Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) has written to the chief minister to scrap the Mopa airport and use the land for eco-friendly projects.
In its letter, the GFDO has suggested that instead of building Mopa airport, the land can be used for animal husbandry, agriculture and solar power plant. “These projects can be considered for the Mopa land where local people will get employment,” Fr Eremita Rebello of GFDO said in his letter.
Arguing that the recent heavy rain was the result of climate change, Fr Rebello said, “We have not done sustainable development. Sand dunes are cut, agriculture land is concretised and the climate is changing radically now. The climatic condition 13 years ago was different and now it has changed.”
“An airport is coming up close to Mopa in the neighbouring State and that the need for Mopa is not going to be high,” he said.
“The economy is in a bad shape; tourism is down; mining is in limbo. Even if we discount the economics, the environmental impact of the Mopa airport is not worth the project,” Rebello wrote in his letter.
Reiterating the demand for scrapping Mopa airport, GFDO member Edwin Pinto said, “The chief minister has inherited the problems of the previous government. Therefore, he is expected to look very carefully and review all the policies and understand what is going to come in the next few years.”
“You have to tailor your policies to cater to the locals and provide them employment,” he said.
