TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Suspecting a land scam in the setting up of the NIT in the village, citizens of Cuncolim on Friday warned that the government will have to face the consequences for dumping the project on the villagers. They have threatened to launch a sustained movement to oppose the institute tooth and nail.
They have decided to form a broad-based committee of citizens to oppose the project and submit a memorandum to the government to scrap the land acquisition proceedings. “This project smells fishy. It is a land scam. The previous government wanted to acquire 12 lakh sq mts. Now the present government has plans to acquire only six lakh sq mts. And Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik says only five lakh sq mts will be acquired,” Dr Jorson Fernandes said, while demanding to know how the government is acquiring the land without a project plan.
He said the government can very well set up the NIT on the acquired land for the Food Park or at Goa University. He said local MLA Rajan Naik should explain why the government has dropped the six lakh sq mts of land from acquisition. “Is he favouring the land owners? Is there a hidden agenda? These same people had opposed the project, but they are supporting it now. The Sociedade says they have not given any letter for acquisition of their land,” he said.
Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Devendra Desai demanded a probe to find out a link between the Director of Technical Education and the land owners, whose land has been dropped by the government from acquisition. “The government should clarify how much is required for the NIT and come out with a Detailed Project Report,” he demanded.
Cuncolim Municipal Councillor Dr Laximan Naik said he is not against the NIT, but the project should not come in Cuncolim given the scarce land resources. “The government seems to be unaware of the geography of Cuncolim. There is hardly any land left in Cuncolim. People are migrating to the towns because there’s no land to build houses. Besides, there’s no land for future development,” he said.
Cuncolim Citizens Committee President Oscar Martins said the land in question is a hilly and forest land, rich in biodiversity and hence not suitable for the NIT project. CMC vice-Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas and Councillor Crossy Fernandes were also present.
