CANACONA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s hint at the Vijay Sankalp Purti Melava in Canacona on Sunday that the IIT-Goa campus could be set up in the taluka may be more than just a casual suggestion.
Sources have informed The Goan that the process to examine land in Canacona had already taken place nearly a week ago.
“Comunidade land measuring over 9.5 lakh sq mtrs on the isolated Kulti Plateau in Poinguinim village was examined by a team of around 12 top officers, including the Secretary of Education and Director of Higher Education,” the source said.
Sources said the inspection by the 12 officials was just a preliminary one and some places are likely to be inspected in the days to come, particularly in Canacona and two other talukas.
When contacted, former Poinguinim Comunidade attorney Yogesh Prabhugaonkar confirmed the development and said the land in question had been previously inspected as well.
Strategic location
Sources said the then Poinguinim Comunidade committee had offered the land to the government, anticipating employment generation to the villagers.
“This large tract of comunidade land was once proposed for an industrial estate during the tenure of then Poinguinim MLA Jagdish Acharya. However, the proposal fizzled out due to lack of support and interest from subsequent governments,” said the source.
The Kulti Plateau is considered a strategic location for an industry or a mega education institution. It is located close to the Konkan Railway tracks and an electricity sub-station. Besides, the Talpona River and the coast are not far away.
More importantly, there is already an existing approach road to the land and many believe it could be an ideal location for the prestigious IIT-Goa campus.
“Years before during Congress party rule at the Centre, the Border Security Force had also proposed to acquire this land and had even agreed to pay Rs 200 crore to the State Government. However, the proposal did not materialise for reasons unknown,” Prabhugaonkar said.
“We believe the State government will certainly give its nod to set up the IIT-Goa campus in Poinguinim, as there is no opposition from any angle. Besides, it will a win-win situation for people at large,” he added.
Other options
Incidentally, the Kulti Plateau had been suggested as an option for the IIT-Goa shortly after locals had strongly objected to the proposed IIT at Bhagwati Plateau in Loliem-Polem village.
“Some residents had suggested vacant and barren land on Kulti Plateau, but there was no serious thought or even attempts to examine that land,” the source added.
While nearly 14 lakh sq. mtrs of land had been considered for the proposed campus at Bhagwati Plateau in Loliem, Kulti Plateau reportedly has over 9.5 lakh sq mtrs of land in two different survey numbers for the proposed IIT-Goa campus.
Shortly after the proposed IIT-Goa campus was shifted out of Canacona following protests in Loliem village, the Poinguinim Comunidade and Shrishthal panchayat had also offered to provide land, but the State government was firm in moving the project out of the taluka.
The project was then proposed at Sanguem and when there were similar objections, it was moved to Melauli in Sattari taluka.
Locals in Melauli stiffly opposed the project and even clashed with authorities and police, forcing the government to move the project out of Melauli.
Then Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes had made fervent attempts to bring back the IIT-Goa to Canacona and had even proposed the Kulti Plateau in Poinguinim or land in Shristhal, which was offered by the Shrishthal panchayat, another location at Nagorcem-Palolem and another piece of land in Agonda. However, the State government did not evince interest in his proposals.
If the State government finally settles for Kulti Plateau or any other area in the taluka, IIT-Goa could well return to Canacona, which was first earmarked for the project.
