from Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network - Goa
Margao, Feb 16: Irked by Congress party's stand over Mopa airport project, veteran politician and member of Lok Sabha from South Goa Churchill Alemao, himself a Congress leader, has hinted at quitting the party and forming his own political outfit.
The erstwhile BJP-led government of Goa was dislodged mainly to ensure that the Congress would do something for the betterment of the Goan people, who stand to be adversely affected by the proposed Mopa airport. But it now appeared that certain Congressmen had colluded with the BJP to get in Mopa through the backdoor, said Alemao, while addressing a press conference in a city hotel.
Alemao alleged that chief minister Pratapsingh Rane and the BJP had been misguiding the people of Goa over Mopa airport issue, by saying that both airports Dabolim and Mopa should function to meet the boom of tourism business in Goa, as after 20 years, the lone Dabolim Airport would not be able to accommodate more aircraft, for which Mopa is must.
But it is not a fact. Dabolim airport can meet with any challenge if the government acquires addtitional land surrounding the aiport for construction of more runways, according to him.
Alemao who is determined to have the Mopa airport project scapped has said that he would hit the streets from next week, starting with a meeting at Vasco to be followed by another at Navelim and thereafter across the state to get the referendum from people to support Dabolim to retain and to scrap Mopa.
If Mopa airports turns into reality, Goan tourism industry will collapse as it will benefit only Maharashtra state being closer to Mopa. Goan should understand all this factors and should support Dabolim to become an international airport, not a Mopa, Alemao urged.
Read more on Mopa, from Daijiworld archives: