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Controversy erupts over Goa's new airport

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The ruling coalition government in Goa does not seem to be enthused over the Centre's nod for an international airport in the tourist state.

The announcement regarding the approval of the site of Mopa, a village on Goa-Maharashtra border, has thus evoked mixed reactions, and lobbying for and against the proposal is seen further.

The announcement came even as officials of the Civil Aviation ministry, including Union minister Sharad Yadav, were attending a conference at Fort Aguada Beach Resorts here.

"I am not averse to the idea of having the international airport in Goa, but we may like to have the site changed," said chief minister Francisco Sardinha. He plans to have a breakfast meeting with Yadav tomorrow morning to discuss the matter in detail.

While Dabolim airport is in the port town of Vasco, Mopa is located towards the extreme north. Sardinha learnt to be in favour of having even the new airport in the south part of the state.

"Mopa is approved by the joint committee of the ministry and the Airport Authority of India after considering its viability in terms of 4,500 acres of flat land, 3,200 metres of airstrip area and the proximity to the national highway and the railway station," points out Jitendra Deshprabhu, the local Congress party legislator.

His supporters from Pernem taluka welcomed the news yesterday by bursting firecrackers in several villages. Deshprabhu looked relieved as the curtain fell on the ongoing controversy over the site. However, sources believe that the controversy is unlikely to die down so soon.

Manohar Parrikar, the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP leader, has questioned the viability of the project. He doubts if any private firm would come forward to construct the airport, worth Rs 20 billion, on a build, own, operate and transfer or BOOT basis.

He has no objection to his central leaders clearing the mega project, but strongly feels that the response for the global tender would not be encouraging.

"You will need at least 30 flights everyday to make it a financially viable project," points out Parrikar, an influential member of the coalition government here.

Deshprabhu, however, feels that the airport would not only fulfil the needs of Goa, but also southern Maharashtra and North Canara district of Karnataka.

He has been lobbying for Mopa and voicing his protest against the Maharashtra state's proposal for an airport in Sindhudurg.

The Maharashtra government had even acquired land for such an airport just across the Goa border, but the proposal did not get the Centre's approval.

The Mopa site was, however, selected by the joint committee of the ministry and the AAI in March last year, followed by a green signal from the then local Congress government in October.

The matter, however, came before the Cabinet only after the defence ministry gave its clearance last month.

Business

Goa