GFDO dares Salcete politicos
to make Mopa election issue
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Will Salcete politicians accept the gauntlet thrown by Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) Fr Eremito Rebelo that political parties should include in their election manifesto their opposition to Mopa airport if they are sincere in their stand against the proposed airport? Or, will they only rally in support of Dabolim airport with the Goa government bulldozing its way with the new airport at Mopa?
These and other questions have come to the fore as the GFDO has dared Salcete politicos to come out with their stand on the contentious issue in the election manifestos, dropping clear hints that the GFDO will make the Mopa airport an election issue in the 2017 Assembly election.
Divergent views and opinions have come from the Salcete-based politicians on the contentious issue with the BJP-led government taking the issue too far, going to the extent of signing a concession agreement with the contractor and laying the foundation stone at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress president Luizinho Faleiro pointed out that the study conducted by the Civil Aviation ministry has categorically stated that two airports at Mopa will not be financially viable. “The report had further stated that Dabolim will be able to cater to the passenger traffic for another 30 years. As many as three Defence Ministers, including Pranab Mukherjee and A K Anthony had promised to give defence land for the airport expansion," he said.
Asked specifically whether the Congress party will include its objection to the development of the new airport at Mopa, Luizinho Faleiro quipped “all these things will certainly reflect in the party manifesto after due deliberations. I can categorically say that the Congress party election manifesto will be discussed and finalised in Goa and not in Delhi," he said.
When The Goan sought the views of Goa Forward party mentor, Vijai Sardesai on the issue, he said the party will certainly demand institutional guarantee that Dabolim airport will not be shut down if Mopa becomes a reality. “We don’t want politicians, including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to give assurances that Dabolim will co-exist. Let the assurance comes from the institutions. There were high hopes that Parrikar would announce on the day of the Mopa foundation laying function that Defence ministry will provide additional land for Dabolim airport expansion, but in vain," Sardesai said, adding the GF party will also take up the issue of compensation for the land losers.
Nationalist Congress Party leader, Churchill Alemao, who had once led the anti-Mopa issue from the front, said his fight against Mopa would continue, adding “we will fight to retain Dabolim as Goa’s lone international airport. But, I am of the opinion that even Dabolim will remain only if the Civil Aviation Ministry gives in writing an assurance that the airport will never be shut down."
On the other hand, United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) senior vice-president, Radharao Gracias said the party has been consistently opposing Mopa airport and will continue to do so again in the coming election. “But, the problem lies with the political parties and the people. The two main political parties, the Congress and the BJP appears one on Mopa airport and the people of Goa have been voting either of the parties in the election. If people of Goa can elect 22 anti-Mopa Legislators, I see no reason why the airport cannot be scrapped at this stage. But, the moot question is whether the people will vote for the right candidate and the political parties," Radharao asserted.
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Parties react
Congress president Luizinho Faleiro says the study conducted by the Civil Aviation ministry has categorically stated that two airports at Goa will not be financially viable
Goa Forward party mentor, Vijai Sardesai says the party will certainly demand institutional guarantee that Dabolim airport will not be shut down if Mopa becomes a reality
NCP leader, Churchill Alemao says his fight against Mopa would continue and will fight to retain Dabolim as Goa’s lone international airport
