Govt identifies land in Loliem for proposed IIT
THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Anticipating opposition from locals at Shristhal, the government is reportedly eyeing two more sites in the bordering village of Loliem-Polem and one site in Poinguinim, for the proposed IIT-Goa project.
According to the sources, officials of technical education along with Loliem Comunidade Attorney Darshan Prabhugaonkar, inspected one of the two sites in Loliem-Polem village.
The team, which also included officials from IT and Revenue departments, besides the South Goa collector's office, inspected the Bhagwati plateau, which is spread over 40 lakh sq mtrs bordering Loliem and Poinguinim villages.
Sources informed that the Loliem Comunidade also identified yet another location in the village, but the team instead preferred to visit another site at Kulti plateau in neighbouring Poinguinim village.
“Nothing has been finalized as yet and it is just a preliminary enquiry, as the Union HRD ministry is yet to finalise its requirements, including specifications for the required land,” said a source.
“An Offer Letter (Requisition Letter) from the government has also been sought, so that the matter can be deliberated by the comunidade body,” the source added.
A few days ago, Chief Minister Laximikant Parsekar had shown special interest in housing the IIT“Goa and had chaired a meeting along with Deputy Chief Minister (also Revenue Minister) Francis D'Souza, MP (South) Narendra Savoikar, Canacona MLA and Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Chief Secretary R K Srivastava, Collectors (North & South) and IT officials at the Secretariat.
Incidentally, Loliem Comunidade Attorney Darshan Prabhugaonkar was a special invitee at the meeting.
When contacted, Prabhugaonkar said, “The government has only made inquiries and undertook a preliminary inspection of a site in our village.”
“We had clearly asked the government to first submit an Offer Letter, so that our body can arrive at a decision in the matter,” said Prabhugaonkar.
The government has reportedly decided to forward two sites, both from Canacona Taluka, to Union HRD Minister.
The government had earlier proposed to locate land the proposed IIT-Goa in either Shristhal or Poinguinim villages, but reportedly abandoned Shristhal village.
Authorities are now narrowing down between two vacant sites, both in Loliem-Polem village, and the picturesque Kulti Plateau in Poinguinim, sources added.
