VALPOI: Welcoming the government decision to shift the IIT Goa project from Sanguem to Murmune, Guleli residents hope to get jobs once the project becomes operational.
Residents of Sattari especially those from Guleli have praised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Valpoi legislator Vishwajit Rane for bringing the IIT-Goa campus to Murmune following opposition to the project in Sanguem.
“The State Government should make a provision to ensure that Goans get jobs in the Administrative Department of IIT Goa and Murmune villagers should be accorded first priority followed by residents of Guleli and Sattari taluka,” a local activist group Sattari Bhumi Putra says.
Already there is a buffer zone in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary vicinity. While undertaking the IIT project work, precautionary measures should be taken to ensure ecological parameters are not degraded. There should be no ground complex. Stress should be on rainwater harvesting and at the same time there should not be any pressure on groundwater resources in the area.
“Firstly, when a tree is cut or felled in its place a new sapling needs to be planted. Since the area being frequented by bison, the double the area should be reserved to protect the seasonal grass land and a strict vigil should be maintained on the moment of these animals. A sewerage treatment plant and a solid waste treatment plants should be constructed in the project area, or else it will pollute the groundwater,” noted environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar warned.
The Revenue Department owns 13 lakh sq mts at Murmune and the IIT project will come up in an area admeasuring 10 lakh sq mts.
It may be recalled that earlier Valpoi MLA and the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had promised the Sattari people to make this land available for setting up of industry but he failed to do so. Now, he has assured to set up the IIT project on the land. The unemployment rate is increasing day by day in Sattari as there are around 5000 youth without jobs in the taluka.
At present 18 families are residing on the land owned by Revenue Department, of these five families belong to the Dhangar community. These five houses are located at the centre, while 13 other houses fall at end. These families have been staying on this land for the past six decades.
Till the date these people have not informed by the Guleli Panchayat that IIT project is proposed to be set up on the land, where they have been residing for years.
Murmune villagers say that those residing on the IIT Goa project land will now approach the Guleli panchyat with a request to convene a special gram sabha on IIT project. They will request the panchas to explain the IIT project in detail to the villagers.
“A few days ago, the North Goa Collector along with the Revenue Department Officials and the Land and Records Department Officials visited Murmune village and surveyed the land owned by the Revenue Department. The North Goa Collector has promised us that the IIT project will not affect us,” a villager said.
“The IIT Goa project in Guleli panchayat jurisdiction will develop our panchayat area. It will also provide employment opportunities to our youth,” Guleli Zilla Member Premnath Hazare said.
“I would like to thank our MLA and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for getting the IIT project in Guleli panchayat. Now, our panchayat will get some revenue through this IIT Goa project,” Guleli Sarpanch Asmita Melekar said.
