Margao: A meeting between the anti-DefExpo camp and the Director of Defence Expo Organisations M D Singh on Thursday ended with the protestors sticking to their stand for scrapping the project in Quitol.
Meanwhile, Singh has clarified that there was miscommunication on the location. He stated that Goa was being considered as the permanent venue for the DefExpo, but nothing definite had been spoken about permanently holding the expo in Quitol.
He was questioned on the nature of permissions and the delay to hold this public meeting, which included a presentation on the expo. He also agreed to attend a public meeting in Betul on February 28 if he is invited for it.
GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro, Fr Maverick Fernandes, Fr Eremito Rebello, Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, sarpanches, panchas and citizens attended the meet. Before and after answering the protestors’ questions, Singh tried to persuade them to view the presentation, but they refused.
Explaining his side of the story, Singh stated, “We surveyed five coastal areas in different states, including Pondicherry, Vishakhapatnam, Kochi, Goa and Udaipur too, as a backup plan. Coastal areas don’t have accessibility problems and it is the greenest industry that can come in any area.”
He continued, “We are competing with bigger countries and we are now crossing 875 companies’ registration at the rate of four companies registering per hour. This is because they believe that the people here are trustworthy and they have spoken so. The nation will get a bad name if the DefExpo is cancelled. The foreign players want youth to participate and get them employment in our and their nations, and cancellation of this venue will destroy the dreams of development.”
Regarding the runway issue, Singh said, “No one can create an airport and runway in one month. The land of 10,000 sq mts will be flattened just enough to land and there is no plan of having a full-size runway here. Our requirement is one or two months’ use of the land and we will clear the property completely after the expo is over.”
Pitching for Goan identity at the expo, Singh has committed to have an exclusive facility of a Goan coastal cuisine food court for Goan vendors at the expo.
The agitators, including Kavlekar, expressed anger at Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s statement of filing FIRs against the protestors. They stated that he had hurt the sentiments of the people.
Faleiro questioned Singh on the permanent venue ideas of the authorities who are in the loop. He said, “Why are the oral stands and the papers on the permanent venue issue of the Defence Expo contradicting? I have seen Defence Forces not respecting even the Defence ministers and that worries me a lot.”
Fr Maverick said, “You all have failed to speak to the officers of the government and convey the ideas clearly and they have failed to clarify the nature of event.”
The people have flatly opposed the Defence Expo in Quitol and have asked for a detailed project report from the authorities.
Meanwhile, former GCCI president Nitin Kunkolienkar, who had attended the presentation, has lashed out at the agitators, especially the politicians, who he accused of selling the same land for a hotel project in the past. The businessmen have extended their support and help to the Defence Expo and have called it a way ahead for Goa’s overall economic and tourism ecosystem.
