CANACONA
The South Goa Collector’s directives for a land survey to earmark the proposed IIT campus site on Bhagwati Plateau in Loliem have sparked off anger in the village.
According to sources, residents reacted angrily over some activities being carried out on Bhagwati Plateau since last few days, with some claiming that trees are being felled and vast land is being cleared on the plateau to start the work for the proposed IIT, totally ignoring concerns raised by residents. Sources pointed out that as per directives from the Collector, land survey officials have taken up survey of land to earmark the IIT site in Loliem-Polem.
Reacting angrily, some residents from the group opposing IIT have demanded that the work underway at the plateau should be stopped immediately, while others have demanded a special Gram Sabha to discuss the issue.
“We need to immediately call an extra ordinary Gram Sabha to discuss the IIT issue. The panchas are duty bound to listen to the local grievances,” said a resident, Edwin Coutinho.
Expressing concern that not all panchas are supporting their stand, another resident one Savio said: “I think we should first persuade them to attend one of the meetings.”
Rohit Bhat said, “We cannot allow the ongoing work of ground cleaning which is going on in full swing on the Bhagvati plateau. We should completely stop the work that is going on at the plateau unless they first convene a
Gram Sabha.”
Others suggested that some people should go and stop the work, while others suggested a meeting with the collector.
According to sources, officials of land and survey are engaged to conduct survey of 11.2 lakh sq mtr of land and to earmark the exact location on Bhagwati Plateau, which Comunidade of Loliem-
Polem has offered to the
government.
