Parivar-turn on Mopa

Govt eyes LS poll, blinks on Mopa November 8, 2013 We never pushed for Mopa; airport will happen only if commercially viable, says CM TEAM HERALD PANJIM: The ensuing Lok Sabha polls have prompted the BJP-led government in Goa to singing another tune on the Mopa greenfield international airport decision, with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar categorically stating that ‘government never pushed for Mopa airport’. On Thursday, the chief minister, who by now was seen announcing dates for the functioning of the Mopa airport, surprised everyone by saying “The greenfield airport will happen only if it is commercially viable’. Parrikar on April 1 had announced on the floor of the state legislative assembly that the Mopa airport would be made functional by 2016 end or by 2017. It was during the same assembly session, where chief minister had expressed the need for Mopa airport claiming that Dabolim airport even after expansion would be saturated. The airport is projected to cost an estimated Rs 3000 crore. Addressing media persons soon after chairing the reviewed meeting for the preparedness of Rs 400 crore extended Dabolim airport, Parrikar said “Mopa is a non-financial greenfield airport….government is not going to finance the project. It is a private airport and will take shape if any private company comes forward (to fund it).” “Let the private parties see if the Mopa airport is economically viable…let us leave it to the market forces,” Parrikar, who was accompanied by Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho for the media briefing, said. The chief minister said the government will only provide land for the project, provided private parties come forward. The government has already acquired 81lakh square metres of land for the project. “Dabolim is an international airport that government will run making it economically viable and will continue to function,” he clarified. Parrikar also stated that the project was initiated and started by the Congress leaders such Luizinho Faleiro, Pratapsing Rane and Churchill Alemao, who are now opposing the same on the pretext of elections. The BJP government’s sudden backtracking on the Mopa airport, ahead of Lok Sabha polls, looks nothing short of efforts to woo the South Goa voters, who are upset with the government move to have yet another international airport at Mopa in north Goa and who are staunchly supporting the continuance of Dabolim. The chief minister was very recently on record announcing the environment impact assessment (EIA) study for the project, followed by request for qualification (RFQ) document. The government had also announced that no development would be allowed within 7 kms radius from the center of the airport. “Dabolim is handling 3.7 million passengers every year currently and the number will go to 5 million in 2015 and 5.5 million in 2016,” Parrikar had told the state assembly, adding that the facility even after expansion can handle only 4 million passengers annually. However, on Thursday Parrikar said that the facility can handle upto 6 million tourists annually, if operational for 15 hours a day and can go upto 9 million, if it is made operational for 24 hours. The chief minister had clarified that by 2017 Dabolim would be doubly overloaded and if that happens it will have to put restriction on tourist arrivals. What the CM said on April 2 Mopa will take off by 2017: Parrikar Mopa airport would be made operational by 2017 and land would be officially in possession of the govt by April 8, the chief minister informed the state legislative assembly on April 2, 2013. The CM had also stated that Mopa would be an alternative to the Dabolim airport which would remain in operation even after the Mopa one starts. http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Govt-eyes-LS-poll-blinks-on-Mopa/81691.html