TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai has asked Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to come clear on Mopa when he visits Margao on Thursday for the inauguration of the new District Collectorate building.
“People of Salcete and elsewhere are eager to know the CM’s stand on Mopa airport after gram sabha resolutions gave clear indications of the opposition to the new airport. It is now time for Parrikar to speak out his mind during his visit to Margao for the Collectorate inauguration and for the birthday celebrations of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado,” he told newsmen on Wednesday.
The Independent MLA blamed the state government for not engaging the Navy on the issue of navigational aids, which are either unreliable or not available at Dabolim. “But the CM appears to be taking Navy as its partner to justify construction of the Mopa airport,” he added.
Referring to Tuesday’s fiasco at the Dabolim airport on account of weather conditions, Sardesai has said the Navy should have displayed some amount of flexibility at the airport. “The Navy should not consider the restrictions as sacrosanct, but come to the rescue of beleaguered passengers. I am told that North Goa MP Sripad Naik and Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida were also inside the plane from 8 am to 12.30 pm,” he said.
On the row over the name plaque of the new Collectorate building, Sardesai said the government has deliberately not included his name on the plaque building because of the fear that he would raise the issue of Mopa at the inauguration.
