Saldanha says Navy is illegally occupying Dabolim Airport
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: As many as six legislators, including two ministers made their presence felt at the Lohia Maidan on Wednesday to attend the public meeting called by Goans for Dabolim Only, with Environment Minister, Alina Saldanha and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado later promising to convey the message from the Lohia Maidan to Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
Goans for Dabolim Only acknowledged the presence of both Alina and Avertano, besides MLAs supporting the Parrikar government Benjamin D’Silva and Caitu Silva and opposition MLAs Reginaldo Lourenco and Vijai Sardessai as they took their seats amidst the huge audience.
When newsmen approached Environment Minister, Alina Saldanha for her comments on the meeting, she said “the Chief Minister will definitely talk to the Navy in respect of what has been said at the Lohia Maidan today”.
Saying that she strongly believes that the Navy is illegally occupying Dabolim Airport, Alina said she is in possession of minutes of the meeting held way back in 1962 signed by Major General K P Candeth, that the assets of the airports belong to the civilians. Moreover, she pointed out that till 1988 Dabolim Airport did not figure on the list of defence aerodromes controlled by national and international airport authorities.
“This goes to prove that the Dabolim Airport is not the property of the Central government in any form nor is the property of the defence”, she added.
Asked what she expects from the Chief Minister when she conveys the Lohia Maidan message to him, Alina shot back “I am not going to tell you what I expect from the CM. But, I can only give an assurance that that I would carry the message to the Chief Minister”.
Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado later told Herald that he too would convey to the Chief Minister the message from Lohia Maidan, adding “I will see what best we can do on the issue”.
