TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Seeking Church’s help, pro-Dabolim supporters have openly threatened to make Dabolim-Mopa airports tangle a crucial election issue, if it’s not resolved before the polls. This raises the possibility that the issue may hamper the prospects of the two major political parties ~ BJP and Congress, in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) has appealed to the Church to extend their support in their anti-Mopa protest stating that the issue basically concerns the people.
Addressing a press conference, Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello said that GFDO is independent of the Church or any political party.
“We feel that the Church should take up the issue of Dabolim airport as it concerns the people,” he said adding, ‘The Church in the past had made a statement opposing Mopa airport as the land on which the project is coming up is agriculturally rich and a number of farmers will be displaced’.
GFDO has initiated a drive to create awareness amongst students from schools and colleges on whether a small State like Goa needs two international airports.
GFDO further alleged that the political leaders have divided Goa into North and South over airports issue.
Fr Rebello said that following their strong opposition and protest against the Greenfield international airport at Mopa, the government has ‘slowed down’ the process for the airport. “But this does not mean that we will not continue our fight. If the issue is not resolved before Lok Sabha election, then the dual airport issue would be taken up as a major election issue,” he said.
Fr Rebello claimed to have the support of political leaders, cutting across party lines, both in South and North Goa. “In the North, the leaders are not coming out openly to extend their support…but they are with us,” he said.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has recently stated that government is not in a hurry to construct the Mopa airport and will follow all legal provisions.
GFDO demanded that government should hand over the land, acquired for Mopa airport to the actual owners (farmers), as it is the only livelihood of these people. It also questioned the need for acquiring 80 lakh sq mtr of land for the airport.
“The Chief Minister needs to answer the question as to why the State requires such a huge tract of land for airport. He should come out in public and explain whether entire land would be used for aviation or for private purpose,” Fr Eremito said.
“It’s nothing but looks like a land scam,” GFDO member Rajendra Kakodkar alleged. He said that as claimed by government, there won’t be any employment opportunities for the locals.
Kakodkar quoting ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) report, said “Dabolim airport is enough to handle the traffic till 2035, which would be around 9.5 million passengers.”
GFDO has also questioned government logic behind acquiring the land before conducting the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and feasibility study. They have also claimed that the Indian Navy during their recent meeting with GFDO expressed willingness to provide additional land for expansion provided the permission is sought by State government.
Director of Airport has informed us that only 12.5 acres of additional land inside and 9 acres of land outside is enough for the expansion and to meet the requirement, Rebello said.
