MARGAO: In a statement that could make the BJP government uncomfortable, senior Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Luizinho Faleiro on Monday said the proposal for a second airport at Mopa should be looked at from the point of view of financial viability and feasibility when reports say that two airports for Goa are not viable and feasible in the state.
Speaking to Herald, Faleiro said that airport and mining are two issues plaguing Goa and they should be solved to keep all sections of Goan society happy. “My stand on the Dabolim airport is very clear from day one. I don’t think for the next 20-30 years, there will be viability or feasibility for another airport. Dabolim is an international airport where the Centre has spent Rs 500 crore for its upgradation. The proposal regarding Mopa should be looked at from the financial feasibility and viability. There are reports that two airports in Goa are not feasible”, he asserted.
Faleiro recalled that he had taken up with the Centre the cause of Dabolim airport during his tenure as Goa’s chief minister. “I had asked the then defence minister for an additional airport. In fact, I had entered into a five-point agreement to make Dabolim the 13th international airport; to have additional air traffic controllers; get additional land from the navy; to broaden the run way and make the airport operational 24 hours. I had taken up the issue with the prime minister and defence minister and others. The state government had received a letter stating that additional land will be given to the civilian airport”, he added.
Replying to a question on his future plans for Goa, Faleiro said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-President Rahul Gandhi have given him certain assignments. To another question, Faleiro replied he did not interfere in the state during the last five to six years because Goa had many leaders capable of handing issues affecting the state.
