The protest by Codar-Bethora locals against the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) continues into its second month, with residents holding daily meetings and corner gatherings demanding the scrapping of the project. In yesterday’s meeting, locals warned of staging a Melaulim-style agitation if the government proceeds with the IIT project on fertile land.
They criticised the government for failing to uphold land rights under the Agriculture and Tenancy Act, while pushing projects such as malls, hotels, and the IIT on cultivable land. “Goans have very little land in their hands. Delhi-based parties are doing injustice by taking fertile land for projects that offer no real benefits,” they charged. MLA Viresh Borkar assured his full support to the residents, emphasizing the need to protect cultivable land for future generations. Residents said that the IIT project requires around 20 lakh sq m of land, which is not available in Goa. “There is no need for an IIT here. Goans can access IIT education at the nearest campus in Dharwad. The government seems more interested in raising land rates than benefiting the people,” the villagers added. Visram Gaonkar again objected to the Gazette notification describing the proposed IIT land as “unused, barren, and uncultivated,” asserting that 80% of the land is fertile and includes forested areas. Locals stressed that if their demands are ignored, they will escalate protests to protect the land of Scheduled Tribe communities, warning the government not to force them into confrontation
