BJP to support pro-Mopa airport agitation

Panaji: The Bharatiya Janata Party, today reiterating its demand for the Mopa international airport, said that it will actively support the rasta roko and bundh called on April 18, in Pernem taluka, in support of this demand.
Addressing a press conference today, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar said that the BJP will soon launch a statewide campaign supporting Mopa airport countering the “misleading” and “offensive” campaign undertaken by few of the local Congress leaders, in the state in general and in Salcete taluka in particular.
Mr Parrikar said that the campaign will stress on certain aspects like the proposed Mopa international airport is not the replacement for Dabolim airport; the Dabolim airport is needed for convenience, while the Mopa airport is required for expansion.
The campaign will also highlight the fact that Mopa airport is proposed to be constructed in the private sector, while the Dabolim airport falls under the jurisdiction of Airport Authority of India (AAI) which has invested money worth Rs 400 crore on it and would be spending much more, in the future.
Mr Parrikar said that the BJP campaign would further inform the people that the Mopa airport is a greenfield project and the cost of its operations would be 4 to 5 times that of the Dabolim airport, making the existence of Dabolim airport pertinent.
17/04/06 Navhind Times

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