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WHY ARE THE LOCALS OPPOSING
* State government fails to take local residents into confidence
* Residents fear destruction of forested cover atop Bhagwati plateau * IIT project would have adverse consequences on flora and fauna
* Dense forest cover which also sustains wildlife would be hit
* Residents obtain 1050 signatures in bid to stop proposed project
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SARPANCHA'S PUNCH
* We are unaware whether opposition is brewing out of political or some other compulsion
* There tends to be a tendency to oppose without actually understanding the nature of the project
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The government's move to push for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Loliem-Polem without the knowledge and support of residents has led to a predictable course.
A course of action, that is, with locals engineering a campaign against yet another a prestigious educational institution.
Barely a year after the proposed National Institute of Technology (NIT) was moved out of Loliem over public opposition, a signature campaign by a local activist to oppose the IIT project has already generated over 1,000 signatures.
Spearheading the signature campaign, the local activist, Dennis Fernandes has feared that the destruction of forested cover atop the Bhagwati plateau for the proposed project would have adverse consequences on the village flora and fauna.
“Opposition is gathering momentum against the proposed IIT at Bhagwati Plateau and hundreds had participated in the signature campaign,” a local told The Goan.
When contacted, Fernandes said the Bhagwati plateau consists of a dense forest cover which also sustains wildlife.
“The plateau is the reason for year round availability of groundwater to the entire village. But if a concrete jungle is set up at the Bhagwati plateau, it would spell disaster to the village,” said Fernandes.
Asked how many signatures the campaign had generated so far, Fernandes replied: “We have got 1050 signatures. We could not go to all the people as yet, but we hope to stop this destruction (to environment).”
Mindful of growing opposition to the project, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar said: “We aware that people are campaigning to oppose the project. We are unaware whether that opposition is brewing out of political or some other compulsion.”
“There tends to be a tendency among a few locals to oppose each and every project without actually understanding the nature of the project. It looks like some of these youth are misguided politically, while others may feel that elected representatives will pocket a huge commission. This is a government project, and people should be aware against such misconceptions,” said Prabhugaonkar.
“In the past, similar problems had led to the shifting of the proposed NIT elsewhere, as visiting officials were not allowed to carry out their work. We hope a similar situation does not deny us another prestigious technical institution in our village,” Prabhugaonkar added.
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Miffed though,
local body not
against project
The Loliem-Polem panchayat may not have any objection to the proposed IIT in the village, but the local body is certainly miffed over being ignored by the State government regarding the prestigious education institution.
While listing out the panchayat's achievements during the last four years, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar unexpectedly revealed that the panchayat had been kept in the dark on the IIT project.
“Nothing has been received from any of the government departments concerned on plans to house IIT in Loliem,” claimed Prabhugaonkar.
Prabhugaonkar admitted that he had received information about the proposed project only by virtue of being a member of the Loliem-Polem communidade.
“Being a component of Loliem-Polem communidade, I am aware on what has transpired between the communidade and Government department regarding the proposed IIT in Loliem.”
“But the local body is still kept in the dark and so far, nothing official has been received, especially if the project needs any NOC or other technical support of the local body,” added the sarpanch.
Panch Santan Da Costa took offence at media reports that the communidade and Panchayat body had given their nod to house the IIT in Loliem village.
“That is wrong, since the issue has never been raised or discussed in the panchyat meeting nor in any Gramsabha. As yet, there has been no intimation from the government to house the IIT in Loliem. So, the question of giving a nod or refusing the IIT does not arise,” Da Costa told reporters.
Prabhugaonkar was, however, optimistic that the proposed IIT would be housed in the village and that, the local body would be taken into confidence. “It is a non-polluting project and we see no harm in welcoming it,” justified the sarpanch.
