD has still not given its nod.
In a letter to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar dated Nov 23, 2015 Parsekar said that Mopa has been proposed and designed to be a 24x7x365 days civilian airport.
“The international airport is a long time need of the State not only to accommodate the present air congestion due to restricted flying hours at Dabolim but also to provide for projected increase in air traffic growth to and from Goa,” he said.
Further, he says, “Dabolim is fully under the control of Navy for military flying and operations. In fact after the new international airport at Mopa commences operations, more time slots and capacity would be available at Dabolim airport for use of Defence forces.”
“Therefore,” he says, “the condition of time slot of one hour during the day to be made available for military flying in Mopa control zone appears to be unnecessary and would adversely impact Mopa airport, which is meant exclusively for civilian commercial and technical operation in order to maximise economic benefits to the State.”
However, Parsekar has said that in case of emergency concerning national security or calamity or act of war, Defence forces will have the right to operate from Mopa airport without making any payment to the concessionaire.
Chief Secretary RK Srivastava, in a letter dated January 11, 2016 also expressed similar sentiments asking the MoD to drop the clauses of exclusive flying hours and Naval enclave.
State government optimistic
Even though the MoD is yet to act on the State government’s request to drop two conditions placed by the Defence Ministry in approval for Mopa, the administration is optimistic on the issue.
“A meeting was held with the MoD officials wherein the issue was discussed and we are hopeful to get the approvals in few days,” said Suresh Shanbhogue Director of Civil Aviation, Govt of Goa.
He said there is no reason to panic as the issue has been discussed threadbare.
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Parsekar’s reply to Parrikar
“The condition of time slot of one hour during the day for military flying in Mopa control zone appears to be unnecessary and would adversely impact Mopa airport, which is meant exclusively for civilian commercial and technical operation in order to maximise economic benefits to the State.”
