VASCO
Admitting the IIT project was good, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha on Monday said the state government should, however, listen to the people of Melauli and try to shift the project elsewhere in the State.
Addressing a news conference, Saldanha also said she had written to Prime minister Narendra Modi on the controversial double-tracking project.
“We have the BITS Pilani, a renowned technological institution on the same lines as IIT but how many Goan students are studying there and how many teaching staff are from Goa,” asked Saldanha
“When we give away land, we have to ensure that benefits come to the State and its people.”
“When we plan anything in Goa, we must remember that Goa is a tiny state which does not have land to be gifted, left, right and centre.”
“We are not the last generation to live here and we must think of the future and land is a scarce commodity. We have to be very careful when we give land. The IIT is a very good project but the question is whether we have to give so much land and if the project has to come up there (Melauli),” added Saldanha.
The Cortalim MLA said the State government should listen to the people who have been protesting for so long.
“If there are other alternatives, we should hear the plea and voices of the people and have the infrastructure shifted elsewhere,” said Saldanha.
