Mopa airport: Uncovering Underdevelopment in the Garb of Development

“Independence!” “Independence!” “Independence!”. It seems to be very funny that these words are used freely by politicians whereas the very same words do not hold water to the people of Mopa and surrounding villagers where the international airport is on the verge of becoming a reality. To these people, it spells death. What is Freedom? Does it not include freedom of speech and freedom of having a right to livelihood? That is why the talk of independence seems to have become an empty slogan to the villagers of Mopa. When they themselves protest against Mopa airport why does the Government pays no heed to them? Why do the M.L.A’s act as inactive by standing spectators? Why do they deny their basic rights and livelihood? Why do none of the M.L.As render a listening ear to their cry? Such an attitude brings credence to the narrative that our M.L.A’s and their cronies have a share of huge booty from the project. This is why they perhaps cannot identify with the people’s aspiration. This Government is not of the aam aadmi but of the rich Khas aadmi!

Is the Government not robbing the natural resources of the people of Mopa? Like the capitalists, is the Government not guilty of trading on the natural habitats of the people? The conversion of the agricultural land into an airport will certainly bring huge dividends to the Government at the cost of displacing the simple people of Mopa and the surrounding areas by alienating them from their livelihood. How sustainable is this conversion of the natural source of livelihood into a Babu culture of the bureaucratic driven revenue leaking source of Jobs to the locals? How much revenue will stay for the people of Mopa who at present are the masters of their own destiny while they practice agriculture in their lands? Will it not amount to surrender of this autonomy and embracement of a slavery that comes in the garb of an Airport? What jobs will the airport offer the poor unskilled and illiterate people of Mopa? Hence, the discourse that the airport will develop the people is a false propaganda. It offers nothing less than death and destruction of the people of Mopa.

This propaganda of development has invented the underdevelopment of the village of Mopa. The people of the place will simply carry the weight of so called development that will only leave them behind as the blind march of so-called progress will crush them by displacing them from their source of livelihood. If the Government is serious and is genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the people, Why does it imposes a development where they cannot become equal partners? Will not the lack of the skills and expertise of the aviation industry become a divide that cannot be bridged by the people in any discernible near future? By the time they will be rendered fit enough to overcome the divide, will they be not left behind by those who already have the lion’s share of the cake?

The underdevelopment engineered by the Government in the grab of development exposes the hypocrisy of the so called am admi Government. The development that leaves behind the local am admi is indeed clearly anti-people and is rightly resisted by the people. If Government really wants to develop the village of Mopa and its surrounding, why does it not promote horticulture, agriculture and handicrafts etc., which would benefit locals? If the Government is true to its claims why cant it develop the people by helping the poor tenants to become owners of their lands? It is glaringly clear that the airport does not come to develop the people but to prey on their land resources. The lands of the poor framers have become the raw material that will be churned out into an airport that will only increase the profit margins of those hungry predators.

It is even amazing why the opposition that roars like a lion on every other issue in the assembly chooses to remains a silent lamb when it comes to Mopa airport? The silence of the opposition is indeed disturbing. Equally disturbing is the double speak of pro-Dabolim MLA who had almost won his seat by politicizing the Mopa airport. All these leaders seem to have joined the league and the ranks of the hungry predators. It is unfortunate that our chief minister and his forty thieves are busy plotting the underdevelopment in the guise of development. Why cant the politician both ruling and the opposition take a leaf from book of Mamta Benerjee who drove underdevelopment that came to visit Sigur under the guise of the industrial plant of Tata Nano? Goans refuse to be fooled by the propaganda of development. The architects of underdevelopment who hide their vicious plot under the cover of development are finally exposed. We refuse to accept their pseudo-development and re-claim our right to say NO!

Walter D’Souza

Rachol Seminary

When the Pernem villagers boycotted ZP elections

Mopa Vimantal Pidit Xetkari Samiti in March 2010 gave a call to boycott Zilla Parishad elections in Goa. It was a historic call like none before. Very few occasions the citizens has resorted to such a drastic measures as this one. The content of the letter written to the electoral officer is reproduced here:

04/03/2010

To,

The Chief Electoral Officer of Goa,

Panjim, Goa

We, the villagers of Varkahnd, Cansarvanem, Chandel, Amerem, Halli and Poraskadem hereby declare that we shall boycott the forthcoming Zilla Parishad elections, and all future elections, as the existing electoral process spells doom for all of us. This process does not provide any hope for the basic survival of the beleaguered residents of our villages, who are threatened with total displacement by the political parties who are monopolizing the electoral process currently in force.

The Mopa Vimantall Piditt Xetkari Samiti strongly condemns the present election process and the resultant political setup, where there is no space for the politics of the poor and the deprived majority. Both the National parties are only interested in graft and corruption and the voice of the poor is completely snuffed out by them. In our case, a huge land scam engulfing the entire taluka of Pernem, in the name of Mopa International Airport , is being pursued by both congress and BJP, who are together ensuring that the masses are not allowed to have any chance for representation in this election process. using tonnes of ill-gotten money in brazen display of of corruption, the two parties bribe the helpless electorate so that the elections are reduced to a farce of the most serious nature. The failure of the Election Commission of India to stop the all-pervading corruption in the election process is a fundamental cause of the acute distress being faced by the electorate today and for the brazen violation of the Constitution of India by a few rich and powerful persons. The Election Commission of India has failed in its primary duty to ensure that free and fair elections are held, thereby endangering the very foundation of our great democracy.

We therefore demand that all ongoing and future elections in the State of Goa be countermanded since the current process is completely undemocratic and leaves no space for the voice of the common people. Unless you exercise your Constitutional duties and stop the corrupt elections practices used by the present Political Parties, the Constitution of India remains only a false promise as the Nation rushes towards complete destruction.

Thanking you,

Sd/-

Sandip Kambli

(Secretary)

Tel: 9923486841

C.C. : (1) Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi - 110001.

(2) The Chief Minister of Goa

(3) The Leader of the Opposition, Goa

(4) M.L.A. of Dhagal Constituency of Goa

Mopa resistence to land acqusition for proposed Mopa Airport

On August 30, 2010 Mr M.K Vasta land acquisition officer along with an assistant came to mopa airport area for a hearing regarding issuing of section 9 and 10, at Vasadev temple at Tulaskar wadi. Lot of villagers from Cansarvonem, Tulaskar wadi, Dhangar wadi who were served notice were present for the meeting.

Mr Vasta asked the people regarding compensation, valuation of trees etc, the people asked him that in notification 2221 RD 2008 - 5A it is mentioned that people should not object land acquisition so how are we to ask and what to ask we do not know.

Janardhan Tulaskar, Dinkar Tulaskar, Digamber Tulaskar questioned Mr Vasta on benefits of the airport project which he could not answer, also when they asked him of destruction of forest, agriculture and water , he replied that environment matters the court will handle and other things he doesnt know and he obeys orders of his superiors. He also mentioned that land will be acquired and handed to the government and later the steering commitee will decide what to do. What does this mean ?

Most of the people asked for time to reply.

The people have approached the High Court and the Attorney General has assured the Court that the land acquisition will be stopped till the court decision, but here people were so annoyed that the government is bent on acquiring their land without obeying the high court, issuing of section 9 and 10 is illegal as the land acquisition process is in the court.

As per the villagers the govt will only acquire their land and drive them out of their motherland. No one can build an airport here as the Mopa plateau has steep slopes on all sides and to level this slopes is just not humanly possible. “There will be no airport here but this process is just to acquire our beautiful land and drive us out of here, then they may sell the land to big land sharks as construction of airport is not possible and Goa being small can suffice with one airport” villagers observed.

Appeal to reconsider Mopa Airport

MOPA VIMANTALL PIDITT XETKARI SAMITI

H. No 236, SHIMECHEA ADVAN - VARKHAND

PEDNEM GOA

Date: 26^th July 2010

To.

Shri. Jairam Ramesh

Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests

C-1/9, Lodhi Gardens, Rajesh Pilot Marg,

New Delhi- 110 003.

SUB: GREENFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT MOPA, GOA

URGENT APPEAL FOR RECONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL

Dear Sir,

We are shocked to know that the Central Government has given the nod for a greenfield International Airport at Mopa, Goa on 10^th June 2010, without carrying out essential studies regarding the necessity and the feasibility of the project and, equally importantly, without considering the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the proposed project.

The proposed Mopa International Airport initially requires an investment of at least Rs 4000 crores, and shall cause the loss of more than 100 lakhs sq meters of fertile lands belonging to 15,000 farmers, who shall not only lose their lands, but also their livelihoods. In the view of the huge costs, a detailed techno-commercial feasibility report should have been prepared by experts before commencing acquisition proceedings. Similarly, an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) would seem mandatory before locating the Airport on Mopa plateau, considering the fact that the plateaus and upper slopes in the plateau region of Goa are highly eco-sensitive zones. The environmental and socio-economic studies assume even greater importance in the light of the emerging consensus that Goa is already suffering from over-exploitation of resources.

The traditional ecological communities belonging to Mopa and its neighboring villages are facing a grave threat today due to the proposal for construction of an International Airport on our lands. Unless there is an immediate intervention from your good self, thousands of farming families will be displaced by the ongoing acquisitions of prime agricultural lands for this thoughtless proposal.

The fact is that this grandiose project is absolutely unnecessary and threatens to reverse the socio-economic development that our State has witnessed over the past few decades. The arbitrary decision to construct a second International Airport in tiny Goa is a huge blunder. In these circumstances, the ongoing Land Acquisition is absolutely insensitive to the lives of thousands of farming families, who are being arbitrarily displaced and dispossessed for a project that will never see the light of dawn.

We wish to bring to your immediate notice the following facts which clearly show that the arbitrary decision of the State Government of Goa needs to be scrapped without delay in order to save precious money and time, and to save Goa in general, and the Taluka of Pernem in particular, from certain and irreversible destruction:

ROLE OF THE UNION GOVERNMENT

1. It is the Union Government’s responsibility to ensure that Greenfield International Airports are not constructed at the wrong places. However, the approval of a second International Airport in Goa seems to have been given without a proper review of the necessity, or feasibility, of two International Airports in Goa.

2. Airports are crucial centers of development of the Nation. While well chosen sites for Greenfield Airports have the potential to catalyze economic growth, poor or misconceived site selection is sure to wreak havoc on the existing economy. It is therefore absolutely critical that a Nation must not make any error in the selection of sites for new Airports and that such decisions follow detailed and thorough study of all possibilities and options available. In the case of the proposal for Mopa International Airport, the Indian Government has allowed a thoughtless ‘wish’ of the Goa Government to override all National considerations and norms of planning.

3. Airports require huge investments from the State, and can make or break the economy of a region depending on whether they are successful or not. Such large investment of the Public Funds must surely not go waste, since a failed project of this magnitude would seriously damage India’s chances to achieve necessary and desired growth. The Union Government must seriously consider the viability of the Mopa International Airport, before it is too late.

4. Goa ranks a lowly 9^th by volume as per the air traffic report of 2009 among all the Airports in the country. Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad not only have higher volumes of traffic, but are also having better growth potential than Goa. In fact, there are signs that Goa is suffering as a destination due to over-development and may be fast losing her charm, which could translate into negative growth in the air traffic volume. On the other hand other there are several Indian States that need development catalysts, and growing cities that have genuine traffic congestion issues, where greenfield Airports are necessary solutions. It is therefore extremely surprising that two International Airports are approved for Goa, including a greenfield International Airport at Mopa, before considering the needs of the larger and fast growing cities, or the underdeveloped parts of the country.

5. While planning new Airports, it is important to first ensure that the site selection is not influenced by vested interests. In particular, speculation in land is recognized as the most serious threat to proper site selection. In the case of Mopa Airport, the site selected lies in the middle of a completely agricultural region, supporting a largely agrarian population, which continues to be deprived due to non-implementation of various constitutional and legal provisions for decades. Most of the lands in Pernem taluka are tenanted lands, but the ownership continues to vest in the names of the landlords of yesteryears, who are politicians or influential businessmen today. The tenants remain without titles to the lands they have cultivated and possessed for centuries and are also without any education or vocational training, except in agriculture. A study conducted by us shows that in the past 10 years huge chunks of agricultural lands, many of which are tenanted, have been purchased by politicians and other rich persons. These local politicians and other influential persons are pushing the demand for the second Airport in order to make large profits by selling the agricultural lands which they have purchased for a pittance. In their blind greed, the local politicians are manipulating the Union Government into taking this completely wrong decision, which shall destroy the environment, society and economy of Goa, unless the Union Government exercises its powers and stops this project.

6. The local politicians have falsely portrayed the need for a second International Airport within the State of Goa. The proposal for the second Airport has been made possible only by avoiding all basic planning norms, procedures and checks and balances and by giving false information. The State Government has ignored all National and local interests while pushing their proposal for the Mopa Airport. It is therefore clear that if the Union Government wishes to ensure that the development of Airports in the country does not falter, it must insist on detailed studies of the necessity and feasibility of the two International Airports in Goa, and the environmental and socio-economic impact of the second Airport on the region around the site selected. Till such time that the Union Government is not satisfied with the necessity and feasibility of two Airports in Goa, the State Government should be asked to stay the ongoing land acquisition proceedings.

7. The Policy of Airport Infrastructure (source: Ministry of Civil Aviation, December 1997) states that no Greenfield airports will normally be allowed within an aerial distance of 150 kms of an existing airport (paragraph 3. of the section entitled 'Greenfield Airports'). It goes on to state that where a Greenfield airport is allowed as a second airport in the same city or close vicinity, the parameters for distribution of traffic between the two airports will be clearly spelt out. We state that that the approval of the Mopa Airport does not conform to the Policy of Airport Infrastructure, since the restriction on Greenfield Airports in the vicinity of existing airports has been arbitrarily ignored. Mopa has two existing airports in its vicinity (Dabolim, Goa and Sindhudurg Airport, Maharashtra) and therefore the restrictions should not have been violated. Further, no clear parameters for distribution of traffic between the three airports have been spelt out, which should have been done before the approval was granted. It is stated that if a studied attempt was made to distribute the present and future traffic between the three airports, Mopa Airport would have never been approved.

ARBITRARY ‘WISH’ OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT

The Goa Government has arbitrarily decided that it needs a second Airport, without carrying out any studies regarding the feasibility of two International Airports within the tiny State. This arbitrary decision is bad due to blatant failure of the State Authorities to apply their mind, to carry out planning, and to follow essential procedures.

If proper norms and procedures had been followed, the following considerations would have required the planners and decision-makers not to plan for a second Airport in Goa :

1. The existing International Airport at Dabolim, Goa has sufficient capacity to cater to all the passenger and cargo traffic for Goa. In spite of the operational restrictions imposed by the Indian Navy at present (some of which are arbitrary and unnecessary), and the scope for improvement in operational procedures being followed, Dabolim Airport comfortably handles peak traffics during the tourism season. The Dabolim Airport is currently being upgraded under a Rs 500 Crore project. After completion of ongoing works and with further improvements in the Airport Operations and infrastructure, the Dabolim Airport can comfortably handle traffic for the State of Goa in the coming decades. There is therefore no need for a second International Airport to be constructed in Goa. In order to justify its ‘wish’ for a second International Airport at Goa, the State Government has attempted to conceal the fact that the existing Dabolim Airport has sufficient capacity to handle the future air traffic for many years to come.

2. Dabolim International Airport is located at the center of Goa, while Mopa is located at the Northern end of the State. A large majority of the local population, as well as most of the tourists heading for the popular beaches and Hotels in South and Central Goa, will continue using Dabolim Airport in the future even if Mopa Airport is constructed. The Government has given a commitment to the Goan population that the use of Dabolim Airport for domestic and International flights shall continue even if Mopa International Airport is built and put to use. As the Dabolim Airport will continue to remain operational, the Mopa International Airport is not feasible.

3. The Mopa plateau lies about 20 nautical miles north of the Dabolim International Airport, and about 23 nautical miles south of the Chipi Airport being constructed in Maharashtra. While the present National Policy requires any greenfield Airport to be outside a 150 kms radius from any existing Airport, in this case two greenfield Airports have been granted approval within 150 kms from the existing Dabolim International Airport. In fact, the construction of the greenfield Mopa International Airport shall create three operational Civilian Airports within a radius of 20-25 Nautical miles. This extraordinary situation is not considered in any of the reports or other documents obtained under the RTI Act.

4. The Dabolim Airport has always been an International Civilian Airport, even before the liberation of Goa from colonial rule. However, since the liberation of Goa, the Indian Navy has sometimes created unnecessary hurdles for the civilian operations at the Airport. This issue can easily be solved with proper co-ordination between the Indian Navy, Airport Authority of India and the Ministries concerned.

5. The existing Dabolim Airport site is superior to the proposed site at Mopa in terms of geographical characteristics. The plateau at Mopa has disadvantages on account of its limited size and the steep slopes which surround it on all sides. The Mopa plateau is located very close to the towering Western Ghats and is surrounded by prime agricultural lands and rural settlements, while the Dabolim Airport is located much closer to the coast and to the urban centers and tourism zones.

6. In addition to the issues raised in paragraph 2 above, the feasibility of a second Airport in Goa is seriously in doubt on various grounds. Firstly, unless at least one Airline is committed to locating its ‘hub’ (parking its fleet on the tarmac) at a new greenfield Airport, such a project should not be considered. Since all existing domestic and International Airlines operating in this region already have hubs at Mumbai, Bangalore, or Hyderabad, Mopa Airport has a distinct disadvantage to start with. Secondly, the present Goa bound air traffic largely consists of charter flights for tourism and other tourists. There are several indications today that Goa has already crossed its capacity for sustainable tourism. In fact, the ongoing environmental and socio-economic degradation, combined with rising crime, drugs and other scandals, have already started driving away the better tourists from this rapidly deteriorating destination. At the same time, as stated by the Government and its agencies, this new Airport cannot be feasible unless large numbers of tourists are attracted by constructing various new projects, such as 'ice city', 'sports city', I.T. park, shopping malls, etc. While such a strategy may catalyze economic growth in under developed places, Goa is already over-developed, and therefore the wrong place for another International Airport, which shall only degrade the place further and cause a complete collapse of tourism in Goa.

BASIC FLAWS IN THE ‘REPORTS’ PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT

The State Government has attempted to justify its demand for a second International Airport by employing a company called M/s. Bhagat Infrastructures to study the second Airport proposal. Subsequently, the Government appointed M/s. ADPi to carry out a study on the Mopa site. From the documents received under the RTI Act from the Authorities, it is clear that these reports are only eyewash, and cannot form the basis of the approval of a second International Airport in Goa. Some basic flaws in these studies and reports are:

1. The appointment of M/s Bhagat Infrastructures to prepare the preliminary feasibility report can be termed a farce, based on the prima facie evidence collected under the RTI Act. Firstly, the company seems to be the front office for a Spanish company eager to bag Airport construction projects, especially the Mopa International Airport construction project, thereby disqualifying it from taking on the role of a Consultant. Secondly, the single page letter from the said company regarding their conclusions is completely unacceptable. The said company was led on by the State Government to believe that it was going to get the Contract to build the new International Airport, which explains the hasty report given in favor of the second Airport. Thirdly, it is obvious that the capabilities of the said company were woefully inadequate from the start of the challenging consultancy assignment. The State Government has therefore completely failed to apply its mind to the issue regarding a second Airport in Goa and is guilty of gross negligence in taking this rash decision.

2. Critique of ADPi preliminary feasibility report.

a. This report does not touch the issues of the necessity and feasibility of a second Airport. The consultant does not have any mandate to study the feasibility of a second Airport in Goa. In the absence of this basic study, the feasibility report has very limited relevance to the decision whether or not to build a second Airport in Goa.

b. There are no environmental or socio-economic studies carried out by the consultant. This can easily be verified by comparing the statements made in the report with the ground reality.

c. The report includes some gravely erroneous statements and excludes many significant facts regarding the Mopa plateau. It mentions that there are no permanent structures within the Airport site. It goes on to say that some nomads build a few temporary kutcha huts when they bring their cattle to graze on the plateau. It then concludes that there are no rehabilitation issues related to the use of this land to build an Airport. But in reality, the environmental and socio-economic impact of the proposed airport is massive. There are about 150 permanent houses, some of them around 200 years old, inside the land to be acquired. The extensive agricultural activities on the plateau and its sides are not mentioned in the report at all. There is also no reference to unique Dhangar settlement on the plateau, or to the ancient religious significance of the plateau to the villagers from the surrounding villages.

d. The report mentions that the lower plain ground can be used for commercial activities, housing complexes and other infrastructure for the Mopa Airport. In reality, the upper slopes around the plateaus are either thickly forested or used for farming. The lower slopes and plains are thickly populated and house most of the farmers and other locals, who are mostly dependent on their agricultural lands, both in the plains and on the plateau above. If the lower plains and slopes are also acquired from the locals, it will translate into complete displacement of all the local communities.

e. The lands to be acquired for the Airport include, or are adjoining, vast stretches of cashew plantations, which constitute the major commercial crop for the farmers. It is roughly estimated that the agricultural produce from the plateau and the slopes around it is valued at more than 50 crores of rupees every year, which equates to the subsistence of more than 15,000 families.

f. Existence of substantial infrastructure for the residents in the form of school, electricity installations, roads and irrigation canals etc have not been considered in the report.

g. The State Governments of Goa and Maharashtra have jointly spent Rs. 1612.15 crores on the Tillari irrigation project and another Rs. 524.54 crores on canals network running around the Mopa plateau. If the Airport is constructed at Mopa, this huge investment shall also go waste.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The Mopa Airport site lies on a plateau next to the Western Ghats. The area around the plateau is mostly agricultural, but also includes thickly forested upper slopes. The plateau itself has a highly sensitive ecology. There is presence of a wide variety of flora and fauna in the area. The forests around the Mopa plateau are contiguous with neighboring parts of the Western Ghats and form a part of the habitat and range necessary for the survival of many species. A few months back there was a tiger killing registered in the forests at Keri in Sattari taluka, which are located only kms away from the proposed Airport site. The presence of tigers in various places within Goa was also confirmed during the recent survey conducted by the forest department , including at , only kms from the proposed airport site.

The Mopa Plateau is also extremely important as the major aquifer in the region, feeding tens of thousands of families with water for their daily needs and for irrigation. The numerous springs and wells in the region are recharged and fed by the aquifer lying under the plateau. The construction of the airport shall surely affect this aquifer, and the persons, economies and environment dependent on it, adversely.

It is seen that the environmental impact of the proposed airport is going to be significant to say the least. However, no studies have been conducted on the environmental impact, while the acquisition proceedings have been started. This is an incorrect procedure, especially for such a large project located in a ecologically sensitive area.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT

The proposed airport is threatening about 15,000 persons with direct displacement and many more indirectly. There is no study done about the impact of the new airport on various sectors of the existing economy of the region, or on the fragile fabric of this agrarian society. The Government reports are completely oblivious to the massive socio-economic displacement this airport shall cause and attempts to hide the facts by saying that there shall be no socio-economic impact at all. This is obviously a misrepresentation.

The decision taken to build a second Airport can only be justified on the basis of rapid growth in tourism in the state of Goa, but bad policies allowing mining to destroy the forests and water resources, uncontrollable garbage and sewage that have polluted places of tourist interests, and scandals of sex, drugs and violence have badly affected tourism in the state. It is clear today that the assumption that tourism in Goa shall keep on growing is wrong and that the challenge facing tourism in Goa is not growth but sustainability.

It is seen that absolutely no socio-economic impact studies have been carried out for this massive development project. The Government is blindly pursuing a decision that is marred with complete lack of application of mind and failure to recognize the need of the hour. Without carrying out the requisite studies, embarking on such a large project in this densely populated agricultural region is certain to cause tremendous socio-economic upheaval and displacement.

OUR PRAYER

This is a desperate appeal from all the citizens of Goa asking for your speedy intervention to save this paradise on earth from irreversible destruction.

We humbly request you:

· To direct the State Government to cancel the acquisition proceedings for Mopa Airport and to reconsider the proposal for a second Airport in Goa; Or,

· To direct the State Government to stay the acquisition proceedings for Mopa International Airport, while the Central Government studies the necessity and feasibility of a second International Airport in Goa, and the environmental and socio-economic impact of the proposed Airport on the site selected and the rest of the State.

Having placed our confidence in your foresight and wisdom, we await your urgent response to this desperate and final plea to save our lands and the lives of the future generations.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely,

For Mopa Vimantall Piditt Xetkari Samiti

Sd/-

Sandip Kambli ( Secretary)

Getting on to proposed Mopa Airport: A journey in the valley

The great media engineering is currently on in Goa to break stubborn rustic villagers that has proved to be thorn in the way of glitter hungry vested interests that includes all the leading political political parties. I had a occasion today to visit the portion of this virgin green site ironically chosen for greenfield airport. I found the field is mountainous green already and airport can do nothing more than turn it grey. After talking to the villagers I also realized that the airport is more meant to benefit the landlords of Pernem such as Deshprabhus and to crush the village economy. There are also other powerful vested interests operating behind the scene here too.

The story of this controversy ridden proposal begins in 2003 when the Goa government issued first land acquisition notification and sanctioned Rs. 500 crores. The villages that would end their existence includes Warkhand, Ambarem, Ugem, Mopa, Cahndel and Casarvane which is free from Desprabhus as landlords in hinterland eastern Pernem. At the time people filed their objections in large numbers but due to their ignorance and authorities determination to fool people the acknowledgement copy were not officially stamped. Amidst controversy the notification lapsed in 2006 with no major headway in land acquisition process for the airport.

This led the the protests by Pernem landlord Jitendra Deshprabhu and State Panchayat and Sports minister Babu Azgaonkar to launched the agitation in 2006 to demand Mopa airport. Mandrem BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar played an active role in blocking Siolim-Chopdem bridge and was arrested in this process. Jitendra Deshprabhu slept on Konkan Railway track for few hours in to further the cause of airport. It is little surprising therefore that Mopa and surrounding areas are deprived of water supply from Tillari water dam in spite of it being in command area of the project despite various demands from the villagers.

Land acquisition notice - 22/21/2008 - was again issued in 2008 with emergency clause by the Revenue department. Along with this another land acquisition notice -22/22/2008 - was issued for the airport road. In 2009 this land acquisition was declared under collector within 15 days. This forced the locals to knock the Goa bench of Bombay High Court. Villagers filed two writ petitions - 510/2009 and 568/2009. Villagers wanted to know as to what is the emergency in acquiring the land and when central government is required land why State government is acquiring the land.

The area is also lush green with forest cover and bauxite mining. This motivated a mining company to file another case in High Court hoping that mining will get priority over airport. Anther villager went to the court in writ number 135/2010 where in the government replied that current Dabolim airport will be shut down once Mopa airport is commissioned.

Mopa is an elevated plateau of 7 square kilometers area that is rich in wild fauna in the night. They come on the plateau from nearby dense forest. And no EIA is conducted for this in order to get the clearance from MoEF (Minister Jairam Ramesh has confirmed this in a letter to Gurudas Das Gupta on June 22, 2010) and land acquisition proceedings got started off. Why this mighty hurry? You only need to check out the land sale details at Pernem Mamlatdar office.

Mopa airport land sought to be acquired even before the regional plan for Goa is passed and that too in ecologically extremely sensitive area - Eco Zone I. Warkhand stands to loose 22 lakh square meters of land, Mopa 23 lakh square meters, Ugem 6 lakh square meters, Chandel 8 lakh square meters, Ambarem 4 lakh square meters.

Feasibility report for this airport was prepared by Bhagat Infrastructure, Delhi between 1996-2000 and Airport to function on the BOOT (Build Operate Own Transfer) basis. Wit the stick of magician the found it feasible to locate another airport with the distance of 30 kms off Dabolim Airport for whose up-gradation Rs.500 crores has just been sanctioned. So two airports will function. And central civil aviation ministry even changed its rule to grant this!

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in its interim order on 5th May 2010 has directed the state government not to take possession of the land of the respondents. Yet the Goa government has gone ahead with the fresh land acquisition notice number SLAO/Mopa Airport/14/2010/386 dated 04/08/2010 under section 6 of the British colonial land acquisition Act 1894 and Public Hearing have began from today in different villages.

Loca MLA and State Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar plays very interesting role of a broker. He can afford to play this role because he has nothing to loose and all the mighty cash to gain. He is the President of Mopa Nirdhar Samiti set up to demand Mopa Airport as well as President of Annay Nirvaran Samiti set up end injustice in society. Perhaps he is taking care to end injustice done to Pernem landlords and land sharks by villagers protests over giving their land for the airport. Local people here have stayed for 200 years and more and with the stoke of a pen they are to be converted beggars in 'public interest'. "We will have no option other than to commit suicide like the farmers in Andhara Pradesh are doing" told me one of the villagers today in Warkahnd.

Dhangars community is at the political receiving end. Every time they protest their supply is cut by the state authorities. There are 24 houses of Dhangars in Casarvanem and 2 houses in Varkhand. Government has brought pipeline from Tillari dam to their locality but have not released the water. "Now we know that pipeline was for the airport" as one enlighten villager puts it . And Dhangars are now told to pack off from their houses. No one knows tells them where they should be going. Iron of the mater is that in Cansarvanem village special hall was constructed at the cost of Rs. 11 lakh in survey number 255/0 and now government is ready to demolish it. Perhaps this is a mother of ironies.

As a mark of protest villagers boycotted last Zilla Parishad elections by writing letters to election commsiioon offices in Panjim and Delhi. Villagers faced enormous pressure from the henchmen of MLA Babu Azgaonkar duiring this time in the areas of Nanache Pani, Shemeche Advon, Tulaskar wadi and Dhangar wadi. Local panch even threatened to beat up the protesting villagers with sleepers if votes are not casted. What a forceful democracy!

Villagers here work in cashew plantations for three months in a year and demand that Tillari water be supplied to them to boost their agriculture so that they can cultivate for 12 months in a year. "We will bring about revolution in agriculture, some called it green revolution" experienced farmer exclaimed. "Our grazing lands must be protected, they are important for cattle as well as for wild animals. Airport is unsuitable here" determined young man declared. Airport will negatively affect local perennial water bodies and locals wants them to be protected.

Agriculture needs major boost here. Local people have purchased power tillers on loan and only further boost to this sector will be in the interest of the village. They also want the college in their vicinity. Mapusa is too far. Local college operated by private parties has closed down for some years. Government has to start one here.

Villagers are also demanding implementation of National Farming Policy and not to divert the prime agricultural land for industrial and urbanization purpose. In fact the Goa Under secretary, Revenue - I in a letter dated 05/11/2009 erects state 'to make efforts to dis-allow diversion of productive agricultural land for industrial or urbanization purpose in order to protect the discriminate diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses.

Villagers are also unhappy over the evasive responses to their RTI queries. There looks to be deliberate attempt to push the Mopa and surrounding villagers to the wall by mobilizing public opinion against them. This needs to be checkmated. This can be done by visiting the green valley by you personally and get to know the reality first hand. You can do it simply by calling up the villagers at the cell number +919923486841.

Sebastian Rodrigues

GOAMAP condemns Independence day police action on activists

Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) strongly condemns police action on various activists in Goa on Indian Independence Day celebration 15 August 2010.

In a two stupid repressive police actions Goa government infringed upon Fundamental Rights of Freedom of Speech and Expression guaranteed under the constitution of India.

In Pernem taluka three villagers- Hanumant Laxman Moskar, Sandeep Madan Kambli and Digambar Tulaskar - attached to Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Samittee were served with criminal notice under section 149 of CrPC to prevent them from sitting on dharna at KTC bus stand, Panjim and at Hutatma Smarak Patradevi against the acquisition of land for the proposed Mopa Airport on Independence day.

In Salcete taluka Anthony D’silva was taken into police custody on 15th August 2010 morning while he was sitting peacefully near the Collector’s office, Margao with public awareness message about dangers of plastic, thermacol and rubber tire waste.

In both these cases Goa government has attempted to criminalize the activism in Goa. GOAMAP demands strict actions against those police officers responsible for this in both the cases.

Mopa villagers served notices to curb freedom of expression on Independence day

Three people from Mopa Vimantal Pidith Xetkari Samiti was served with police notice on Police Inspector of Pernem Police Station Raut Desai on mid night of August 14, 2010. The reason is that Police suspected the aggrieved people of Mopa, Pernem may stage a demonstration on 15th August 2010 in Panjim. Here are the original copies of these notices.

It is indeed a tragedy that on the mid-night of the same night in 1947 India woke up while the rest of the world slept while in Goa State and police wants people of Goa to go in for forced sleep in 2010.

Chief tranquilizer is ironically a dalit MLA Babu Azagaonkar who promotes imperialist model of development crushing people and ecology of Dhargal constituency in Goa under the proposed airport.

Protecting and preserving our land from being handed over to private corporate houses

To:

The Hon’ble Chief Minister,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa.

Sir,

This is to request you to kindly take immediate steps to prevent large tracts of land from being transferred to private corporations in future whereby neither the Government nor the people of Goa will benefit in any way while some individuals will end up having the last laugh.

Sir, in the name of national interest and with the best intentions of the State at heart and mind, the Government of Goa, had handed over land to Central Government agencies like the ONGC and the Mormugao Port Trust took over land that was occupied by the erstwhile Portuguese regime.

In the case of MPT, instead of working in consonance with the State Government in the best interest of Goans, it has been functioning as a State within a State with scant regards to the laws and rules of this State. While the MPT does not even take the mandatory permissions and licenses from the State authorities for their constructions, it has the audacity to object to acquisition of land at Velsao for traditional fishermen on grounds that it comes within their jurisdiction.

You are seized of this matter as it has been debated ad nausem even in the August Legislative Assembly. However, what is of greater significance is the fact that the MPT is on the way to be corporatised as has been done with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and if this happens, then the large tracts of land in MPT’s possession will pass on to a private corporation thereby denying Goans and the State Government any control over it. Hence the State Government has to act immediately to ensure that MPT retains only as much land as is required for its operations.

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation also has large land in its possession which was apparently given on lease to it by the State Government. Sir, under the disinvestment policy of the Government of India, ONGC is slowly being turned into a private entity. In such a situation, the large tracts of land that were given to the Government of India undertaking, will end up being in the possession of private corporation which once again is not in the interest of Goa and Goans.

The Navy too continues to be on an acquisition spree with the State Government giving in to their demand in name of national interest. However, when the Navy keeps poking spokes in any activity aimed at the State’s benefit like the expansion of the Dabolim airport which was a civilian airport initially, it is time for the Government to begin bargaining with the Navy too in the interest of its citizens.

The adamant attitude of the Navy is visible to the naked eye at Dabolim where the divider along the four lane highway has been reduced significantly as the Naval authorities would not permit the demolition of a compound wall of a grocery store.

The Navy apparently has now cast its eyes upon the two islands of Mormugao and more land at Bimbta beach. The State Government would do well not to bow down to this demand of the Navy as these islands can well be developed as the base for the off shore casinos which bring in revenue to the State coffers. Besides, the Government of Goa has already given the Anjediv Island free to the Navy.

Sir, we are a small State and given our size and the rate at which our population is increasing, we cannot afford to take up a philanthropic attitude in dishing out land to anybody and everybody who seeks it. Therefore, I earnestly request you go through any request for more land with a fine tooth and at the same time, review the earlier decisions to ensure that only the quantum of required land is given to these Central Government agencies.

Permit me to cite the example of Zuari Industries. In the name of industrialization, they were given large tracts of land. In fact, they have so much excess land that they have now set up a college campus by using the same land that was given to them at a pittance. If the same land was to be provided now, the State would have earned some revenue. Worst is the fact that no seats are reserved for Goan students at this college. So the question that comes up is what benefit do Goa and Goans get from such ventures?

Hence, Sir, I request you not to repeat the mistakes made by us earlier and instead be not only judicious but even miserly, while giving our land to any agency.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

Matanhy Saldanha

(Former Minister for Tourism)