TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Asserting that the BJP would not receive the people’s mandate to pursue Mopa if a referendum is held on the airport row, former PWD minister, Churchill Alemao on Saturday made a fervent appeal to all political parties, NGOs and Goans in general to join forces to ground the proposed airport at Mopa.
Blamed former Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat for pursuing Mopa during the Congress tenure, Churchill dismissed rumours floated in certain quarters that he had done nothing to get the Mopa airport scrapped when he was in power. He produced correspondence and his statements to prove that he was opposed to Mopa, saying that Dabolim has been his baby.
Urging Goans not to be swayed by forces trying to divide Goans North and South, Churchill told the media that he has consistently opposed Mopa and will always continue the fight to retain Dabolim as the sole airport of Goa.
“Certain forces are misguiding the people that I did not support the Dabolim airport when I was in power. The Cabinet meeting records will prove that I had opposed Mopa since day one,” he said.
When pointed out that he and brother Joaquim cannot shirk responsibility when they were part of the Cabinet that gave a nod for Mopa since the Cabinet system revolves around collective responsibility, Churchill shot back, “We always opposed, but Digambar was hell bent on pushing Mopa.”
“Many so called wise Goans and other forces did not support me at that time, but these very same wise Goans are now awakening to the fact and after realising their mistakes, are now crying hoarse that Mopa will be a disaster. If these very people had to unite at that time, I would have ensured that Mopa was scrapped then itself. However, it’s never too late to realise one’s mistake and support the cause of Dabolim, as the only international airport for Goa,” he said.
Replying to a question, Churchill said though the people gave a mandate to the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha election, knowing well that Parrikar was hell bent in going ahead with Mopa, the people have now realised their mistake, exuding confidence that all forces will join hands to unitedly fight against Mopa. “Mopa is nothing but a land scam and will not benefit Goans, but only the neighbouring state of Maharashtra and Sindhudurg as rightly pointed out by Parrikar in his election campaign in Maharashtra,” he said.
Replying to a question, Churchill denied that he is trying to get himself rehabilitated politically on the anti-Mopa bandwagon, saying that he is only willing to support the forces coming together to jointly fight the Mopa airport.
Meanwhile, when Churchill was asked whether he was still associated with Trinamool Congress under whose banner he had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha poll , he sprang a surprise saying he is addressing the conference as Churchill and that no one will be able to gauge his political future.
Replying to a question whether he has patched up with his sworn enemies, Churchill reminded the media that there are no permanent friends and enemies in politics. “No one knows what Churchill is capable of doing,” he said.
Cong were promoters of Mopa: Parrikar
PANJIM: A day after the Congress raised strong objections to the proposed Greenfield International airport at Mopa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday pooh-poohed their stand saying the “Congress themselves were the promoters of Mopa airport.”
“Why are they raising objections now? It’s only because BJP government is going ahead with the project. Congress leaders were the actual promoters of Mopa,” Parrikar reminded media persons Saturday evening.
“Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane is on record before the State Assembly that Mopa was his brain child,” Parrikar added, taking a dig at the Congress leaders, who through their State executive on Friday resolved that Mopa should be kept on hold. “They did nothing for the airport…even the upgradation of Dabolim airport was done during my tenure then and now,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parrikar said that total 10 global companies have responded to the request for qualification (RFQ), issued on October 3. He said that the pre-bid meeting will be held on November 3, while the last date for receiving application is December 12.
Government has received response from global infrastructure companies from the countries of France, Germany, South Korea and Spain.
Speaking about Dabolim international airport, Chief Minister said that the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has assured to look into our demand for additional parking space for aircrafts. “If we get it, the Dabolim airport would be further upgraded,” he said, adding ‘on an average there is 15 to 20 per cent rise in number of flights touching down at Goa every year.
Claiming that on an average 27,000 passengers are catered to every day, Parrikar said that Dabolim would be over saturated within the next two years.
