Panaji: Outlook for Social Change (OSC), a national social cause and anti-graft confederation of citizens, on Monday challenged Chief Minister Lakshmikant Parsekar to come clean on the issues related to the proposed greenfield airport at Mopa in north Goa, saying that the State does not need a second airport for the next two decades.
The entry of OSC has given a boost to the anti-Mopa movement by local activists led by Ermito Rebello, a priest, who termed the project a land scam. The Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Samiti, comprising some affected landowners, is also opposing land acquisition for the project.
The Goa government has claimed that the Dabolim airport in south Goa, which is under naval jurisdiction, has been saturated as far as civilian use is concerned. It has decided to go ahead with the Mopa airport project promising the people that the civilian use of the Dabolim airport will continue even after the second airport becomes operational.
In a letter to Mr Parsekar, A.K. Tripathi, national convenor of OSC, has accused him of giving an extra-push personally to the proposed project. It demanded that a sworn affidavit be given to the people that the airport will have zero environmental impact; will come within the envisaged cost of Rs 3,000 crore; have no cost escalation; will be ready for operations within three years; generate a minimum of 3,000 new skilled jobs; and not impact wildlife and natural heritage of adjoining areas of Maharashtra.
16/03/16 The Hindu
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The entry of OSC has given a boost to the anti-Mopa movement by local activists led by Ermito Rebello, a priest, who termed the project a land scam. The Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Samiti, comprising some affected landowners, is also opposing land acquisition for the project.
The Goa government has claimed that the Dabolim airport in south Goa, which is under naval jurisdiction, has been saturated as far as civilian use is concerned. It has decided to go ahead with the Mopa airport project promising the people that the civilian use of the Dabolim airport will continue even after the second airport becomes operational.
In a letter to Mr Parsekar, A.K. Tripathi, national convenor of OSC, has accused him of giving an extra-push personally to the proposed project. It demanded that a sworn affidavit be given to the people that the airport will have zero environmental impact; will come within the envisaged cost of Rs 3,000 crore; have no cost escalation; will be ready for operations within three years; generate a minimum of 3,000 new skilled jobs; and not impact wildlife and natural heritage of adjoining areas of Maharashtra.
16/03/16 The Hindu
