MARGAO: Asserting that only his government and no one else can decide on the Mopa airport, a charged up Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday made it clear that under no circumstances his government will deviate from pursuing Mopa. He even went to the extent of questioning whether Goa means only South Goa and whether people of North had no right to demand an airport.
For the first time, the Chief Minister reminded Mopa opponents that his government had received a clear-cut mandate from the people in two elections – the 2012 Assembly poll wherein the BJP won 21 seats and the recent Lok Sabha poll where the party won both the seats.
“I am the Chief Minister of Goa. Though there was no direct election, I was given a mandate of 21 seats in the Assembly election. We also got a mandate in the Lok Sabha poll. Only the government will take a decision on Mopa and not those who have no idea or knowledge on the issue. The people who are opposing Mopa have forgotten their roles.
Teachers are expected to teach. I am ready to debate the issue, but I have now realised that no amount of debate will serve the purpose”, Parrikar said, speaking to media on the airport issue after inaugurating the agriculture office at the Old South Goa district Collectorate building on Thursday.
The Chief Minister also stoutly defended the government decision to allot land to the Mopa airport developer. “When the investment runs into Rs 1000-2000 crore, the developer needs some facilities to develop a portion of land commercially and earn revenue. We have only decided on the land for the developer tentatively”, he said, adding, “these people are out to create uncertainly on the Mopa airport, but we are very firm on it. Absolutely under no circumstances, it will change. I am ready to explain and give a guarantee that Dabolim will remain as it is with more or less same traffic even after Mopa takes shape”.
Without taking names, the Chief Minister said people are being misguided by certain elements when the Request for Qualification (RFQ) proposal categorically says that Dabolim will remain as it is. “I have explained the government’s position on Mopa to two of my Ministerial colleagues. You cannot decide overnight on an airport worth Rs 3000 crore. If Dabolim falls short of the requirements, will these people make available Mopa from their pockets”, he asked.
The Chief Minister said the government will open an account for payment of enhanced compensation for land losers before the order is given for construction of the Mopa airport. “We will finalise the RFQ and float the airport proposal by May. In between, the government will comply with the EIA requirements before the order is given by June 2015’, he said, while making clear that nowhere existing airports have been closed down after construction of new ones.
Clarifying on his purported election speech at Sindhudurg while drumming up support for BJP candidates, Parrikar said he had only stated that Mopa will become a reality and will give a big boost for tourism in Goa, but Sindhudurg has not benefitted on the tourism front for want of hotels and other infrastructure.
Parrikar allayed apprehensions of the people of South Goa and the taxi operators, saying they too can reap in the benefit, saying that Mopa will be a bigger pie. He said the government will connect the existing and new airport with a corridor comprising of six and four lane roads. “We have started work on the Mandovi bridge and we intend to finalise the contractor for Zuari bridge by January 26. At the next Board meeting, we will finalise the Galgibaga and Talpona bypass”, he said, while asserting that no houses will be demolished to make way for the six and four-lane roads.
Replying to a question, Parrikar said those who are demanding shifting of the Navy do not understand the importance of a naval base. Moreover, he said even if a decision is taken to shift the naval base, it will take 10-15 years to carry out the shifting at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore.
