MAPUSA
Demanding justice to people who have sacrificed land for the airport project, the Mopa airport affected people have threatened to lead a morcha to the Goa Assembly during the winter session if their pleas were not met.
The Mopa affected people who lost land for the project have also demanded same facilities people received during the construction of the Navi Mumbai airport in Maharashtra.
“The government has illegally snatched our land to build the Mopa international airport without taking us into confidence. We will use all means available to us to stop the construction of the Mopa airport, if the government fails to fulfill our demands,” said Santosh Mandrekar, spokesman of the Kul Mundkar Samiti.
The spokesman of the Kul Mundkar Samiti along with the leaders of other groups fighting for the Mopa affected people such as Mopa Pidit Xetkari Sangathana, Shree Bodgeshwar Shetkari Sangh and Mopa Sangarsh Samiti was addressing a news conference in Mapusa.
Speaking further, Mandrekar said several groups fighting for the same cause have come together to put up a united front and fight against the injustice done to the farmers.
“We will lead a huge morcha to the Goa assembly in the next assembly session if the government fails to resolve issues affecting the farmers and others who have been affected due to the Mopa airport project,” he said.
He also slammed local MLA Babu Ajgaonkar for not doing anything for the affected people.
The fight for justice of the Mopa airport affected people received a shot in the arm after Bharat Mukti Morcha decided to support the locals in their fight for their rights.
“We will make the fight against Mopa airport a national issue. All those who lost land to the airport should be compensated adequately and given proportionate package,” said Suresh Patil, Vice President of Bharat Mukti Morcha.
The affected people demanded partnership in the airport, government jobs, compensation as per market rate and adequate rehabilitation package.
President of Shree Bodgeswar Shetkari Sangh, Sanjay Barde, Mopa Pidit Xetkari Sanghatana President, Sandip Kambli and Mopa Sangarsh Samiti President, Subodh Mahale also spoke.
