http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=190248&cat=India
Rane says naval shifting issue not discussed with PM Panaji | December 13, 2005 10:39:24 PM IST <Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane today said he did not raise the issue of shifting the 'INS Hansa' naval with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as defence was not a state subject. Responding to queries during a post-Cabinet briefing at the State secretariat, he said the subject did not fall under the jurisdiction of the State Government and hence he did not raise the issue of shifting the base from Dhabolim to Karwar in neighboring Karnataka during his interaction with the PM. Mr Rane, as part of the Congress legislators' delegation, had recently called on Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patil in Delhi to plead for strengthening the existing airport at Dhabolim to meet the growing traffic demand. The Congress legislators have sought an assurance from the Centre not to close Dhabolim airport in case another airport comes up at Mopa in North Goa in future>> ----- Should we just accept this? Perhaps CM Rane should inform us if there are mechanisms in government for periodically reviewing the military value of installations such as Dabolim and recommending realignment or closure just as they have been doing in the U.S. for decades. If there arent any he should be pushing for this in CMs forums on development of states. Nearly two months ago we heard that the Civil Aviation Minister would be heading a panel to go into the twin issues of airspace management and military control to alleviate problems of acute congestion in Indian skies. No word has been forthcoming of any progress whatsoever. In the meantime the Minister has been pre-occupied with the bidding for the modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports and with declaring Pune's civil enclave at the IAF base as "international" on his party leader's birthday. He has announced that a greenfield international airport is slate for Chakan. It will be interesting to know what happens to the Pune civil enclave when that materialises. Maybe the hasty decision taken in the case of Dabolim vis a vis Mopa will be changed by the time that happens --- but the die may be cast for Dabolim by then. This would be grossly unfair. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------