MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said a four-member panel will study and explore all available options for identifying land for the proposed IIT project in the state, even as he trained his guns at the opponents, saying those who had drawn up plans to destroy Goa need not teach him how to save Goa and protect its identity.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of his visit to Lord Damodar Sal on Monday morning, the Chief Minister said that the government is very much serious in setting up the IIT in the state and hence will soon set up a four-member committee to verify and study the feasible land to house the IIT. “The government has decided to shift the IIT project from Melaulim, Sattari, but the land for the project is not yet finalized. The government is very much serious in the IIT project but we don’t want any more trouble regarding the land for the project”, the Chief Minister said, adding that the four-member team will explore all available land options before the government takes a final call on the new IIT location.
Directing his tirade at the opponents for accusing the government of destroying Goa’s identity, the Chief Minister said some people are spreading false propaganda and are making accusations when the government has launched a programme to make Goa Swayampurna. ‘These people who want to sell Goa need not teach me how to maintain and protect Goa and its identity. They say that the government is out to destroy Goa, but people know this government has embarked on Swayampurna to give justice to the people. In this 60th year of Liberation, I am confident that Swayampurna will take the government to greater heights and those who wanted to destroy Goa will be sent home”, Sawant added.
He said the Swayampurna initiative has already started giving results at the grass-root level, with people now going to the village panchayats to get their works. People with no houses, no toilets, water and power supply are now going to the panchayat toilets and other amenities”, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said those who are plotting to send my government home are only dreaming to somehow come to power. He pointed out that the BJP government has the full backing of the people of Goa, adding “this has been clearly evident by the results of the ZIlla Panchayat polls”.
Saying that the BJP will get a full mandate from Goans in the urban areas, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that the BJP will emerge victorious in the ensuing Municipal election.
To a question, the Chief Minister said the dates of the ensuing Municipal polls will be decided by the Director of Municipal Administration.
