THE GOAN I NETWORK
PONDA
The proposed DefExpo may be considered a bane for locals of Betul, but the vexed project has become a boon for the Comunidade of Keri-Ponda. The Comunidade of Keri
has expressed its willingness to hold the DefExpo on its barren rocky land, spread across 5 lakh square metres and has even submitted a proposal to the government, inviting the DefExpo on its vast barren comunidade land. Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar had reportedly made a mention about the new proposal from Keri comunidade
to his party workers at a meeting convened on Monday. A senior BJP leader told The
Goan that Parrikar had mentioned just ‘one-line’ about the issue and had not elaborated
further. Speaking to The Goan, Keri Comunidade President, Anand Dessai admitted that they had submitted a proposal to the government in this regard.
“We will welcome the government’s decision if it chooses our land at Keri for the proposed DefExpo. We will earn out of it by way of rent. It is good to utilize the area for such projects, rather than keeping the land barren,” he said. “We have over 5 lakh square
metres of land in Keri. Hence, the defence ministry can think of the place and we have submitted a proposal in this regard,” Desai said. According to Desai, the proposed DefExpo doesn’t require any permanent structure. “It is similar to exhibitions organised at Aguiar ground in Ponda. Are they permanent,” asked Desai. “People should understand the concept of proposed DefExpo, which is merely for 4-5 days and not permanent.”
Former speaker and BJP leader from Keri Adv Vishwas Satarkar also welcomed the Keri comunidade’s move of sending a proposal to the government. “It will bring name and fame to my village. I will be happy if we get good infrastructure by inviting the proposed DefExpo. It will help our village in many ways. Villagers can even get to earn if there is good infrastructure,” Satarkar said. According to Satarkar, if the proposed DefExpo is set up in Keri, the village would benefit from better roads and other infrastructure, which would
