Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: Concerned citizens, along with activists and members of the All Goa Excavator Owners Association (AGEOA), have written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), raising alarm over rampant construction activities being carried out in the funnel zone of Dabolim’s Goa International Airport. The citizens claim these activities are endangering both public safety and flight operations.
Speaking to the media on Thursday evening, Avinash Bhobe, President of the AGEOA, stated that despite multiple petitions and stop-work orders, the authorities seem to ignore their concerns and continue to support the ongoing construction led by a Delhi-based party. Bhobe emphasized that as a last resort, they have now approached the PMO, the Central Aviation Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other relevant authorities.
“We have pointed out these illegalities on numerous occasions, written to the authorities, and even got stop-work orders issued. But strangely, the project proponent meets with the authorities, and the stop-work orders are revoked,” Bhobe said. “We have sent our concerns to the PMO, the Central Aviation Ministry, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with signatures from concerned citizens in the area. We have also copied the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, the South Goa Collector, and others.”
He further questioned the government’s serious lack of action, citing the recent Ahmedabad airport crash as an example of the dangers posed by such unauthorized construction.
“Every time we raise our objections, authorities issue a stop-work order to placate us, but in reality, the number of machines on the site increases each time,” Bhobe noted. “The government says construction is not allowed in the funnel zone, yet they do nothing when we point out illegal activities. We are now forced to take legal action. We will be filing a PIL because this is a matter of public safety, the safety of flights, and passengers.”
Bhobe also raised concerns about the scale of the project, revealing that the first phase involves 320 plots of 120 sq meters each, which could lead to overpopulation, garbage problems, and a greater risk of bird strikes to incoming flights.
“The government should not regret it later after a disaster happens because of the negligence of a few officials supporting these Delhi-based entities,” he said. “We are also trying to get this issue raised in the upcoming assembly session.”
Sancoale Communidade attorney Jayesh Fadte also voiced concerns over the land being used for construction. Fadte clarified that the land in question is Communidade land, meant for agricultural purposes. He expressed frustration over the unauthorized road construction on this land and the aggressive use of machinery for construction activities.
“I will stop these works at all costs. We don’t even know how they made a road through our Communidade land,” Fadte said. “This land was meant for agriculture, but now we are seeing 8 JCBs and other machinery working here without any regard for authorities. If it were a local person, the flying squad would’ve been here immediately, but these authorities are turning a blind eye to the destruction of our ancestral lands.”
He vowed to take legal action to protect Communidade property. “I will take the issue to court from the Communidade side, and if necessary, I will make every official involved a party in the High Court case. These officials will lose their jobs,” Fadte declared.
Social activist John Filip Pereira also called on the government to intervene, warning of the serious risks posed by the ongoing construction near the airport’s funnel zone. He stressed that the government should have learned from the Ahmedabad air disaster, highlighting that the construction site is located just a few hundred meters away from the airport’s landing strip.
“This is a funnel zone, and the airport landing strip is barely a few hundred meters away from the site,” Pereira said. “The airport authority or the Navy should have taken cognizance of this issue and inspected the work here. Are they waiting for a disaster to happen before they act? By then, it will be too late, and many lives will be lost.”
Pereira also raised concerns about illegal land conversion, pointing out that the Communidade land was meant for cashew plantations, but the project proponent has posted boards indicating the development of residential plots. He urged Revenue Minister Babush Monseratte to take immediate action.
“The Communidade land was given for cashew plantation, but now there are boards indicating the land is being developed into residential plots,” Pereira explained. “This is a sign of land conversion. Minister Babush Monseratte must immediately intervene, inspect the site, and halt these works in the funnel zone.”
“The growing protests and legal steps are the deepening concerns over the safety of the local community and air traffic. Activists and residents are calling for urgent action from authorities to stop the illegal construction and prevent any future tragedies.” He added
