Recently the former CM of Goa and the current Defence Minister of India, Manohar Parrikar announced that 150 acres (30000 sq meters) of land at Betul would be used for Defexpo 2016. Due to non availability of Pragati Maidan in Delhi, this exhibition, one of India’s biggest is moving to Goa. It is supposed to showcase and exhibit items from land, naval and homeland security ranging from battle tanks to missiles to rifles.
Unlike Pragati Maidan which is a full fledged exhibition centre, this identified land at Betul will host temporary tent structures for the exhibition. Since the announcement, there has been a lot of discussion and debate on whether it is good for Goa or not.
Let me attempt to explain my views on this topic. Having attended many DefExpos and Airshows in the last 30 years in India and overseas from Bangalore and Hyderabad to Paris, Geneva and London.
a) What is DefExpo?
DEO was created as a nodal agency in 1981 as part of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence to promote and export potential of Defence Public Sector Undertakings, DRDO and the Ordnance Factory Board. Over the years, it has immensely contributed towards export promotion activities on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is the nodal and co-ordination agency for the conduct of two major expositions in India, viz; Aero India and Defexpo India, which have seen exponential growth over the years. DEO also co-ordinates the participation of Indian Defence industries in exhibitions abroad.
In short this expo is set to benefit defence manufacturers, none of whom are Goans or live in Goa. This new industry will only mean that there will be more influx of outsiders into Goa.
b) Why is Goa selected? Is a mystery. AeroIndia which is the defence and civilian airshow is held every 2 years in Bangalore at the Devenahalli airport. Since the infrastructure is already in place, why should Mr. Parrikar re-create new infrastructure in Goa? Would it not be prudent to use existing facilities? And if he so insists, the Navy is sitting on huge tracts of land at Dabolim,
The same can be made available for the DefExpo without having to grab land from residents of Betul. Besides Dabolim is close to the port of Marmagoa which makes transportation of items for the exhibition seamless.
Let me remind you that the Navy occupied the land during the invasion of Goa and set up base at the civilian airport there. Over the years they have taken over the land at the airport, built naval air training facilities and utilised land meant for civilian air facilities for recreational infrastructure like golf courses, etc. This meant that civilian air facilities have been seriously compromised and restricted. The airport is available for civilian operations only for a few hours.
Thus airlines can operate to Goa within a short time window. Due to this, a section of our politicians believe we need a new airport which can handle a larger number of aircraft movements.
Thus the idea of a new airport at MOPA. But there is more than sufficient land at Dabolim for both the civilian air traffic and the navy to co-exist peacefully. It can also accommodate the 4-day extravaganza to showcase military and security items.
Therefore it is imperative to question the need for land grabbing for the new airport at MOPA and the planned exhibition at Betul. Who is funding all these activities? My friends, you and I with our taxes. Who is losing their land? You and I.
c) Goa is India’s smallest state with a total land area of 3702 sq kms. This land for the most part is owned by the community under the Communidade system which was meant to protect land for use by its residents either for agriculture or residences. To be giving away this land for purposes that does not benefit the residents of Goa, does not make sense. If the land has to be used, it should be given to Goans to set up businesses or use it for residences for original settlers of the land.
d) Is this going to be creating new jobs in Goa? A 4-day extravaganza once in 2 years is definitely not going to create new jobs for Goans in Goa. In fact it will add to the chaos with the influx of tens of thousands of people which Goa cannot handle. The last AeroIndia show in Bangalore received about 60000 visitors and the authorities could not manage the crowds.
Imagine the same situation in Goa. Do we have the hotel rooms, the flights, the public transportation for this large amount of visitors? Would it not stress all our systems – security and law and order included?
It is possible to have exhibitions in 2 different physical locations under the same airshow or exhibition. Let us use our space and land wisely. I would suggest the Defence Minister visit some of these exhibitions and air shows overseas and learn how they use available infrastructure efficiently.
I welcome any additional inputs to bring jobs and prosperity to Goa but not at the cost of our land, our peace of mind and our future.
