NGO asks Defence Ministry not to take land at new Goa airport

An NGO here has requested Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar not to go ahead with acquisition of land alloted for a Naval enclave at the proposed greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa.
The NGO, Savera, today wrote to Parrikar in this regard. Savera chief Tara Kerkar, in the letter, said defence forces are already in possession of huge tracts of land in Vasco town where the current airport exists.
She claimed that post-Goa liberation, the defence forces had been on a land-acquiring "spree" in the coastal state.
"It is understood that five acres of land have been allotted (by Goa government) to the Defence Ministry at Mopa airport. We would request you to desist from taking over the land as defence forces already have acquired huge tracts of land in Vasco town," the letter said.

Addressing a press conference after dispatching the letter to Parrikar, Kerkar said post-Goa liberation (1961) several places were taken over by Indian Navy which are now out of bound for civilians.
"After liberation of Goa, peopleof Mangor Hill and surrounding areas used to visit the Bhimyal Beach (in Vasco) for picnics and small outings. But the beach has been now declared a prohibited area by the Defence Ministry," she said.
Kerkar said Goa is small in size and has limited land resources for civil use. Therefore, central agencies cannot keep on acquiring land in the state.
Last week, Parrikar had said the airport at Mopa will have a separate Naval enclave (spread over five acres) for which the Defence Ministry will set up the required infrastructure.