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PROTESTS RECEDE
* 'Bhumipujan' performed with police protection
* Only about 40 turn out to protest against expo work
* Cuncolim Police warns protesters of stern action
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CURCHOREM: The ground work for DefExpo took off on Monday with blessings in the form of 'bhumipujan' at the DefExpo site in Quitol while 46 trucks laden with material for putting up air-conditioned hangars and barricades arriving at the site. The 'bhumipujan' was finally performed with police protection, even as only about 40 people, who were protesting against the defence expo project, were present at the site.
The 'bhumipujan' was performed by Gauresh Dessai, a member of the Aajoba Temple committee in the presence of Director of Pavilions and Interior India Pvt Ltd N Biju, Deputy Collector South Shankar Goankar, Quepem Mamlatdar Prataprao Gaonkar and others.
The setting up of the makeshift infrastructure for the DefExpo is expected to be complete within 20 days.
Cuncolim Police Inspector Gurudas Kadam cautioned the protestors from posing any hindrance to defence vehicles which had started arriving the site for official work.
PI Kadam also asked the agitators not to create any trouble during 'bhumipujan', warning them of stern action in the event of obstruction to defence expo work.
Director of Pavilions and Interiors India Pvt Ltd N Biju, who got the event management contract, said the work of erecting barricades, levelling of ground, etc would be completed in next 15 to 20 days.
A police team led by DySP Dinraj Goveker guided the trucks to the destination.
When contacted, secretary and spokesperson of Orixtt Porjecho Awaaz (OPA) Freddy Fernandes said their protest was a peaceful one and it would continue to be non-violent.
“The police were armed with riot gear at the site on Monday morning, but we continued our protests peacefully. Though the 'bhumipujan' was performed, we will continue to protest and will decide our future course of action soon,” said Fernandes.
It may be recalled that on February 24, the agitators led by OPA sent back three trucks that drove to the site with makeshift infrastructure and other material for the project. This was for the second time that the agitators prevented agencies from visiting the plateau, after defence trucks were sent back earlier on February 15.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the DefExpo site at Quitol on Friday and made it loud and clear that the event would take place “come what may”.
