PANJIM: The meeting between Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and the villagers of Shel Melauli remained inconclusive as both sides stuck to their stand.
While the Chief Minister maintained that the land belongs to the government, the villagers said the government must transfer their land rights.
The government has agreed to compensate the land losers if they have valid documents, Sawant told media persons after the meeting.
“We gave them a presentation and also informed them that 40,000 sq metres of land has been left out for the devasthan. Apart from that, if there is anybody who has valid documents to prove ownership we will compensate them with replacement land,” Sawant said.
He said the government will take into consideration all the grievances of the people. “If they have old orders, we will fast track and give them replacement land immediately,” he said, adding that the government is not grabbing any land of any villagers.
He sought the villagers’ support as the project is of national pride.
Sawant also ruled out that the IIT will come up in eco-sensitive zone. He said, “60-70 per cent of IIT construction is on a plateau.”
Sawant said IIT Goa will bring in opportunities and development for the people of the village. “We have now asked the villagers to form a four-member committee that will co-ordinate with the dy collector and the authorities,” he said.
He said if any villager has valid documents they should approach the collector. “As per our records the entire land belongs to the government and despite this we are committed to sort the issue. The political parties are trying to instigate people, if they (parties) do not want IIT they should say they do not want,” he stated.
