Wants Mopa project scrapped, acquired land returned to owners
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Threatening to intensify the ongoing agitation if the government fails to scrap the Mopa airport, the Goans for Dabolim Only Wednesday called for an immediate stop to land acquisition and all other proceedings relating to the Mopa airport, sending warning signals to the government to either scrap the proposed airport or face the wrath of Goans.
The organisation further demanded the immediate return of the acquired land to its rightful owners and exhorted the Manohar Parrrikar-led government to listen to reason and declare Dabolim as the only civilian airport for Goa.
At an impressive largely attended public meeting at the historic Lohia Maidan Wednesday evening, the organisation adopted a host of resolutions accusing the government for executing Mopa project with zero transparency without taking the people into confidence. “Mopa airport will destroy tourism in the entire State, breaking the backbone of the Goan economy. This impact on ordinary Goans whether tourism dependent or others, will be beyond imagination,” the resolution stated.
“Dabolim airport as it exists, can comfortably meet Goa’s civil aviation needs until the year 2030. Vacant land available within the airport complex will suffice for all expansions in the foreseeable future. In addition, the golf course, football grounds and residences within the Dabolim airport complex can be easily relocated elsewhere so as to provide even more vacant land that could be used to carry out expansion of the airport facilities like a cargo terminal and other engines of economic growth. Dabolim is the ideal location for Goa’s airport due to its central position within Goa, and proximity to the seaport at Mormugao. Any attempt to shift the airport will be disastrous for Goa’s economy and identity,” the resolution further stated.
Asserting that Mopa airport is a huge development project which will change the economy and identity of Goa irreversibly, the Forum charged the Goa government for proceeding with undue haste in acquiring lands and floating tenders, without studying the impact on Goan environment, economy and society.
In his spirited address, Goans for Dabolim Only convenor, Fr Eremito Rebello warned the Parrikar government to scrap Mopa or face a sustained battle. “I will not fear anyone nor will I succumb to any pressure. I am ready to fight for truth and justice. This is the battle for the very survival of Goa and Goan identity. The government is not speaking the truth. There is no iota of truth when the government says that both Dabolim and Mopa would co-exist”, Fr Eremito thundered.
While Fr Eremito took on the government, terming as “lies” and “falsehood” government’s stand that Dabolim would co-exist with Mopa, he did not spare former chief ministers, Luizinho Faleiro and Francisco Sardinha, reading letters written by them to the Centre on the Mopa airport.
BJP spokesperson Damu Naik came in for severe criticism from Fr Eremito for his statement directed to Goans for Dabolim Only, while rejecting his offer to discuss the issue across the table. “We are not prepared to sit across the table. We want a public debate with the government”, he said. Nor did he spare former chief ministers, Pratapsing Rane and Ravi Naik for handing over the Anjadeev Islands to the Navy without taking Goans into confidence.
In his address, activist Serafino Cota said that Mopa would cripple the Goan economy and called upon ministers Alina Saldanha and Avertano Furtado to take up the airport issue with the government. “Tourism gives the state Rs 1850 crore revenue through luxury tax and VAT, of which 68 per cent of this revenue comes from South Goa because of starred hotels. If Mopa becomes a reality, Goans would loose this revenue”, he added.
President of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Avaz Agnelo Rodrigues warned that people of Goa would teach the political class a befitting lesson in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls if Mopa is not scrapped by then. He thundered that late Matanhy Saldanha was opposed to Mopa airport and was only pursuing the demand to make Dabolim as Goa’s only international airport.
Terming Mopa as a land scam, Rajendra Kakodkar pointed out that Dabolim can cater to Goa’s requirements for the next many years if additional land admeasuring three lakh sq mts is released for airport expansion. He questioned the government haste in proceeding with Mopa before the Lok Sabha polls.
The meeting was also addressed by anti-Mopa activists Sandeep Kambli, Jeorge Fernandes, Swati Kerkar, Cruz Cardozo, Sidharth Karapurkar and Dr Marconi Correia.
