Panchayats have no say in Mopa airport: Agri Min

Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik interacts with locals during the Panchayat Chalo Abhiyan initiative in Pernem constituency.

Photo Credits: The Goan

PERNEM
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik made it clear to residents of Pernem taluka that they cannot expect permanent jobs at the Manohar International Airport and panchayats to not have a say within the jurisdiction of Mopa airport.

Naik’s comments at the Panchayat Chalo Abhiyan initiative in Pernem constituency did not go down well with the residents, who had raised the issue about permanent jobs to locals and the rights of panchayats at the airport.

Responding to a query from a local, Dyaneshwar Varak, Naik said there was no need to seek permission from local panchayats to undertake any works within the Mopa airport jurisdiction.

When Varak brought to the notice of the minister that courts have held that panchayats have rights within an airport jurisdiction, Naik assured that the issue would be resolved by convening a joint meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Locals later claimed there had been conflicting claims between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the agriculture minister on the issue of permanent jobs to locals at Mopa airport, with the CM having promised that on a number of occasions that Pednekars would get permanent jobs at Mopa airport.

The locals then asked Chandel Hasapur Village panchayat Sarpanch Tulsidas Gawas for the number of jobs given to locals of Pernem taluka at the Mopa airport and Ayush Hospital.

Gawas explained that very few locals are employed, while most youths had been employed on contract basis and many of them had been relieved after their contracts had ended.

The locals also alleged that many people worked at Mopa airport were from Sankhali constituency. They also recalled that Union Minister Shripad Naik had stated that an agreement had been made with the Ayush Hospital to reserve 80% jobs to locals at the hospital, and they sought to know the status of that argeement.

Naik said he had taken note of the queries raised by locals and assured that their issues would be raised before the chief minister.