From: Lawerance Fernandes [mailto:glenm...@sancharnet.in]
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2013 8:57 PM
To: 'Editor Herald'
Subject: "Mopa v/s Dabolim"
To,
The Editor,
O Herald o,
Goa.
Dear Sir,
I shall be thankful if you could kindly publish following article in your
esteemed "Daily" in an appropriate column according to your choice.
"Mopa v/s Dabolim"
There has been so much said and written and rumored on the above subject and
recent being our Chief Minister Mr. Parrikar's statement that "even Matanhy
was in favour of Mopa". I would not like to bring late Matanhy nor Alina in
this fiasco but would like to present few "very very true facts" for the
benefit of "Herald" readers, especially Goans residing in Goa and other
parts of the world.
Matanhy and myself we were very close to each other and often discussed
various topics concerning Goa's past, present and future too. He was a man
full of knowledge and not only a good teacher as his students remember him,
but he had a treasure of documents with him which no other Goan would have
leave alone politicians. Here is a document he handed over to me few months
before he left us for his heavenly abode. This is a letter dated 24/11/1998
ref SAP/1/98-VOL-III by Shri P.R. Bumb (Secretary Airports) to Government of
Goa -Secretariat Panaji.
Quote
"Dear Shri Gupta,
Kindly refer to your D.O. letter No. AAI/02/13/96 ARII(P) dated 20th
October, 1998, addressed to Shri S.R. Sharma, Chief Secretary regarding
construction of Airport of International standard at Goa. In this regard the
Government of Goa feels that besides two sites suggested in the report
prepared by the Airports Authority of India, a third alternative could be to
upgrade the existing airport at Dabolim to International standards and the
Ministry of Defense could be asked to direct Navy to hand over its control
to the Airports Authority of India to use it as Civil Airport. As a first
step in this direction, the present A.T.C. could be handed over to the
A.A.I. immediately for which the A.I.I. may be in a position to provide
necessary staff/equipments.
It is, therefore, requested that the Ministry of Civil Aviation may be moved
to consider this view point and take an early decision in the matter, before
the Govt. of Goa takes a view about the suitability of the two new sites
suggested."
Unquote
D.V. Gupta was the Chairman Airports Authority of India - New Delhi, then
and a copy was also forwarded to Shri P.V. Jayakrishnan - Secretary to Govt.
of India - Ministry of Civil Aviation - New Delhi.
And that is not all, on February 21, 2000 Francisco Sardinha - Chief
Minister of Goa, then, wrote a letter to Mr. Sharad Yadav - Minister for
Civil Aviation - Government of India - New Delhi:
Quote
"As you know, Goa has, over the years, become one of the most important
tourist destination not only for international tourists but also for the
domestic market as well. At present Goa Airport handles on an average 3,000
domestic flights and 500 international flights per year. The international
flights consist mainly of direct chartered flights bringing in Goa more than
1 lakh tourists per year. There is immense scope for introducing scheduled
international flights which will not only add to the attraction of Goa but
will also bring in the higher spending tourists who generally do not
consider chartered flights as a means of vacation travel and so on.He
further adds: On this basis, I understand that the Ministry of Civil
Aviation has already moved a Cabinet Note proposing for construction of New
International Airport at Mopa, Goa. The proposal is presently with Cabinet
Secretariat, awaiting consideration by the Union Council of Ministers. I
wish to request you for your intervention in the matter for an early
decision in the interest of our State."
And the most interesting is this one written on 1-5-2000 by Shri A.V.
Chaturvedi - Deputy Secretary to the Government of India - Ministry of Civil
Aviation - New Delhi to the Chief Secretary Government of Goa:
Quote
"I am directed to say that the Union Cabinet in its meeting held on 29th
March, 2000 has approved:
(a) Setting up of a new airport of international standards at Mopa in Goa
as per the institutional framework mentioned below.
(b) Closure of existing airport at Goa for civilian operations on
commissioning of new airport and
(c) A commitment that the proposed airport at Mopa will be declared as
international airport on its commissioning in case it has all the necessary
infrastructure
Facilities required for an international airport and so on.
I need not comment on all the stuff written above but I leave it to the
readers who will judge for themselves the true facts, lies, assurances etc.
but only one thing is for sure both the Congressmen and BJP are involved in
telling lies to the common public that "even if Mopa comes up Dabolim will
remain" is proved beyond doubt like in a song "Adios Amigo" which says when
two love the same love, one love has to go" .."Adios Dabolim, Adios my
beloved".
As our Chief Minister Mr. Parrikar rightly said that he will be in politics
only for five years, how can we believe his assurances once he is gone? And
who knows that one day Matanhy's dream might come true once the "Third
Front" comes to power at the Centre and Indian Navy/Air Force might be
asked to leave Goa and shift to their base at Sea-Bird in Karwar? Let us
wait and see!
Lawrence Fernandes
My address: Simpale - Sancoale -Goa
Mob: 9850454499
***
GSRP has been shouting from the roof-tops all this while that Goa's CMs have
no authority to decide for the Defence Ministry re Dabolim Airport's
continuance as Goa's Civilian Airport even if MOPA was built and
operational. Here is the proof that Dabolim Airport was slated to be the
Military Airport and that all civilian and commercial flights will be
restricted to MOPA. GSRP was also shouting from the roof-tops that the Navy
has a hand in initiating MOPA so that it can hold on to Dabolim lock stock
and barrel. Ultimately all political chamcha-giri has been now exposed. A
massive movement is now the order of the day to eraze MOPA Airport
initiative from the face of GOA if Goa is not to be merged with Maharashtra
from the back-door by politicians sold on this merger.
Cheers n Happy Easter to one and all.
goasuraj-GSRP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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