PANJIM: Literally dictated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the Goa government, through the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), has approved allocation of 150 acres of land to the Defence Ministry on a permanent basis for organizing the Defexpo and Aero India shows. The decision was taken at GIDC’s board meeting held on Friday. The land, which works out to about 6 lakh square metres, is at Naqueri in Betul-Quepem in South Goa. The BJP-led government has in principle agreed to organize the Defexpo 2016 in Goa in February, next year.
This shocking move comes at a time when the state of Goa is struggling to find land to set up an IIT and needs land for industrial investments, which Industries Minister Mahadev Naik has admitted, that Goa does not have enough to meet its investment targets.
Speaking to Herald, IDC Chairman Ganesh Gaonkar confirmed that GIDC has granted approval for allocation of land to the Defence Ministry. “With this, Goa is likely to be permanent venue for Defexpo and Aero shows,” he gloated.
According to Mr Gaonkar, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on June 12 for allocation of land for the said purpose. The same was moved to IDC on July 7.
“We had received a letter from the government granting in principle approval for allotment of land on permanent basis for organizing the Defexpo and Aero India shows at Naqueri, Betul,” Gaonkar said.
“Government has also agreed in principle to organize Defexpo during February 2016 and the modalities of the above events would be worked out in consultation with government and IDC,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shekhar Sardesai of the Goa State Industries’ Association who attended the GIDC Board meeting said that the approval is only an “in principle one”, contradicting the Chairman of the GIDC Ganesh Gaonkar who told Herald that the allotment was “confirmed”.
Sardesai said a final decision would be taken after considering the proposal, which would be presented by the armed forces. The date for this presentation has not been finalised. He reacted sharply when a Herald reporter asked him what the State would benefit from this, and wouldn’t this cause a further burden on available land. “You cannot look at it like that. People visiting the shows would have to pay money to attend these shows,” he said. While that logic needs more understanding in the context of land available, it is interesting to note that Sardesai at a press conference on December 6, 2013 had said, “Non-availability of land and bad power supply are hampering the industrial growth of Goa.”
It seems that when it comes to Parrikar’s needs, land can always be found.
