We can drop proposal for future Defence Expos and Aero Shows: Defence
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 January 2016 22:41 IST
The defence ministry says making Goa a permanent centre for future Defence Expos as well as Aero India shows can be dropped since no MoU has been signed in this regard.
The ministry however does not deny the fact that a proposal has been mooted to allot Betul land to the defence ministry for creating permanent exhibition ground for two events – Defence Expos and Aero India shows.
The proposal also includes setting up an Air Force Station on the 6 lakh square metres of land at Quittol in Betul village, around 45 kms from Panaji.
In a letter written to Goa chief secretary R K Srivastava on 2 December, Ashok Kumar Gupta, secretary (defence production), however clarifies that there is no co-relation between this year’s one-time event and the proposal for future.
“With regard to allotment of land, this is a different proposition and there can be an arrangement for creating permanent exhibition ground through a MoU between Government of Goa and Ministry of Defence. Subject to the views of Government of Goa, we can consider to progress or drop the proposal”, states Gupta in his letter.
The defence ministry has decided to hold the four-day event in Goa this year because a convention centre is being built at Pragati Maidan in Delhi, the usual venue of Defence Expo since 2000.
This year’s Defence Expo - the Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibition - will be held in Goa from 28 to 31 March.
“The temporary structures would be removed on the completion of the event”, states Gupta.
He also states that the Defence Expo would help economy of the state as well as locals since the national event will have large number of visitors including foreigners.
The official website of the Defence Expo states that 232 foreign companies from 32 countries participated in the last year’s Defence Expo held in February.
The event was attended by 63 official delegations from 58 countries and several international seminars and conferences were also held at the Defence Expo last year.
AERO INDIA WITH AIRPORT
Aero India, Asia’s premier Air Show, however is a different event held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru last year for five days, from 18 to 22 February.
As per the official website, more than 750 global and Indian companies participated in this show with delegations from 109 countries, which included 1.50 lakh business visitors and 3 lakh general visitors.
The event requires airport infrastructure, states the website, for this international show on aerospace, defence, civil aviation and defence engineering.
Since 1996, the defence ministry has organised 10 Aero India shows till 2015.
Gupta’s letter to Goa chief secretary makes it amply clear that the defence ministry has proposed to hold both these events permanently in Goa if the land of Betul is allotted for this purpose.
Though the letter does not indicate whether the land would also be handed over to the defence ministry permanently, it is clear that the Air Force Station would require an airport infrastructure, including the runway.
IT is our pleasure to see that defense expo is happening at our place at this time
Thanks to all specially our honorable defense minister and Ex C M of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar
Thanks a lot