TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: While wishing luck to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his initiative to petition the Central Government to make more land available at Dabolim Airport from the Navy for parking of aircraft, Goans for Dabolim Only hoped that the CM would hand over a long-term Master plan for Dabolim airport to the Defence Ministry in the interest of proper professional planning rather than approaching the Centre with piecemeal and short-term requirements.
“It would be well for the state government to formulate an all encompassing co-ordinated policy for development of Dabolim airport to its full potential, considering the fact of its central location and its fortuitous position in the vicinity of an excellent natural harbour and railway line”, GFDO Convenor Fr Eremito Rebello said.
He quoted late Matanhy Saldanha as saying way back on January 2, 2996, that “the Goa government has all the legal rights to claim the airport considering the size of Goa. It is fair to request the defence forces to shift from Dabolim to Sea Bird base. The Goa government must stop acting as a stooge of the Central government. It is time the state government should learn to call a spade a spade when the state’s interests are to be protected.”
