PERNEM: Protesting the acquisition of land for Mopa international airport, residents of surrounding villages said location of two airports within a radius of 70 km, excluding a third one at Chippi in Maharashtra will not be a feasible proposition considering requirement of volumes of traffic.
Villagers opposed the land acquisition at a public meeting at Sateri temple in Chandel, Pernem amidst allegations from members of the Dhangar community of threats received from some persons that their houses would be demolished soon for the proposed airport.
Pointing out that the Goa government had submitted a report 'Goa, a dual airport study' to Bombay high court at Goa, Sandip Kamble of Mopa Vimantal Piditt Xetkari Samiti said that it has raised doubts about the feasibility of a second airport at Mopa if the existing Dabolim airport is upgraded.
The international civil aviation organization (ICAO) had carried out the study at the instance of the Goa government. A writ petition filed by villagers opposing the land acquisition process is pending before the high court of Bombay at Goa.
According to the report, the second airport needs volumes of passengers and it needs to be convenient and accessible to passengers. Kamble pointed out that Mopa airport is proposed to be set up in a corner of the state bordering Maharashtra.
A dual-airport is a compromise and only a second best solution compared to a single airport, Kamble said.
Further pointing out that Indian Navy has plans to shift its major operations to Karwar according to reports in sections of the press, Kamble said that three airports, including Chipi in Sindhudurg, barely 35 kms from Mopa will be a sort of world record.
Social activist Seby Rodrigues said some landlords possessing huge tracts of land were possessing it by default. They were interested in selling this land so that a golf course can also be set up in the taluka but it will prove detrimental to the interests of the poor. Mopa is another SEZ and should be scrapped, Rodrigues said.
Bismarque Dias another environment activist said that those who allow or approve sale of ancestral land are betraying their own mother. The environment is in a state of degradation and we should protect it, he added.
Local resident Buthaji Dattaram Gauns also spoke on how the land acquisition officials were harassing the villagers by calling them to the panchayat office repeatedly. He said no villager would part with his land for the project.
A proposed discussion on a demand to scrap the land acquisition for Mopa airport by villagers could not take place in October 2010 as panchayat authorities said the matter is sub judice.
Villagers, especially Sandeep Kambli of Mopa Vimantal Piddit Xetkari Samiti had requested a discussion on the issue at the gram sabha of Varkhand-Nagzar panchayat. Deputy sarpanch Narayan Talkadkar had intervened and said it would not be appropriate to hold discussions on the issue at that stage, as the matter was pending in court.
The Samiti has urged the Central government to direct the state to cancel the land acquisition proceedings for the airport or hold them in abeyance till the Centre can study the viability and feasibility of a second airport and also its environmental and socio-economic impact.
In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, environment minister and airport authority of India, the farmers committee has said the project has social, economic and environmental costs which have not been studied.
"The proposed Mopa International Airport initially requires an investment of at least Rs 4,000 crore, and shall cause the loss of more than 100 lakh sq m of fertile lands belonging to 15,000 farmers, who will also lose their livelihood," the committee had stated in the memorandum. (TNN)
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