The members of the Naqueri-Betul Panchayat body approached GIDC’s Managing Director Mr. S. V. Naik in the first week of August 2015, to get the Project Details, soon after some reports appeared in the Goan newspapers that the Ministry of Defence, India had requested land , for a permanent venue for organizing Defexpo and Aero India Shows, at the land acquired for Industrial purpose within the Naqueri-Betul Panchayat area and were told by the MD that he had the same limited information as them that appeared on the News Papers.
Later, with information received through RTI, it is clear that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sent a formal request to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on 12th June 2015 asking for 150 acres (6,00,000 Sqmtrs) along the coast that should accommodate 10,000 ft (3 km) runway. RTI also shows a meeting was held at the residence of the CM a week prior to 24th June 2015 to prioritize the consent of the Government of Goa on an urgent basis. On 7th July 2015 Under Secretary (Industries) Mr. Shashank V. Thakur gives the “in-principle” approval of the Government of Goa and then in board meetings held on 15th July and 24th July 2015 the GIDC unanimously resolved to grant “ in principle” approval for allotment of 150 acres land in Quitol Industrial Estate to the Defence Ministry. On 2nd September 2015 Under Secretary (Industries) S. V Thakur appoints Principal Secretary (Industries) as Nodal Officer for the Project. On 24th September 2015 GIDC MD S.V. Naik requests for terms and conditions along with draft MOU and other necessary documents from the Department of Defence Procurement.
The question that arises is why did MD S.V. Naik withhold this information from the Naqueri-Betul Panchayat members ? Secondly, None of these above luminaries asked any questions nor did they make an effort to study the subject matter or the feasibility of this enormous project.
Without thinking or reasoning each of the “luminaries” falling over the other have given approval to their “Master’s request”, it is indeed a pity that a bunch of highly decorated bureaucrats failed to realized that a 3km runway is impossible considering the topography of the land acquired for the Industrial Estate as the widest part of the acquired land in 1.6 km. The land proposed to be given is much less than 3kms in length and is therefore completely unsuitable for the runway necessary for the Aero India Show. Further, 3000 m of runway length with a runway strip width of 300 m (as per ICAO standards) is 9,00,000 sq m (225 acres) and the land required for taxiways, apron, massive exhibition halls, hangars, terminal buildings, control tower, space for other structures like fuel tanks, fuel dumps, emergency fire service and infrastructure, etc would be many times over the requested area. Through this request it looks like Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has totally lost his bearings or a land grab scam with a huge hidden agenda is in transition.
Moreover the Ministry of Defence’s request for 150 acres land is made without any detailed Project Report , which is unacceptable to the Panchayat and the People, It is our Constitutional Right to know about the details of any Project that is suppose to start in our area. Goa-IDC had acquired the land for industrial purposes promising employment for the locals and economic development of the village. The Defexpo and Aero India shows will certainly not benefit the locals or the Panchayat in any way. Goa-IDC is bound by its promissory estoppels not to use the land for any other purposes without the approval of the Village Panchayat of Naquerim-Betul, but had failed to even consult the Panchayat and the residents of the Panchayat Area before deciding to grant the land to the Defence Ministry.
Further, there has been no feasibility study done of the area, nor has there been any Ecological Impact or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), nor a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) done of the area which is of immense importance for a project of this dimension. Decisions on proposals for Projects of this magnitude should not be as per the whims and fancies of a few individuals as it will adversely affect the lives of thousands of people in and around that area .
The safety of the people living not only within the jurisdiction of the Naqueri Panchayat but also of those living within the jurisdictions of Village Panchayats of Khola, Fatorpa, Ambelim and Velim will be compromised as explosions, fires and crashes are a few possibilities leaving aside the possibility of terror attacks. The emissions, noise and the vibrations caused by the low flying supersonic speed fighter jets, huge transport planes and helicopters will cause havoc with human, animal as well as plant life causing irreparable damage to our health, environment and our ecology
The Naqueri-Betul Panchayat has been systematically stripped of its precious land recourses when there is an acute shortage of land in our area, as a total of over 23,26, 290 sqmtr of prime land has been acquired promising jobs and better living for the residents, promises that are yet to be fulfilled after nearly a decade.
A small revenue village like Naqueri-Betul to be stripped of such huge tracks of land is certainly unconstitutional and a criminal act. Till date only a very small portion of the land acquired (10,24,000 sqmtrs) for ONGC has been utilized rest is lying waste. The land (b&c)was forcibly acquired in 2007 using the draconian Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Since 2007 this land has not been utilized for any productive purpose hence it has not brought in any benefits to the locals or the land owners.
A few years back Parrikar had stated that he would not give another inch of Goan land to the Navy and now, he says he will bring in the army and take the land by force. I will only say Parrikar-ji aap aapki fauj lao, Modi-ji apni mann ki baat kahein ya na kahein, hum log apna tan leke aayenge, aur apni mann ki bath zaroor kahenge!
(The writer is a co-ordinator for RP 2021, Nuem, Cabo-da-Rama)
