PERNEM
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday stated that the contractor for the proposed Mopa airport will be finalized by July-end and the work of the airport will start before August 30. Parsekar was speaking after the unveiling the plaque of foundation stone of developmental work of Morjim Khind at Morjim. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, ZP member Deepak Kalangutkar, Morjim Sarpanch Sima Sagle, Panch Hari Palyekar, Director of Tourism Department Sanjeev Gaus Dessai, Chief engineer S T Nadkarni, former sarpanch Dhanjay Shetgaokar, president of Shri Devi Morjai Devi Sausthan Morjim Gopal Shetgaokar, Ramesh Shet Mandrekar, Uttam Bandekar, Prakash Shetgaokar, Govind Parsekar and Agnelo D Souza were present. Speaking further, Parsekar said the government will finalize the contractor for the proposed Mopa airport by this month end. “The work of Mopa airport will start before August 30,” he said. The Rs 5.72 crore Morjim Khind development project is taken up under Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Government of India under Component of Development Coastal Circuit. The development of the Khind is undertaken by Tourism Department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). The Morjim Khind will be developed as center for entertainment, family outing, meditation - Yoga center and 13,329 sq mtrs of land for development is given to GTDC by Shri Devi Morjai Devi Sausthan, Morjim. Parsekar said tourism is the main occupation of Goa, but it is limited up to coastal parts of the State. “There is a need to extend the scope of tourism into the hinterland so that tourists get an opportunity to see Goan culture, its tradition and to bring new areas under tourism, Chapora river project is undertaken,” said Parsekar. “Morjim Khind is the gateway to all beaches in Pernem taluka. Hence, it is developed. I appeal to the people not to oppose tourism project for the sake of opposition,” appealed Parsekar. “It is the endeavour of my government to take foreign and domestic tourists to rivers and hinterland.”
