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Goa likely to get exhibition and cargo centres

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Goa is being considered an ideal place by the Union commerce ministry to set up a cargo complex to export perishable goods, besides starting a permanent commercial exhibition centre on the lines of Delhi's Pragati Maidan in Panaji for the western region.

Although the idea mooted by Union Commerce Minister Ramkrishna Hegde is welcomed by the new coalition government headed by Dr Wilfred de Souza, the cargo complex could be set up only if the defence ministry agrees to shift its naval base elsewhere from the Dabolim airport.

Since its liberation in 1961, Goa has been using part of the naval airport at Dabolim for civilian traffic, while the controversy over the ownership of the airport land is still unresolved. The proposal to have another international airport at Mopa, on the northern border of the tourist state, is still pending before the civil aviation ministry.

''I would request Defence Minister George Fernandes to let the navy shift to another airbase, allowing the state to use it fully for the growing civilian traffic,'' said Dr de Souza after returning from Delhi. He, however, could not meet Fernandes.

The commerce ministry is apparently planning to set up the cargo complex near the airport to export perishables like vegetables, flowers, fruits, fish and meat through several tourist charters coming to Goa and also to the Middle East, where it is in demand.

The Indian Trade Promotion Organisation is also trying to locate a site in Goa to set up the exhibition centre for the western region. ''They have preferred Goa because over 1.2 million tourists -- both domestic and foreign -- visit the coastal state every year,'' Dr +de Souza said.

The central government is planning to set up such permanent exhibition centres also in Calcutta, Bangalore and Madras, besides one in the western region, for which Bombay was considered earlier.

As the developmental work in Goa has come to a standstill with public treasury going dry after paying salaries to the government employees as per the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations, Dr de Souza has now requested the Centre to sanction one-time outright grant of Rs 1.5 billion to the tourist state.

While claiming that Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has assured to finalise it in consultation with the Union finance minister, Dr de Souza said it would be primarily utilised for providing infrastructural facilities along the coastline from tourism point of view as well as to upgrade the medical facilities at the Goa Medical College.