Defexpo: Why oppose

First Appeared in Goan Observer

Today in Goa there are many issues. We have the silly amendment deleting the coconut tree from the list of trees under the Tree Act, we have the IPB being used to bypass all rules and foist upon Goa projects which would otherwise not seen the light of day. We have the MOI issue awaiting a decision. Despite all these pressing matters we have decided that our time and enery is best spent opposing the Defexpo at Betul.

The land at Betul would have been transferred to scamsters long ago by Babu under the guise of setting up a food park. At that time there were no protests? Now, the land is idle and if it can be used for a few days why not? The proposal to have the Defexpo at Betul was discussed at the GIDC board meeting. The details were sketchy at best. However, to my mind it was a good idea, better than giving it to some mega project which would take the land at a subsided rate and then transfer it to another at a hefty profit, a la Metastrips. As per the rules the metastrips land should revert to GIDC.

The Defexpo will draw businessmen who will spend money alot of on Hotels, Taxis and restaurants. They will also not do drugs or create a nuisance with loud music. Should it not be more preferable to the Sunburn or Supersonic festivals. No one suggested alternative sites or questioned why North Goa and not some other site in Bangalore etc. This despite the fact that there are fears of drugs and most of the visitors would surely be financially less well off than those who will come for the defexpo.

Ofcourse we know that the “fees” the EDM festival organisers pay is directly proportional to the opposition. Finally it happens, There were no jail threats issued to the protestors or those opposing the EDM's, so why did the Government decide to do it for the Defexp protestors is a mystery. Good sense has prevailed and the Government had changed tracks and is now having a Defexpo Education presentation to convince the opposition and address their concerns. This is better late than never.

While it is no one's case that Goa will directly benefit from orders generated at the defexpo given that the participants may be limited to just 2 or 3 companies. What is possible is that local players can meet those who are visiting and get subcontract jobs. Given that Goa Shipyard is in Goa, manufacturers of some components may prefer to subcontract to reduce transportation costs for some items. There is also a possibility that if the GSL orders are large enough and they can be given the order book position, some suppliers may decide to make locally to derive logistic advantages.

A large no of visitors will be foreigners, surely once they visit Goa, they may decide to return again with their families, so it can give a boost to tourism. To my mind, holding the defexpo has advantages which cannot be ignored. It is also a three day event and not something year round which would all for infrastructure to be set up.

The opposition is using the mistrust created in the minds of the population by the series of U turns taken by the ruling dispensation. So if people believe that the Defexpo is a precursor to something more sinister or having a hidden agenda, can they be blamed. The Government changed the tree Act to accommodate a booze manufacturing Company. The Government used a back door, the Investment Promotion Board to push through projects under the guise of eco tourism, by allowing change of land use prohibited under the TCP Act. They even passed a booze project which is not a thrust area as per the mandate of the IPB and that too in an orchard zone. The government of the day suffers from a trust deficit. Having the education presentation will be a step in repairing or building trust with the citizens, however a lot more will have to be done.

One will notice that Babu who is the sitting MLA is not very vocal, he is around but he is not leading from the front, that is being done by others, why? Simple. He has too many skeletons in his cupboard and so he has to be careful. Very careful. After all he was the one who wanted a food park in that land.

The other component that is driving the opposition to the Defexpo is the church. They are asking the faithful to oppose the Defexpo because they were not taken into confidence. Oh really now. Did the Church take into confidence its own flock when they alienated large tracks of land. Did they respond transparently to the questions of their flock or did they do what the Government tried, brazen it out. The church has lost it moral authority to question land deals, Vaxim is church property which is being converted for eco tourism using the backdoor called IPB. Does the Church feel responsible, can they stand with placards in Vaxim as they are doing in Betul. The church has to introspect hard inwards and then come out with all humility and accept it goofed up. They must agree that mistakes have been made in the past and in future more care will be taken and transparency will be the key. Then they will have the moral right to lead the flock against the unjust ways of the Government of the day.

There is lots of work to be done and lots of areas where we as citizens are being short changed, let us focus on those areas and not get distracted and waste our efforts on small things. Defexpo does not deserve to be opposed just for the sake of opposition.