Former minister Isidore Fernandes has sounded a note of caution. He is not saying ‘no’ to the project but he wants the government to first conduct a detailed study of the impact the institute will have on the village and its surroundings, before saying ‘yes’. Big projects tend to overwhelm residents and the demand for 12 sq mts of land from the Loliem Communidade alone is enough to put locals on the defensive. In the normal course what they want is details of the project so that they can understand its scope and impact. The demands put forth by Fernandes are not outlandish. In fact they make sense. People in the area must have a clear understanding of the project. More importantly, they must believe that the government is being transparent and has nothing to hide. Educational institutes are easier to sell to the people, provided all the details are made public. The IIT project needs to handled with care, patience and perseverance if it is to see the light of day.
IIT fears
It might be too early to say if the agitation against the Defence Expo has petered out, but even as work of erecting the giant hangars and other support structure gets under way, another agitation could be brewing over the demand for 12 lakh sq mts of land in Loliem, Canacona to set up the prestigious IIT college.
