[Goanet] Dabolim VS Mopa Airport - the real Beneficiaries
--- * G * O * A * N * E * T *** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * --- USDA certified Goa Sausages and other Goan foods can now be delivered to virtually any part of the world. http://www.goanfoods.com --- Through GoaNet I have read with interest, anger and as well as humiliation, the sad reality on how our shrewd politicians manipulate even critically important issues to serve their own selfish interests. In the South we have the champions of the downtrodden - Alemao (with a BJP sidekick) striving hard to convince Goans that Dabolim is the way to go. And, in the North we have the little crook with big plans - Khalap (and his BJP cronies) arrogantly proclaiming that Mopa is the future of Goa. Either our politicians don't learn from past misadventures or Goans are too susegad to need a wake-up call once in a while. Or else, how a tiny and supposedly peaceful state like our sobit/sundor Goem have so many potentially fatal agitations (Konkani vs Marathi, KRC, MetaStrips etc.)? Growing up in my beautiful Goa has taught me many wise lessons. I have watched in amazement the supposedly genuine Marathi sympathizers proudly setting the stage ablaze with antagonistic speeches to wild cheers from paid actors amongst the gullible crowd only to walk down the dais and converse in amchi maim bhas-Konkani. Yes, it sounds like a fairy-tale but sadly it's all true - I've seen this happen in real life. During KRC agitation, we heard repeated speeches from our wise leaders that KRC will corrupt innocent Goa by bringing in the bad guys from across the state. Drive to the airport (save-Dabolim of course) thru the fancy new HighWay (indeed it's quite high and so far it has already lead a few unfortunate souls upstairs). And, what do you see? From the intersection at Verna Electronic City (what is electronic about a Bakery and Auto Body Building industry) you enjoy the peaceful Goan hillside until you come to the infamous MetaStrip Plant (hello Anti-MS lobby - how are you); then you relish the cool blue waters of the Arabian Sea; From here, the highway had to be diverted to avoid uprooting the illegal migrants. While Goenkars shell out a fortune bribing the various pimps for a license to construct a house on a legally purchased plot our fellow neighbours (from neighbouring states) build houses for self-use and more to rent-out, without any need for permits, licenses etc. And, they can also grab as much (prime) land as they fancy for absolutely NOTHING (uut Goenkara). You see, they outnumber by a loud margin the original (susegad) population of Sancoale and Dabolim put together. Naturally, they are like a Million Dollar Fixed Deposit at election time as compared to the poor man's Postal Saving Scheme (real Goenkars). These settlers were there long before KRC happened and they keep coming by KSRTC busses not KRC trains. I would think this to be the case with population of other migrant camps as well. So, what did the grand anti KRC campaign achieve? Instead, we lost a golden opportunity to use the campaign power to bargain that all KRC Station stalls/counters and station-staff be allotted to SOS (sons-of-soil). Similarly, in spite of grand proclamations by the anti-MetaStrip campaigners, the plant is successfully running. Thanks to the infamous campaign, MetaStrips does not employ people from neighbouring villages. So while the number of our unemployed youth continue to grow, MetaStrips keep on adding outside workforce to support its expanding operations - how about that Goenkara? As if these great Goan humiliation were not enough, our wise leaders have embarked on new Save-Dabolim-Drop-Mopa (SDDM) struggle - isn't it fascinating? Added to the grand tamasha of open-air cleansing of Alemao vs Faleiro vs Khalap dirty laundry, Kurtarkars have opened another Front (wonder where the Back is?). Though I mean well for these do-good Samaritans, I can't understand what a small-time, unknown (non politicized) outfit expects to achieve when it publicly itself say the grandfathers of Great Goan Misadventures would fail? By the way he amche generous advogad bhav also confess not to accept financial aid from any lobby - how exciting. Now let's face it: if most of the pax will be tourists - there is nothing to worry as all luggage/on-ward journeys etc. will be taken care of by their hoteliers. Similarly, conveniences of our reverenced politicians/government officials will be looked after by government machinery (at the poor tax payers expense - ha, ha). This leaves only us, the helpless expat Goans to suffer the exorbitant taxi-fares on our return (with tons of baggage) to our beloved homeland after a tiring journey and hard-earned vacation. Thus, it would seem that if
Re: Re: RE: [Goanet] Dabolim versus Mopa replacement airport.
You can still submit the panoramic photo to the www.goanet.org website. Just send it in via Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] and it should be up for all to view. FN It was a rare and magnificent sight. (Had this not been a text-only forum, I should have liked to attach a colour picture of this, one of the world's 10 *greatest* beaches, taken on an elementary 35mm SLR camera before the Land Acquisition Act invoked by the Goa Govt. did this spot in.) -- -- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | [EMAIL PROTECTED] Independent Journalist | http://fn.swiki.net Goa, India | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 --
Re: RE: [Goanet] Dabolim versus Mopa replacement airport.
From: Nasci Caldeira [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: goanet@goanet.org Nasci Caldeira: Remember! South Goa has the Longest unbroken Stretch of virgin Beach in Goa (some 38 Kms) from Cansaulim to Mobor Cavelossim; and then there is the beautiful Betul/ Velim area along the river Sal! Just for the record: Salcete's unbroken beach stretch, some 35 kms long (spanning from Velsao -- in present Mormugao taluka, erstwhile in what was a single Salcete -- to the tip of the Mobor peninsula, where a rivulet separates Salcete from the taluka of Quepem) was adjudged, by a UNDP-funded study in the early '70s, among the Top Ten beaches of the world ... in the league of beaches like Cancun in Mexico and the Gold Coast (40 kms.) of Queensland, Aus. The then Govt. of Goa, under DB Bandodkar, had adopted the recommendation to build a road from Velsao to Mobor, parallel to the coastline, with feeder roads at every 500 metres leading to a beachhead. Bhausaheb unfortunately kissed the creator and with him went the Salcete coastal road plan. The most breath-taking view of this beach stretch (from atop the abandoned mineral ore trans-shipping plateau of M/s Shantilal Khushaldas Gosalia) was alas gifted away by the Goa Govt. during the '90s, to IPSEM (Institute of Petroleum Safety and Environment Management, whatever), an arm of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC,) India's largest PSU. On a clear day during fair season, one could see the entire length of this beach, from the tip of Mobor right up to the foot of the Sancoale plateau, atop which nestled another of Bhausaheb's gifts to Goa, the chemical fertilizer factory of Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd. (now Zuari Industries Ltd.) and, to the left of it, the Dabolim plateau -- rather ironically the captioned subject. It was a rare and magnificent sight. (Had this not been a text-only forum, I should have liked to attach a colour picture of this, one of the world's 10 *greatest* beaches, taken on an elementary 35mm SLR camera before the Land Acquisition Act invoked by the Goa Govt. did this spot in.) But for Goans forever banished to take a peek at this marvel, there is a saving grace, even though the view may not be as commanding... from the Northern end. Take the main approach road to the Zuari factory, then a few metres in, take the first left (the old Zuarinagar sub-Post Office used to be there, don't know if it's still located at the same spot), upto where the road goes into a slope by the side of the factory wall (this road has a dead end, cul-de-sac, cut off by the railway line, beyond which is the locally famous Dorvoll water spring, surrounded by the huge coconut grove of a no-more huge bhatcar from Margao ... who spent a good part of his life fighting the Zuari factory management for environment pollution caused by effluents from the factory.) [Mathany, Claude and maybe de Stockholm Alfred should know.] As you go down that slope, look through the foliage clearings .. and behold, that's the Salcete coast! MOP-a it up... before that goes too. Now you should understand better what Nasci was saying. VF
[Goanet] Dabolim versus Mopa controversy
There is one way to check out whether the proposed Mopa airport will benefit Goa and Goans and that is through a cost- benefit analysis taking all costs into account including environmental costs .The 1000 crores could be better spent on rejuvenating our flagging agricultural base by importing labour saving agricultural machinery and training local boys to use them on hire basis to till, seed and crop the land. The prime cause of agricultural decline in Goa is the high cost of imported labour (mostly not available ) and our reluctance to do manual work. So investment in mechanisation should be a good idea. Eric Pinto
[Goanet] Dabolim versus Mopa controversy
There is one way to check out whether the proposed Mopa airport will benefit Goa and Goans and that is through a cost- benefit analysis taking all costs into account including environmental costs .The 1000 crores could be better spent on rejuvenating our flagging agricultural base by importing labour saving agricultural machinery and training local boys to use them on hire basis to till, seed and crop the land. The prime cause of agricultural decline in Goa is the high cost of imported labour (mostly not available ) and our reluctance to do manual work. So investment in mechanisation should be a good idea. Eric Pinto
RE: [Goanet] Dabolim versus Mopa replacement airport.
Dabolim airport was built around 1953, and is very basic. It is a runway and the terminal building does not have the capacity for enlargement. There is no amenities of any kind and there is no land around the airport for building, bunkering of fuel, and expansion of any kind is not practical. (What a load of rubbish!) Nasci Caldeira: Exactly the reason for extending and developing the same further, to meet the present day and future demands, made on it. The total size of the Dabolim area, on which the Navy is sitting, is huge; big enough for all the service facilities and extensions required. Noise pollution and other hazards are with all airports; whereever thay may be situated; Why are you singling out Dabolim? Dabolim can and will be developed with all the required facilities to an international standard; into a 'state of the art' airport, for facilitating passengers and for handling cargo. We do not need the Mopa site for this! All of the extensions and modernisation can be done at Dabolim for a fraction of the cost, and in much less time, at Dabolim, then at any other site. Besides that, there is lots of land along the Dabolim to Vasco Road, where the Navy Quarters are presently sited! Let the Navy move out now; and there is enough space and money for everything. All of Goa, will be properly served, except the petty interests of the land owners and speculators from Pernem / Maharastra! Remember! South Goa has the Longest unbroken Stretch of virgin Beach in Goa (some 38 Kms) from Cansaulim to Mobor Cavelossim; and then there is the beautiful Betul/ Velim area along the river Sal! Thre are already so many starred hotels iand resorts in the area. All of this will fail and go bankrupt and there will be poverty in South Goa, if Mopa is allowed to go through. As simple as that. One does not have to be a big Planner/ Statergist/ Economist, to see that! Lets have Dabolim Only; Mopa is not required! DABOLIM for EVER! Mopa NEVER! Viva Dabolim; Viva Goa! Nasci Caldeira Melbourne.
Re: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A
WHY INDEED NOT??? THANK YOU PAULO FOR THE SUGGESTION OF THE YEAR. floriano goasuraj - Original Message - From: Paulo Colaco Dias [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!' goanet@goanet.org Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 2:40 PM Subject: RE: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A Why don't we organise a petition? A petition with proper documents to demonstrate that Dabolim had always been a civilian airport and should remain a civilian airport, with signatures from Goans all over the world and other people as well will be a valid instrument in convincing the navy to leave Dabolim. What do you think? I think there are enough volunteers for this cause who have written extensively with very solid arguments. All we need is to start the petition. Best Paulo. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nasci Caldeira Sent: 06 September 2005 15:27 To: goanet@goanet.org Subject: Re: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A Yes, we can and should give recognition to Mathany Saldanha, to objecting to the very idea of a second airport at Mopa! So also did Francisco Sardinha object to then; however none were able to divert or stop this 'madness', from going places! Then Sardinha sold out Goa to the BJP wallahs; and Mathany by tagging along to the BJP, has soiled his hands! Even now, Mathany for some reason, does not repent or apologise for flirting with Parrikar.
RE: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A
Why don't we organise a petition? A petition with proper documents to demonstrate that Dabolim had always been a civilian airport and should remain a civilian airport, with signatures from Goans all over the world and other people as well will be a valid instrument in convincing the navy to leave Dabolim. What do you think? I think there are enough volunteers for this cause who have written extensively with very solid arguments. All we need is to start the petition. Best Paulo. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nasci Caldeira Sent: 06 September 2005 15:27 To: goanet@goanet.org Subject: Re: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A Yes, we can and should give recognition to Mathany Saldanha, to objecting to the very idea of a second airport at Mopa! So also did Francisco Sardinha object to then; however none were able to divert or stop this 'madness', from going places! Then Sardinha sold out Goa to the BJP wallahs; and Mathany by tagging along to the BJP, has soiled his hands! Even now, Mathany for some reason, does not repent or apologise for flirting with Parrikar.
Re: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A
Yes, we can and should give recognition to Mathany Saldanha, to objecting to the very idea of a second airport at Mopa! So also did Francisco Sardinha object to then; however none were able to divert or stop this 'madness', from going places! Then Sardinha sold out Goa to the BJP wallahs; and Mathany by tagging along to the BJP, has soiled his hands! Even now, Mathany for some reason, does not repent or apologise for flirting with Parrikar. Mathany has no clout with the authorities in New Delhi, then or now; and the sooner he redeems himself before the people of Goa whom he has betrayed, the better; or else he has written his own political demise. This is not the time to seek who is the savior! We need and we should demand unequivocally: D A B O L I M ONLY andM O P A N E V E R ! Churchill is the only man who said and lobbied in New Delhi: Let the Navy go whereever they want; but leave Dabolim as civilian airport of Goa. He even threatened to quit his hard won seat of the South Goa MP; if Dabolim is not to be! We must challenge other MP's and State Legislators also to act likewise in the interest of all of Goa, and not just the Land speculators and commercial interests of extreme North Goa and Maharasthra! There is plenty at stake here! A very dangerous game was being played out by the BJP and friends, and the repurcussions are not yet fully erased! We have to be wary, of a lot of scenarios like Phillip Thomas points out. Nasci Caldeira Melbourne. From: AGNELO DE SOUSA [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 21:05:44 +0930 Hi Nasci, Read your message about having two airports in Goa I agree completely with you .However I would like you to know that the idea was first objected by Matanhy Saldanha rather than Alemao or Wilfred De Souza. It is only now that the idea of two airports is being objected to, as land adjacent to the proposed airport have been purchased and a lot of people have missed out on making huge profits . I am glad that people like you also object to the two airport system. Best wishes Agnelo F De Sousa - Original Message - From: Nasci Caldeira [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A Hello goanetters, I'm in complete agreement with the efforts and wishes of all goans regarding the 'extension and retention of 'Dabolim Airport' as the the only civilian and International / Domestic airport in Goa. Kudos to Churchill Alemao, and others who lobby in New Delhi; also to Wilfred De Sousa for supporting Churchill, in this very essential cause, for Goa as a whole. All the goanet supporters and resident Goans , please do keep up your efforts and see that we make our Goa, a wonderful place to live in! A small place like Goa does not, has never needed another airport location; what when we already have a wonderful airport and location at Dabolim. All we need is respite from Naval restrictions and the plans to realise the full potential of Dabolim as a great place! This way, we make good use of our meagre resources and put them to good use. I have made a very good case for this, already, on this forum; with reasons and explanations. I am now glad that common sense and economic sense have prevailed! Even a mega Metropolis like Bombay does not have a second airport! Why Goa?? Some people who argue for emergency aircraft parking space etc. in Goa, should remember that Pune is so much closer to Mumbai then Goa is; and that Bombay airport has never really closed except for the last flood crisis time; and before that, at the time of the Santa Cruz International Terminal Fire damage. So what we really need is to safegaurd against fires and floods etc; not go on building unnecessary and unviable 'facilities' across the country! Let Common Sense and Economic Sense Prevail! Viva Goa! Jai Bharat! Nasci Caldeira Melbourne Down Under
[Goanet] DABOLIM Only; Mopa N/A
Hello goanetters, I'm in complete agreement with the efforts and wishes of all goans regarding the 'extension and retention of 'Dabolim Airport' as the the only civilian and International / Domestic airport in Goa. Kudos to Churchill Alemao, and others who lobby in New Delhi; also to Wilfred De Sousa for supporting Churchill, in this very essential cause, for Goa as a whole. All the goanet supporters and resident Goans , please do keep up your efforts and see that we make our Goa, a wonderful place to live in! A small place like Goa does not, has never needed another airport location; what when we already have a wonderful airport and location at Dabolim. All we need is respite from Naval restrictions and the plans to realise the full potential of Dabolim as a great place! This way, we make good use of our meagre resources and put them to good use. I have made a very good case for this, already, on this forum; with reasons and explanations. I am now glad that common sense and economic sense have prevailed! Even a mega Metropolis like Bombay does not have a second airport! Why Goa?? Some people who argue for emergency aircraft parking space etc. in Goa, should remember that Pune is so much closer to Mumbai then Goa is; and that Bombay airport has never really closed except for the last flood crisis time; and before that, at the time of the Santa Cruz International Terminal Fire damage. So what we really need is to safegaurd against fires and floods etc; not go on building unnecessary and unviable 'facilities' across the country! Let Common Sense and Economic Sense Prevail! Viva Goa! Jai Bharat! Nasci Caldeira Melbourne Down Under
[Goanet]Dabolim /or Mopa?
Today's Herald (Dec 23) has an article on p. 2 titled feasibility report on Mopa airport in Jan . It says that pursuant to an agreement signed by the state government with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of Montreal, Canada, last year (i.e. 2003), and a visit some weeks ago of government officials to Montreal, the ICAO is planning to begin a techno-feasibility study of Mopa airport on site from Jan 10. The study will take 5 (five) months. Following submission of the report the state government will thereafter proceed to further the process of setting up the international airport.
