SANGUEM
Farmers agitating against the IIT project proposed at Cotarli-Sanguem have welcomed the statement by WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar showing his interest to take the IIT project to Shiroda if it is rejected in Sanguem.
Speaking to reporters at Dando-Sanguem on Thursday, the farmers commended Shirodkar for understanding the ground realities and providing the much-desired alternative to the Government to get the IIT shifted to Shiroda.
While speaking at a farmers’ meet organised by the Water Resources Department in Sanguem on Tuesday, Shirodkar said the IIT project could boost the development of the constituency and the surrounding areas.
“The project can easily provide jobs to around 500 youth and open admissions for another 30 students in the IIT sector. I wholeheartedly welcome the project in Shiroda,” claimed Shirodkar at the meet, which was also attended by Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai.
The farmers led by Sanguem Bachao Andolan leader Joseph Fernandes, Milton Fernandes, Santano Rodrigues and others appealed to Shirodkar to request the government to get the project shifted to Shiroda.
“Getting it on pristine farmlands at Sanguem makes no sense. It will only lead to total destruction of agricultural lands and the mountain in the serene village of Cotarli, which is bounded on all sides with agricultural plantation,” said Joseph Fernandes.
“If provided with all amenities and facilities which Shirodkar assured at the meet, farmers will definitely bring under cultivation the remaining fallow land to the best of our abilities.”
Milton Fernandes added that the agricultural lands at Cotarli village are owned, possessed and enjoyed by the farmers.
“They have been passed to us by our ancestors and the government has no right over these lands. The government should stop pressurising the farmers from cultivating the farmlands but instead should come with the decision to shift the IIT project elsewhere in the State,” said Milton Fernandes.
“We will go to any extent to protect our farmlands but will not allow the IIT project at Cotarli village.”
Santano Rodrigues appealed to Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai to stop misguiding the people and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, despite knowing fairly well that land at Cotarli village is under agricultural plantation.
Rodrigues accused Phaldessai of misusing police and other government machinery to harass the farmers and warned that this will not be tolerated.
The farmers complained that even though 60 days had passed for their agitation, no government authority or minister had found the time to meet them and listen to their grievances.
Speaking to reporters at Dando-Sanguem on Thursday, the farmers commended Shirodkar for understanding the ground realities and providing the much-desired alternative to the Government to get the IIT shifted to Shiroda.
While speaking at a farmers’ meet organised by the Water Resources Department in Sanguem on Tuesday, Shirodkar said the IIT project could boost the development of the constituency and the surrounding areas.
“The project can easily provide jobs to around 500 youth and open admissions for another 30 students in the IIT sector. I wholeheartedly welcome the project in Shiroda,” claimed Shirodkar at the meet, which was also attended by Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai.
The farmers led by Sanguem Bachao Andolan leader Joseph Fernandes, Milton Fernandes, Santano Rodrigues and others appealed to Shirodkar to request the government to get the project shifted to Shiroda.
“Getting it on pristine farmlands at Sanguem makes no sense. It will only lead to total destruction of agricultural lands and the mountain in the serene village of Cotarli, which is bounded on all sides with agricultural plantation,” said Joseph Fernandes.
“If provided with all amenities and facilities which Shirodkar assured at the meet, farmers will definitely bring under cultivation the remaining fallow land to the best of our abilities.”
Milton Fernandes added that the agricultural lands at Cotarli village are owned, possessed and enjoyed by the farmers.
“They have been passed to us by our ancestors and the government has no right over these lands. The government should stop pressurising the farmers from cultivating the farmlands but instead should come with the decision to shift the IIT project elsewhere in the State,” said Milton Fernandes.
“We will go to any extent to protect our farmlands but will not allow the IIT project at Cotarli village.”
Santano Rodrigues appealed to Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai to stop misguiding the people and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, despite knowing fairly well that land at Cotarli village is under agricultural plantation.
Rodrigues accused Phaldessai of misusing police and other government machinery to harass the farmers and warned that this will not be tolerated.
The farmers complained that even though 60 days had passed for their agitation, no government authority or minister had found the time to meet them and listen to their grievances.
