SANGUEM
Opposition to the proposed IIT at Cotarli-Sanguem further gained ground with villagers of Molcornem-Quepem on Sunday raising objections at the gram sabha claiming the project would in no way benefit people living in the area.
The Molcornem village adjoins the proposed IIT site and fear huge losses and environment destruction in the event of the project being allowed at Cotarli-Sanguem.
The opposition raised by villagers from Molcornem remains significant as the hillock which comes within the proposed site connects Nagvem ward of Molcornem village. Moreover, several families from the village have their agricultural plantations adjoining the proposed site for the IIT project.
Villager Kiran Malkarnekar who has been raising various issues of concerns in the village through varied means raised the issue of IIT and explained the reasons as to why they oppose the project.
Giving details of the proposed survey numbers which are likely to be affected and the ultimate effect it will have on the farming community from Molcornem village, Malkarnekar alongwith other villagers proposed their strong opposition to the project despite efforts by the village sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar to keep the opposition away.
With the villagers not ready to budge, the panchayat later passed a resolution placing their objections to the project. The resolution was proposed by Joseph while Kiran Malkarnekar seconded the resolution which was passed with majority support.
Speaking to media, Malkarnekar once again explained the ill effects the people would have to face if the project makes its way in Sanguem.
On the other hand, Sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar who is directly affiliated to the Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai claimed that there is some misunderstanding among the farmers and the villagers and that he would do his level best to make the villagers understand the ground reality behind the project.
