CM says no flights from Dabolim will be diverted to Mopa
PANAJI
Amid a looming threat over its commercial viability with diversion of flights to the Manohar International Airport at Mopa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the government was committed to ensure that commercial operations at Dabolim will continue.
“We have an assurance from the Central government. The Union cabinet has passed a resolution for co-existence of both the airports. Tourism Minister is in touch with the Union Civil Aviation ministry. We are committed to keep Dabolim airport operational permanently,” Sawant said in the Goa legislative assembly.
The issue was raised by Independent Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, through a calling attention motion in which he cited the recent decision of Air India to commence a direct flight to London’s Gatwick airport from Mopa next week to raise the fear that it is a precursor to the eventual “closure of Dabolim”.
Lourenco also raised the fear that several other airlines were also poised to shift operations from Dabolim to Mopa.
Several other legislators including Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, Vijai Sardesai, Venzy Viegas, Altone D’Costa, Digambar Kamat, Aleixo Sequeira, Michael Lobo, Daji Salkar among others also expressed fear that the Dabolim airport will eventually succumb to the competitive edge enjoyed by the greenfield airport at Mopa.
Sawant however kept insisting that the government, both State and Central, are committed to ensure that Dabolim co-exists simultaneously.
“We will formally take up the issue with the Civil Aviation Ministry and also the Defence Ministry. If need be, we can take an all-party delegation to press the Central government,” Sawant said.
Sawant also said that no flights currently being operated from Dabolim will be allowed to be diverted to Mopa but added that any new flights scheduled from a new destination will be directed to Mopa.
During the course of the discussions, several MLAs including Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho who represents the Dabolim constituency, accused GMR Limited, the concessionaire of the Mopa airport of pressurising the Navy to obstruct the civilian operations at Dabolim.
The Indian Navy controls the airport at Dabolim and the restrictions it imposes on civilian operations there has been an impediment to commercial operations for decades.
Godinho said, he is confident that Sawant will take up the matter with the Centre and ensure the issue is resolved once and for all.
Earlier, members cutting across party lines expressed concern over the devastating effect it will have on the tourism industry in South Goa if Dabolim does eventually shut down commercial operations.
Sardesai, accused the State and Central government of secretly wanting to “sacrifice” Dabolim airport because the State has a revenue sharing clause in the concession agreement with GMR and would earn more if air traffic gets diverted to Mopa.
However, Sawant refuted the charge and insisted that his government is committed to Dabolim airport’s co-existence.
Sardesai also accused Sawant of giving false assurances. He quoted a report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which suggested a ‘flight management plan’ for the two airports if both Mopa and Dabolim are to co-exist sustainably. He accused the government of having no such plan.
Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas said, the government will have to incentivise airlines operating at Dabolim for them to sustain operations at both the airports. He argued that unless the government gives them some assurances they are unlikely to retain operations at both airports due to the cost of ground operations involved.
Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao warned that across the world it has been established that no two airports can sustain in close geographic proximity. He said, this had also been projected in the ICAO report of 1999 pertaining to Mopa and Dabolim.
He however suggested that the intervention of the Civil Aviation Ministry was essential to make sure that Dabolim operations are sustained.
Quepem MLA, Altone D’Costa urged the government to ensure that no charter flights get diverted to Mopa, arguing that a large section of the hotel industry in the South sustains on the charter business and would be devastated.
