Publication authorized by Mr. Churchill Alemao, MP, Lok Sabha
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MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(LOK SABHA)
To
Praful Patel
Ministry of State For Civil Aviation
Government Of India
Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan
New Delhi-110 003
7th FebÂ’ 2006
Ref: (withheld)
Sir,
I have received your aforesaid letter dated 31st Jan 2006, and I am glad
that your Ministry has taken cognisance of the fears of the people of Goa.,
as expressed by me in the Lok Sabha, on the issue of the closure of the
Centrally located Dabolim airport and the creation of new airport at MOPA on
the extreme Northern tip of Goa abutting Maharashtra.
In the first place I would like to point out that the belief that the
Dabolim airport belongs to Indian Navy and the AAI maintains a Civil enclave
is based on error of fact and law. The original airport was set up in the
year 1955, by the erstwhile Portuguese government for civilian use. The land
was acquired by notification dated 21st July 1955 by the Ministry of
Overseas and Communications and published in the Official gazette number 35
series 1 dated 1st September 1955. A copy of the original notification along
with translations is annexed here to. It may be further pertinent to note
that the erstwhile Portuguese regime did not have an Navy with aircraft
carrier and therefore there was no question of a Naval airport. The
Portuguese also did not have a regular airforce in Goa.
That in course of the liberation of Goa the Indian armed forces entered and
after the Portuguese surrendered Goa was placed under military rule for a
period of two years. During this transitory period the Army. Navy and
Airforce came to occupy several Civilian properties in Goa. As Goa returned
to Civilan rule the armed forces retained only the Portuguese military
facilities and vacated other properties. At that time the Civilian airport
at Dabolim was retained with the Navy as the civilian Authorities did not
have the technical competence to operate the airport and therefore the
maintenance is being done by Naval authorities.
It was clearly understood that the Navy would shift from Dabolim after the
seabird Naval base just 50 kms South became functional; Moreover it may be
noted that the Dabolim airport is merely a training Airport for aircraft
based on the Naval carrier, and therefore has no strategic significance. The
township of Vasco within which the Dabolim airport is located has also grown
substantially in the last four decades and therefore a training airport
cannot be located in the heart of a densely populated town. It may not be
out of place to point out that over the last three to four years Naval
aircrafts have crashed in the town resulting in several deaths and
destruction of properties.
I further find that the terms of reference for the Committee constituted
under your order dated 27th Jan 2006 are not sufficient to address the
grievances of the people of Goa.
I would therefore suggest that additional points of reference as mentioned
below be added to the order.
1.To go into the question of the ownership of the Dabolim Airport vis-a viz
the claim of the Indian Navy
2.To determine the adverse impact on Tourism/Ecology of Goa if the Airport
is shifted to the extreme Northern tip of Goa.
I would kindly request that necessary action be taken in the light of what
is stated above and pending a decision and the Committee be directed to stay
all further deliberations.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
(CHURCHILL ALEMAO)
C.C : To Shri Pranab Mukherjee (Hon: Minister for Defence)
Shri Arjun Singh (Hon Minister for Human Resource Development)
Shri Priya Ranjan Das Munshi (Hon Minister for Information % BroadcastinG)
Shri Oscar Fernandes (Hon Minister)
Shri Ahmed Patel (Hon MP & Advisor for the Congress President)
Smt. Margaret Alva ( Gen Secy AICC in charge of Goa)
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