Team Herald
SANGUEM: Fearing destruction of local environment that could be caused by the construction of the proposed new IIT campus at Sanguem, the local villagers on Sunday opposed the project saying that there was no need for another engineering college since the State already has quite a few of them.
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A local villager, Sanjay Mapari questioned the reason for Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai pushing for the project at Cotarli Sanguem at the risk of destroying the local ecology.
“Why is Phaldessai pushing for setting up IIT at Sanguem? He should know that the proposed area for the new IIT campus is known for its rich flora and fauna. Where will the wild animals found here including deers and leopards go once the construction is completed? What will happen to the trees?” Mapari questioned.
Mapari was speaking at a late evening meeting held at Cotarli Sanguem, which was attended by over 150 farmers and environment lovers.
Another farmer Joseph Fernandes alleged that while Phaldessai claimed that the proposed IIT project will be a boon for the local youth in terms of employment and job opportunities, it is absolutely not true.
“The employment opportunities that would be made available to the locals would be that of clerks, gardeners and sweepers. Are we educating our children to be sweepers and gardeners?” questioned Fernandes.
“The IIT project if commissioned in Sanguem, would spell doom for the people of Cotarli village. Our lands would be gone forever if we do not oppose the project now,” Fernandes said.
Environment lover Carlota Fernandes harped on the high fees charged by IITs.
“The people from Sanguem are not super rich to send their wards to IIT. The project instead of serving any purpose to locals, will be a boon for outsiders. The project under no circumstances will benefit any of us but on the contrary we will lose our prime land which has passed to us by our ancestors,” Fernandes said.
Another farmer Constancio Mascarenhas who is spearheading the movement against the proposed IIT project at Sanguem, highlighted the ill effects the farmers would have once the project is completed.
“There is no need for the proposed IIT at Sanguem as Goa already has enough engineering colleges. This project will only lead to wanton destruction of the pristine farm land at Sanguem,” Mascarenhas said.
Moreover, he also alleged that if the proposed IIT at Cotarli gets comes up, then politically affiliated families which own around 76,000 sq mtr of open land, will turn millionaires overnight and this is basically what the government wants.
Meanwhile, Sanguem MLA and Minister for Social Welfare Subhash Phaldessai while speaking at the 38th Anniversary of Sanguem Quepem Patrakar Sangh on Saturday, informed that the IIT project will be a clean and green project and will not lead to any destruction.
“The proposed area which admeasures around 7,50,000 sq mtr is solely owned by Government and there aren’t any paddy farms there. The authorities won’t cut any trees and neither there will be any environmental degradation,” he said.
According to the Sanguem MLA, unlike mining, IIT is a green and education based project which the people should welcome with open arms.
“But it is surprising that a section of people are simply opposing the project despite knowing fairly well that the project is coming on government land, which is not having any agricultural land,” he said.
The project will be a boon for the locals and the twin towns of Curchorem and Sanguem will see an overall development. The area surrounding the project will be in huge demand for conduct of various businesses which will largely benefit our youth sector, claimed Phaldessai.
