MARGAO: Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) has called the commencement of work by GMR on Mopa airport project yet another instance of the State Government’s anti-people attitude and total disregard of the democratic rights of Goans.
In a press release, the GFDO said that the local MGP MLA Babu Azgaonkar himself has admitted that his government has not done justice to many land owners, who are still struggling either to get the compensation money or their land back. Hence, the government needs to explain to the people of Goa how it has handed over land that does not yet belong to the state, to a private party.
“In any case, it is abundantly clear that the entire Mopa project is being built upon a foundation of total and unprecedented contempt for democratic rights, its due processes and the very democratic system itself. The Parrikar government is well aware that there are two ongoing cases in the NGT against the Mopa Airport project, and one case in the Supreme Court,” said GFDO.
“The spirit of democracy and public responsibility would demand that the Mopa Airport processes be halted until completion of the judicial processes, or else in the event of a court granted stay, it will be Goan taxpayers who will have to bear the cost of payments to the developer. Why is the BJP government playing fast and loose with Goan taxpayers’ hard earned money?” GFDO asked.
Stating that the Airports Authority of India, which was an unsuccessful bidder for the Mopa Airport project, has now been elevated to the status of Project Authority of International Airport (Mopa) Project, the GFDO said that the government needs to explain to the people of Goa, in which accepted system does the unsuccessful applicant or bidder become the Project Authority?
GFDO claimed that since the government has now decided that there would be two international airports in Goa – Dabolim and Mopa — the entire basis of the feasibility report is now questionable. Hence, the GFDO has asked the State government to make public the facts and figures of distribution of passenger and cargo traffic between the two airports that will be catering to Goan needs and not that of neighbouring States.
