Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum have decided to extend support to Orixtt Porjecho Awaaz in their fight against the DefExpo project at Quitol-Naqueri.
NCCF convenor, Joseph Vaz, said the Forum is against the system of change in land use, as this land was acquired for setting up an industrial estate, and is now sought to be given to the Defence Ministry. This is being done when Defence forces are occupying a large chunk of land in Goa, and it is not necessary for this small state to sacrifice additional land, he added.
He said that Goa’s experience with the Navy has been unsavory, as land is taken for a short period, and then subsequently they refuse to vacate it, while citing the example of Dabolim Airport.
“A better alternative would be the Seabird naval base just across in Karwar. Or if Manohar Parrikar wants to take benefit of brand Goa then the Dabolim Naval enclave satisfies all the requirements of Parrikar, i.e. close proximity to the sea coast, and also has a runway. Security would not be a problem as Navy organises Navy week for civilians every year in the month of December. The same area could be used for DefExpo. The Navy has a vast area of unused land at Dabolim and the same could be put to good use with minimum costs as all infrastructures are available, unlike Quitol where everything will have to be built afresh”, he added.
Vaz said that Dabolim will also save huge transportation cost for men and equipment to be used for the DefExpo, as it is close to airport and sea port.
“The DefExpo is just for four days and it would be a criminal waste of public funds to transport and develop the area just for the sake of four days,” he said.
