Team Herald
MARGAO: Goans For Dabolim Only (GFDO) Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello said they are not going to back down on their promise and will challenge the government on Mopa airport in court. He challenged Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to publish the Environment Clearance (EC) granted and raised doubts with respect to the veracity of the statement.
Stating they will announce their future course of action along with a detailed reply on recent developments on Thursday, Fr Eremito questioned on what basis Parsekar made the announcement regarding the EC.
Fr Eremito pointed out that the expert appraisal committee had only recently held a meeting regarding the objections. Stating that the committee was an advisory body to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) whose job is to make recommendations, Fr Eremito asked how the chief minister concluded that the EC has been granted.
“Let the chief minister publish this official document if he has received it,” said Fr Eremito.
Meanwhile, Goans for Goa (GFG), who are also fighting the Mopa airport development, condemned Parsekar’s statement that the long-pending issue of Mopa is finally settled.
“Since GFDO is at the forefront of the battle regarding Mopa, we will lend our unconditional support to whatever decision they take on the matter,” GFG president Kennedy Afonso said, adding that the GFG executive committee will convene shortly to chalk out the way forward on Mopa.
GFG said they would like to remind the CM, that the people are opposing Mopa for several reasons, including environmental reasons, which will have a direct adverse and socio-economic impact on people’s lives. GFG reiterated that until and unless the people give Mopa the final approval, nothing can be settled, and this is the beginning of a long battle.
The EC approval, GFG said, will force the people to confront the issue, take the fight to a higher level and warned the government not to make undue haste.
GFG warned the government not to fool around with the sentiments of the people, as the fight to
retain Dabolim strikes an emotional chord with
the people, and the
people will not hesitate to take to the streets,
with the legal option open.
