MARGAO
Expressing shock that Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu could brazenly justify cornering of vast tracts of Goa’s land for the proposed Mopa airport, Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) has dared the Aviation Minister to attend a meeting and provide documentary evidence to prove how the project airport will benefit Goans.
The GFDO also disclosed plans to knock the doors of the courts since the government is going ahead with project, saying it is presently compiling documents in support of its case.
Addressing the media, GFDO convenor Fr Eremito Rebelo further said they will write to the President of India with a plea to direct the Aviation Minister to focus on promoting state-run entities rather than making explicable statements which promote business and share prices of private airports.
“The central government has absolutely no role to play and has no stake nor any interest, monetary or otherwise in the Mopa airport other than providing essential services like immigration and security. The Goa government itself does not have any stake in the airport company, but is merely leasing the land for 37 per cent of revenue according to the Concessionaire agreement,” Fr Eremito claimed.
He demanded to know why is the Aviation Minister Suredh Prabhu taking on the role of a salesman of GMR Goa International Airport, which is a private entity. “What interest does Suresh Prabhu have in GMR when the Mopa airport is a direct competitor to the Goa international airport at Dabolim?” Fr Eremito asked.
Saying the job of an Aviation Minsiter is to ensure that the government-owned Dabolim airport is able to complete with any rival airport in the area, Fr Eremito, however, said the central government is more interested in serving the needs of the private airport and its promoter than in putting its focus on Dabolim. “With the new taxiway, the number of flights at Dabolim is all set to increase substantially. The only issue with Dabolim airport as a cargo hub, corroborated by the GMR master plan report, is that the customs office is in Panaji,” he said.
Demanding to know what stops the Aviation Minster and his government from setting up a customs office at Dabolim airport, Fr Eremito said, “An Union Aviation Minister promoting a private entity against a perfectly viable government run AAI airport gives rise to justifiable suspicions and allegations of favouritism.”
He said the Goa government too needs to explain its studied inaction and lethargy with regard to infrastructure projects such as the Dabolim grade separator which has been moving at a snail’s pace and is two-year overdue for completion. “There are several illegal and unauthorized buildings and strucutres coming up unhindered right in the funnel region of Dabolim airport. Despite Suresh Prabhu’s lofty vision of jobs for at Mopa airport, the existing reality is that Goans actually form a small minority of the Dabolim workforce. Despite this, the Goa government remains
completely silent,” he said, adding that the state government is clueless about the actions of the Central government and has completely surrendered its powers to Delhi as evident in the case of river nationalization, cargo hub at Mopa and the recent Adopt a Heritage scheme.
