Even after six years of clearance of construction of the international airport at Mopa the government has yet not been able to acquire sufficient amount of land needed for the project.

On Thursday Mr Gajendra Haldia, the advisor to the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission directed the state government to acquire some more land. Already the villagers residing in the vicinity of Mopa are up in arms against acquisition of their lands. This latest directive would undoubtedly create more problems for the state government. But in the greater interest of the project it has to be done. In fact the draft final report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has made it clear that the international airport at Mopa was in the interest of Goa and its people. Unfortunately the issue of construction of the international airport at Mopa has been mired in vicious political controversy. Notwithstanding the draft final report’s denial that it would impair the future of Dabolim Airport or reduce tourist business in South Goa, a section of south Goa politicians have been up in arms against it, demanding that Dabolim be the one and only airport in the state. The manner in which some politicians were opposing Mopa, even after assurances from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh that the Centre would do whatever the Goans want in the matter of Dabolim, is the most unfortunate thing to happen. How could politicians who swear by the development of the state and its people dare to oppose a developmental project? The time has come for the government and the politicians to decide and define the paradigm of economic development. It is not their whim or perception but the micro-level realities and future needs of the people that should be guiding factors.