Digital Goa, Feb 5- House saw a heated debate over the future of Dabolim Airport today with members of the house from ruling as well as opposition benches demanding clarity and assurance from the govt over the issue. Pointing out that there was substantial reduction in number of flights at Dabolim since the commissioning of Mopa Airport, the members asked CM to take up the issue with the center and ensure that the airport does not turn into a ghost airport. Responding to the issue, CM Pramod Sawant asserted that not only him, but 3 CMs before him have assured that commercial operations will continue at Dabolim. AAI has made additional investment to the tune of over Rs 500 crore on the infrastructure at the Dabolim airport to facilitate commercial operations, he added. On concerns raised by members over Navy being pressurised to take over Dabolim airport through the Central Govt and to stop commercial flights from there, Sawant asserted that it is impossible for a private company to put such pressures on Navy or the Center. Central Cabinet has approved a decision to the effect that Dabolim will be continued to be used for commercial operations, he claimed. “Navy has a base in Goa for last 60 years, we cannot tell them shift,” he said.
