CANACONA
According to Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, two more comunidades in Canacona - Shristhal and Agonda - have expressed their willingness to offer land needed to set up the IIT campus.
"In fact, Shristhal Communidade has already written to the government offering its land to set up the IIT campus in the village. The matter is likely to be debated in the gram sabha, which is a must after the Shristhal Communidade gave its assent to allot land for the IIT," said Fernandes.
"If people want, then let the government come up with this project in Shristhal. It will be a boon to the taluka. Now, I have also learnt that Agonda Comunidade has also agreed to allot a chunk of its land to set up IIT Goa project. These are good signs, but certainly not against the wishes of the people and people's consent through gram sabha resolutions is a must," he said.
Stating that Loliem villagers had objected to the IIT only because of that particular site, which is an eco-sensitive plateau (Bhagwati), none objected to setting up of an educational institute ever."
"I never ever opposed IIT but only had said that I am with the people of Loliem as far as IIT campus was concerned. Over 90% of people had opposed the IIT at Bhagwati plateau," said Fernandes, when The Goan asked him about his pre-assembly poll stand.
"Only a few people got together and proposed IIT at Loliem, much against the wishes of a majority of villagers."
"These people deliberately kept the Loliem people in the dark, never initially or later allowed IIT discussion in gram sabha. Their approach itself was totally wrong, not the project."
"I wholeheartedly welcome the project, but definitely not against the wishes of people," said Fernandes.
Fernandes also put to rest the latest attempts by the government to re-survey Bhagwati plateau, which were again foiled by some alert Loliem residents, as completion of pending formality of sorts, after reportedly abandoning the CM's proposal to shift the IIT to Sanguem.
"I was kept in the dark and on enquiry, was told that some pending stages of an initial survey of Bhawati plateau were conducted again and it was only a formality. The IIT cannot come up on Bhagwati plateau, as people have strongly opposed it," he added.
