Unfazed by Centre’s rejection of Cotarli land for IIT, Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai insists IIT will be set up in Sanguem constituency itself.
Speaking to the media persons after the Cotarli site almost being out, Phaldessai said that the Central government has asked to make available another three lakhs square metres of land as a portion of land made available at the proposed site was unusable and occupied by mountain.
Phaldessai said that efforts are still on to make this extra land available from the private parties. “If still that doesn’t work out, we have Plan II and Plan III ready. But the IIT project is here to stay in Sanguem,” added Phaldessai.
“Besides Cotarli, we have also submitted proposals for two more alternate sites. If Cotarli site does not work out we will work on Plan II and III but will not allow the IIT to go from Sanguem,” Phaldessai further said.
Phaldessai also charged the farmers for not having any agricultural plantation at the proposed Cotarli site.
Incidentally, Phaldessai’s Plan II is also on the verge of being rejected as villagers from Uguem already had a meeting in the village a month ago placing their strong objections for the IIT project.
Earlier, the Centre had made it clear that land identified at Cotarli village is not being considered for the permanent campus of IIT.
The farmers opposing the project had celebrated their victory by lighting fire crackers at their agitation site in Sanguem.
Notably, the governments previous two attempts to set up the project in Loliem-Canacona and Melauli-Sattari had failed due to stiff protests from locals in both places.
The Sanguem farmers had alleged violence, intimidation and misuse of powers by the State to displace tribal communities and to usurp tribal lands for the IIT project.
Following Centre’s decision, a protest leader on Saturday told reporters that Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai should have thought wisely before trying to force the project in Sanguem.
