the goan I network
MARGAO
Construction of the prestigious National Institute of Technology at Cuncolim got underway at the acquired site along the NH-17 near the Cuncolim police station on Friday, with NIT Director Dr Gopal Mugeraya saying the NIT will start full-fledged operations within 2-3 years.
Dr Gopal further said while Goan students will get 50 per cent reservation of seats in the institute, a central school has been proposed within the campus for the benefit of the local students. He further said the institute will provide employment for the locals in small jobs, while unveiling plans to adopt 100 students from Cuncolim and impart them with skills in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, etc during the construction period.
While the Bhoomi Pooja of the construction of the seven-km long compound wall was performed by Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and ex-MLA Rajan Naik, sources in the know said the foundation stone for the main project may be launched at the hands of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“NIT Cuncolim will have around 600 student intake each year. Fifty per cent of the seats will be reserved for the Goan students,” he said, while exuding confidence that the NIT will put Cuncolim on the country’s education map.
He said the NIT has plans to build a central school within the campus, which will provide 50 per cent reservation to the local students. “We will adopt 100 students from the area and will be imparted training in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. Local youth will get jobs in the campus,” he added.
Dr Gopal said that not a single big tree will be felled inside the campus area. On the contrary, he unveiled plans to plant as many as 10,000 local variety of mangoes inside the campus in order to protect the ecology of the place. “We will go in for rain water harvesting inside the campus, wherein no drain from the campus will take the water out,” he added.
While a ring road along the campus will be built for quick entry and exit from the campus, trees will be planted along the boundary.
Construction of the compound wall, around seven-km in length, is estimated to cost around Rs 8 crore. While the compound wall is expected to be completed within six months, the project is expected to take shape within two years. The project is expected to be commissioned within 2-3 years.
While expressing his satisfaction over the commencement of the construction work of the proposed NIT, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias said he would ask the government to reserve seats as well as jobs for the local people.
Ex-MLA Rajan Naik, during whose tenure the land admeasuring around 4.45 lakh square metres was acquired, said Cuncolim will benefit in a big way once the complex is competed in all respects.
The NIT has plans to build a central school within the campus, which will provide 50 per cent reservation to the local students
The institute will provide employment for the locals in small jobs
Plans to adopt 100 students from Cuncolim and impart them with skills in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, etc during the construction period
Not a single big tree will be felled inside the campus area but plans afoot to plant 10,000 local variety of mangoes inside the campus in order to protect the ecology
