Neri jumps on anti-Mopa bandwagon Calls for movement to shift Navy to Karwar BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MARCH 27 - Minister for Water Resources, Filipe Neri Rodrigues on Monday emphatically said there's no need for another international airport in Goa other than Dabolim and called for a sustained movement to shift the Navy to Sea bird, Karwar. Sharing the platform of Save Dabolim Airport Committee for the first time at a huge meeting at Chinchinim on Monday, Mr Rodrigues said, "Dabolim is already designated as an international airport. Hence, there cannot be a second international airport". Also sharing the platform for the first time is South Goa Zilla Chairperson, Reginaldo Lourenco, a close aide of Goa Speaker Francisco Sardinha. The Minister was categorical in saying a new airport at Mopa cannot come at the cost of Dabolim, Goa and Goans, while lauding the vision and foresight of experts for locating the existing airport at Dabolim. Filipe said he will take up with Chief Minister, Pratapsing Rane the need to retain Dabolim as an international airport and the need for immediate release of the promised central grant for the upgradation of Dabolim. The Minister asked MP Churchill Alemao to request the high-level committee constituted by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to revert the Union Cabinet decision to close down Dabolim after the commissioning of Mopa. Making an appeal to maintain the age-old ties amongst the Goan population, the Minister underlined the need to convince the people of North Goa to see reason about the adverse impact of Mopa airport on Goan economy. In his address, Dr Ernest Rodrigues said the airport feasibility report clearly shows that the Mopa airport will only benefit southern Maharashtra, including Sangli, Kholapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. "While the report says that Mopa will adversely affect the tourism industry in South Goa, it speaks about the immense tourism potential around Sindhudurg", he said and asked whether the Goan MLAs are more concerned about development in Maharashtra. MP Churchill Alemao reiterated that he will not remain with the Congress if the government does not scrap Mopa airport before the Assembly polls. "Either the government should scrap Mopa, or I will go with the people", he maintained. Cortalim MLA Matanhy Saldanha said Dabolim has always been a civilian airport and charged the Navy for occupying the airport illegally. Adv Radharao Gracias, Adv Mike Mehta, Albert Leitao, ZP Joe Dias, Gaitonde also spoke. ~(^^)~ Avelino _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
