SANGUEM: During a gram sabha held in Rivona on Sunday, the villagers unanimously passed a resolution in support of the IIT project planned for the Mole ward of the village. They expressed their gratitude to Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai for his efforts in bringing the project to Rivona after its initial rejection from Cotarli village in Sanguem.
The villagers, while showing support for the project, raised their hands in a unanimous vote, affirming their desire to welcome the IIT project. The elected panchayat members had previously conveyed their support for the project to the government.
Phal Dessai attended the gram sabha as a special invitee. He explained in detail the benefits that the project would bring to the villagers once it receives approval from the Central government.
Phal Dessai emphasised that the project is environmentally friendly and that allowing it in the village would not cause harm. The IIT project is expected to create numerous job and business opportunities for the residents. It will also provide a platform for intellectuals in the village to advance in the field of education. Phal Dessai highlighted that the project would result in improved infrastructure, including better roads, healthcare facilities, communication, and transportation in the village.
Phaldessai assured the villagers that any grievances they may face due to the project will be addressed. He pledged to ensure that no villager from Mole would be negatively affected by the project.
The MLA also promised to provide better grounds for the village youth who currently use a portion of the land slated for acquisition by the IIT project for playing cricket and volleyball. He further assured local farmers who have encroached on a small portion of the land intended for the project that they would receive alternate land or that the encroached-upon land would be excluded from the acquisition process.
Incidentally, there have been reports of a mining company holding a lease adjoining the proposed IIT site attempting to persuade some villagers to oppose the project, but these efforts have not succeeded so far.
