Cong takes on Goa govt in RS over allocating land for def expo

Goa government's decision to allot 150 acres of land for holding a defence exposition today drew criticism in the Rajya Sabha, with a Congress member objecting to it saying land was required for setting up institutes like IIT and AIIMS.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Shantaram Naik (Cong) said, "Goa requires land for establishing AIIMS, IIT, NIT etc and in such circumstances, there is no sense in giving land to Defence Exposition."
He claimed that apart from 150 acres of land in Naqueri village in Goa, the balance surrounding 100 acres was also likely to be utilised indirectly by the Defence Ministry and expressed concern over the issue.

Maintaining that this land was reserved for industrial use and an industrial estate was under construction there, he said "if the land is given to the Defence Exposition, young boys and girls of the area will be deprived of jobs."
Stating that the Defence Exposition was so far being held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, Naik said "it appears the Goa government is proposing to give the land to the Defence Ministry on a long-lease basis, although the Defence Minister says that they require land only for five days and Chief Minister speaks of one year."
He further said that Goa has had a bad experience as regards Defence Ministry since Anjadiv Island, which was granted to Navy, which sought it on security grounds, did not keep their written promise to allow members of Christian community to offer prayers at a chapel located there.

He also alleged that the Navy also wanted to "grab three islands situated off the coast of Vasco and now are even demanding land at the Mopa Airport site.