Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: The Defence Expo organisers performed the bhoomi poojan at the project site in Quitol on Monday afternoon, despite the opposition from various quarters.
Officials of the Defence Ministry and State administration, Quitol-Fatorpa locals and the contractors were present at the site. Around 46 trucks laden with material and equipment for setting up air-conditioned hangers and barricades also arrived at the Quitol plateau with the guidance of a police team led by DySP Dinraj Govekar.
The Bhoomi Poojan was carried out at the hands of Gauresh Desai, a member of the Aajoba Temple. It is to be noted that no politician from the government was present for the same. Biju and a local youth performed the rituals of the bhoomi poojan, while local pandit Sanjay Dessai carried out the religious ceremony. The ceremony was held without a hitch.
“The work of setting up hangers, levelling the ground and barricading will be completed by March 25,” said N Biju, Director of Pavilions and Interiors India Pvt Ltd, which has bagged the event management contract. The contractor has already started to set up the pandal and fence off the site.
It is learnt that a contract of Rs 50 crore has been allotted to prepare the infrastructure at the site for the Defence Expo.
The government brought in a strong police force to maintain law and order. Sources stated that the government was expecting resistance. No leader or local who has been opposing the Defence Expo was present at the site. NGOs like Orixtt Porjecho Awaz or political parties like Congress or Goa Forward as well as the Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavalekar were not seen at the site.
