Aviation news (that too specifically related to Goa!) on three successive days in the local paper! Some kind of a record? Goood!
1. HERALD Aug 31: " Airport issue 'lands' in LS". It seems Churchill Alemao raised the issue of Dabolim in the Lok Sabha, making a "strong" case for a shift of naval operations to Seabird so that Dabolim can play its full economic role in the state. He, however, may need to adjust his sights vis a vis Mopa as his formidable energies need to be focused on the precise shape the new airport should take rather than questioning its very rationale. At the present juncture the only meaningful thing (besides keeping up the pressure on the Navy to shift out of Dabolim to Seabird) is to focus on the "implementation strategy" for Mopa viz as a modest domestic airport for starters. 2. HERALD Aug 31 editorial: "..why cant [Dabolim] be freed for civilians?" At last, HERALD seems to have broken its self imposed silence on the Navy's baneful influence at Dabolim. This is a hopeful sign. Now it must seriously investigate the, apparently secret, link between the Navy and the state government (esp the CM) so that the public gets to see what exactly is going on vis a vis Dabolim, Seabird and Mopa . Finally aviation issues may get the attention in the local media that they deserve.
