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By Valmiki Faleiro [EMAIL PROTECTED] "An extra-curricular activity," that is how a senior minister in the Rane Cabinet describes the current Mopa imbroglio. Addressing a press conference on the feast day of Goencho Saib, the honourable Luizinho Faleiro, Minister for Industries and Education, who swears his heart bleeds for Goa, blithely dismissed Mopa: he was so busy with his portfolios, he said, that he had no time for such "extra-curricular activity." Extra-curricular like Mopa, indeed, the sword of Damocles that imperils thousands of Goenkars across Goa, economically dependent on tourism. One could excuse Luizinho's flippancy because when cornered, like a kid caught stealing sugar, he is wont to open his mouth to put his best foot in. It is one thing to claim credit where none is due, quite another to wash one's his hands off an act committed while in the seat of the Chief Minister. Luizinho claimed he had "nothing to do" with the Mopa decision, while his peers -- rather, adversaries -- allege that Mopa materialized when Luizinho was CM. Interestingly, Luizinho's interface with the press came a day after Jitendra Deshprabhu, the Pernem MLA, disclosed that the decision to locate Goa's civilian airport at Mopa was taken during Luizinho's tenure. More curiously, Luizinho met the press with Deshprabhu in tow, and claimed the diametric opposite. It should be granted that Deshprabhu speaks the truth, even if not the whole truth. So how did Deshprabhu wriggle out of obvious embarrassment? The previous day, Deshprabhu told the press that Luizinho had brought the airport to Mopa. Now, in his presence, Luizinho was denying having done that. Deshprabhu must have kept a straight face when he let off his repartee, "I compliment Mr. Faleiro for saving the airport from going to Maharashtra!" And thereby hangs a tale. Of sordid politics and rank opportunism. Which led to that hare-brained and entirely ridiculous decision of bringing a totally unwarranted second airport to tiny Goa, and that too, at Goa’s grave peril, on the doorstep of Maharashtra. Let's briefly peek into its genesis... In the early '90s, Manmohan Singh, the brilliant Union Finance Minister, embarked on an ambitious "Economic Liberalization Policy" aimed at catapulting a sluggish India into an Asian Tiger economy. To shore up infrastructure necessary for spurring growth, an "Open Skies" policy was unveiled. The prime export air gateway, Mumbai airport, was congested and a committee was appointed to study remedial steps. The committee recommended that an international airport be set up midway between Mumbai and Goa, as a measure to decongest Mumbai. One national level politico, rated, at the time he occupied the chair, as India's wealthiest Chief Minister, had invested heavily in beach lands of Maharashtra's South Konkan coast, just north of Goa. Industrialists and India's five-star hotel chains (it is rumoured, even some multi-national ones), had similarly cornered large tracts of land in the region. The place waited to the opened, an international airport nearby was just the need of the hour. But *midway between Mumbai and Goa* meant the airport would be located in south Raigarh -- or at best north Ratnagiri -- districts, a good five hours away by road from the beaches of Sindhudurg. One local level politico saw opportunity. His godfather at that point of time sat in the Chief Minister's chair. Give a politician an opportunity to spend big money -- from the public exchequer, not his own! -- and he will sell his soul. I do not need to tell the reader why. That is why gigantic projects are always welcome -- higher the budget, more the salivation. Mopa, with it's huge budget, was a heaven send. Goan politicos went for it, hammer and thongs. Wheels moved and out flew a proposal -- from Goa to Delhi -- that the airport meant to decongest Mumbai, be located, of all places, at Mopa, Goa! Such a preposterous proposal may not have found favour in Delhi. Sindhudurga lobbies were activated. Even more deviously, strings were pulled in the Ministry of Defence, to get the Navy back the proposal. The proposal was "convenient" to all the stakeholders: the politicos in Delhi and Goa, the industrialists and the hotel lobby that had invested in land in south coastal Maharashtra and even the Navy -- which would have a prime chunk of Goa’s real estate all to itself at Dabolim, once Mopa came up. Under the rules, there was no way that the civilian enclave on the periphery of the Indian Naval Air Station could continue at Dabolim: if one goes by the rulebook, it was bound to be shifted once the new location was up. Yes, Mopa was "convenient" to all the stakeholders, except the largest of them all: the people of Goa, and more particularly that segment of it that was largely dependent on tourism for its economic well-being. In all fairness, the Government of India neither mooted the proposal nor shoved it down Goa's throat. It originated from the power corridors of Panjim. The BJP interlude may have put the proposal on fast track. But if anyone is to blame for that foolhardy idea called Mopa, it is none other than the goodly Goan politician under the Congress label! Like Pontius Pilate, who after pronouncing the fate of the under-trial -- crucify him! -- symbolically washed his hands, these self same Goan politicians who signed her Mopa sentence, now try to wash their hands off it, after things begin getting hot under the collar. Unfortunately, our politicians won't learn. Learn to recognize their error, whether willful or inadvertent, muster the courage to own it (instead of cowering for cover), and make amends. It's never too late... ABOUT THE WRITER: Valmiki Faleiro, based in Margao, is a prominent writer, who after a long hiatus, is back to his first-love -- writing. He can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org Goanet, founded 1994. 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