We can only ask for reservation for jobs of peons, watchmen for locals, says party leader
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Coming out openly in support of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) project in Cuncolim, the BJP on Saturday said there’s no justification for reservation of seats for local students in a national project such as NIT, but felt that locals can seek reservation of jobs for peons and watchman in the institute.
At a media conference, Cuncolim BJP leader Shankar Dessai reminded opponents that NIT is a national project and is guided by a national policy. “For every project, we cannot think of the local area. Sometimes, we have to think of the country and the state. We cannot demand reservation of seats for local youth. We can only ask for reservation for jobs such as peons and watchmen. Demand for reservation of seats cannot be met since NIT is guided by an all India policy,” Shankar said, while saying that the NIT project will give a boost for business in Cuncolim and Balli as around 5,000-8,000 are expected to be associated with the project.
Welcoming the project, he further said that since major chunk of the Sociedade de Agricola land in Cuncolim stands encroached by migrants, a good project such as a NIT should come up on the land in question. “Migrants will come and encroach upon the land if the project does not come within the next 10 years. Influx of migrants will only create social problems,” he cautioned.
Shankar cautioned that the NIT project will be a boon for Goan students migrating to the nook and corner of the country to pursue NIT education. “Though there cannot be reservation of seats for local youth, around 50 per cent of the candidates in the institute will be Goans,” he added.
Replying to a question, he said that opponents of the project have till date not justified why they are opposed to the NIT in Cuncolim. When his attention was drawn to the resolution adopted by the Cuncolim civic body to oppose the project, Shankar shot back, “The Cuncolim Municipal Council should close down the polluting industries. Pollution has destroyed wells in Comba. The CMC should fight the industrial pollution and get the polluting industries shut down”.
Maruti Desai said that the BJP government has gone ahead with the NIT project only after restricting the land size, taking into account the grievances of the people. “The Congress government wanted to acquire 12 lakh odd sq mts of land for the NIT. But the BJP government paid heed to the public grievances and has restricted the area size to 6.09 lakh sq mts,” Maruti added.
