Goa to request PM to shift naval base to Mopa
ARVIND TENGSE, MADGAO | 30 May 2013 18:55 IST
Goa’s BJP government is planning to throw the ball of Mopa air port controversy in the court of the central Congress government.
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar today said he would request Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to shift naval base of Dabolim to Mopa.
He, along with other party leaders, is meeting the Prime Minister on 5 June.
“Let the central government move the naval base to Mopa and hand over complete Dabolim air port for civilian purpose”, said Parrikar.
Parrikar had earlier predicted that Navy would never give up Dabolim.
However, he had later on said he does not mind shutting down the proposal of Mopa air port, provided complete Dabolim air port is handed over for civil aviation.
He had also offered to hand over acquired Mopa land to Navy if they shift their naval base from Dabolim.
The demand of Only Dabolim is heating up in Salcete and Mormugao talukas on the eve of forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Besides some of the ministers and MLAs of his ruling coalition, the Congress politicians have also put their weight behind Fr Eremito Rebello’s ‘Goans Only for Dabolim.’
The all-party delegation led by Goa chief minister are meeting the PM also to press for the demands of Special Status under Article 371 of the Constitution of India.
The delegation is also expected to demand financial package of Rs 3000 crore to compensate mining-dependent people who have suffered due to stopping of mining operations in Goa since October last year.
Chances of Navy shifting to Mopa are negligible. However, this is an intelligent move of the CM.
The ball will then be in the court of Congress.
With highest regards to our Navy, I would say that the best would be for the Navy to shift to Sea Bird base coming up at Karwar.