Mopa Samiti urges govt to hold caves’ inspection

PERNEM: The Mopa Vimantal Sangharsh Samiti on Tuesday demanded with the State government to hold inspection of the caves discovered at the site of International Mopa Airport.

The Samiti has made a written representation to the Pernem Deputy Collector and expressed their concern that if there are caves at the airport site then in future when the aircraft takeoff or land, there are possible chances that the land may cave in, further putting the lives of the passengers in danger.

“We have made representations to the Pernem Deputy Collector demanding the urgent need of inspection of the International Mopa Airport site since we have learnt that huge caves are discovered on the Mopa Plateau. It is questionable that even after informing the Archives and Archeology Department, why the department has not taken any action. We demand immediate action in this matter,” said Subodh Mahale, president of Mopa Vimantal Sangharsh Samiti.

 “We had brought this matter before the Archives and Archeology Department. However, the department failed to look into it. We were told by senior citizens of the village that such caves are there on the plateau. Having such caves at the airport site is dangerous to the lives of the passengers since once the project opens up there are chances that it may damage the aircraft during landing and takeoff. Importantly, if such caves are present on the plateau then the project like airport is not feasible here,” said Sandip Kambli, Samiti member.

“We have also come to know that the government has only acquired the land from the villagers who have given their concern that is only 29,000 sq mts of land for the airport project so far that means the remaining land is illegally encroached,” Kambli informed.

“The caves are so huge that people can walk through. These caves may have connectivity to the Alorna Fort and neighbouring villages which the company is not trying to destroy it by filling it up. Within two days, if the government does not take any action, severe agitation will be staged outside the Pernem Government Complex,” Umesh Talavnekar, another member of Samiti claimed.