At the extra-ordinary gram sabha attended by over 120 villagers, it was also resolved that the show-cause notice contain a 72-hour deadline memo to the Director of the DefExpo and IDC to respond. Following a proposal from the villagers, it was also resolved to expedite the process by serving the notice via email.
However, the Betul sarpanch expressed caution and said it was important to confer with the BDO and legal advisors on Monday if the panchayat could serve the notice before sending the same.
The show-cause notice will be served to the Defence Ministry, Defence Expo-New Delhi, the Secretary and Industries nodal officer in Panjim, GIDC, and the company that was awarded the tender to prepare the pavilion interiors.
Charles D’Silva, a member who had submitted a letter regarding this issue, voiced concern that the exhibition posed a risk to life and encouraged illegalities in the panchayat’s jurisdiction.
Villagers also questioned why the locals were not informed about the extensive arrangements being made in case of emergencies or the reasons for such arrangements. They wondered if their lives were not at risk and how the government had completely bypassed them.
Charles also recalled how former Chief Minister and now Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured that if his party was given the chance to rule Goa, he would return their land to its owners, which never happened. He added that today the same people are burdened with the DefExpo, which he said, is being held against the people’s wishes.
It is to be noted that the DefExpo work is being undertaken on war footing and the organisers have finished the fencing work and construction of the hangar. They have also set up a temporary hospital with an operation theatre at the venue and have kept a heavy police force and private security at the venue. Additionally, GSIDC has approved infrastructure work for the DefExpo in Quitol, including repairs of roads at the Quitol Industrial Estate.
