Panaji: Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has assured that Dabolim Airport will continue to be open for civilian aircrafts.
Sawant along with his cabinet colleagues Rohan Khaunte (Tourism) and Mauvin Godinho and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sadanand Tanavade is in national capital during which he met various union ministers.
During the day on Friday, Sawant met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Seetharaman, Union Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Talking to PTI from Delhi, Sawant said that various GST related issues were discussed with the Union Finance minister during the meeting with her. The state government has also sought the support of finance ministry on holding the National Games 2023, which are scheduled to be held in October this year in the coastal state.
Sawant said that Seetharaman has assured wholehearted support to the state. “The union government has always been supportive towards Goa. The central government had released funds for the state to celebrate Goa at 60 initiative. Various infrastructure projects in the state are funded by the centre,” he said.
The chief minister said that his meeting with the Union Sports Minister was centered around hosting of upcoming National Games. He said that the union minister has assured all the support to the state in hosting this important sporting event.
In an important meeting with Union Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Goa delegation discussed upgradation of infrastructure at Dabolim Airport (south Goa) and also more international and national connectivity to Manohar International Airport (North Goa).
Sawant said that the centre has been requested to promote Goa under open skies policy that there is increased international connectivity.
The Goa delegation also met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Sawant said Singh has assured that Dabolim Airport will continue to be open for civilian flights.
Sawant also pointed out that the restriction of construction activities within 200 metres radius of the Dabolim airport is creating problems for the locals. “Singh has assured us to hold another meeting and consider our demand of decreasing the buffer zone from 200 metres to 50 metres,” he said.
