Villagers protesting in front of the Shel-Melauli panchayat office.
VALPOI
The villagers of Shel-Melauli on Monday protested in front of the panchayat the whole day demanding immediate cancellation of land in the name of IIT project. They also did not rule out the possibility of re-igniting the anti-Melauli IIT movement.
It may be recalled that the government had decided to set up an IIT project at Shel-Melauli at a cost of Rs 3,500 cr. However, after the agitation against the project intensified, the government had to reverse its decision and announce cancellation of the project.
During the agitation, the government had filed criminal cases against a total of 40 protesters. The villagers had made repeated demands to withdraw this cases However, the government has not yet taken conceded to this demand. Similarly, 1.5 lakh square metres of government owned land was acquired in the name of the management of IIT project. The villagers had demanded that the government should take back possession of the land. However, the process has not been completed yet.
Earlier, the villagers had submitted a memorandum to the Guleli Panchayat on December 9 demanding detailed information about the crimes filed against the protesters and the land issue. The panchayat had clarified that it would give information about this in the gram sabha to be held on December 12. All the panch members except Arjun Malekar were absent again during the gram sabha which was held on December 19. About this, the aggrieved villagers held the Panchayat Secretary to account as the gram sabha could not be held.
The villagers demanded to hold the gram sabha on Monday, December 20 and a notice was issued in this regard. The gram sabha was again held but once again all the panch members except Arjun Melekar were absent. The angry villagers later held a day-long protest in front of the panchayat. The government has been given two days to accept their demands with a warning that the villagers may be forced to restart their agitation if their demands were not met.
Speaking on the occasion, Shashikant Savardekar, convener of the agitation committee, slammed the government saying that the government had promised to drop the cases against the protesters but has not kept this promise till date. He accused the BJP government of misleading the people.
Shankar Naik, office bearer of the committee, said that the people should not vote for the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections warning that the villagers' protests will continue till the demands are met.
Meanwhile, on December 19, the Diamond Jubilee of Goa Liberation Day, the panch members were required to be present at the Panchayat Hall for flag hoisting. However, the flag was hoisted by panch Nitesh Gawde as rest of the panch members were absent.
It may be recalled that the government had decided to set up an IIT project at Shel-Melauli at a cost of Rs 3,500 cr. However, after the agitation against the project intensified, the government had to reverse its decision and announce cancellation of the project.
During the agitation, the government had filed criminal cases against a total of 40 protesters. The villagers had made repeated demands to withdraw this cases However, the government has not yet taken conceded to this demand. Similarly, 1.5 lakh square metres of government owned land was acquired in the name of the management of IIT project. The villagers had demanded that the government should take back possession of the land. However, the process has not been completed yet.
Earlier, the villagers had submitted a memorandum to the Guleli Panchayat on December 9 demanding detailed information about the crimes filed against the protesters and the land issue. The panchayat had clarified that it would give information about this in the gram sabha to be held on December 12. All the panch members except Arjun Malekar were absent again during the gram sabha which was held on December 19. About this, the aggrieved villagers held the Panchayat Secretary to account as the gram sabha could not be held.
The villagers demanded to hold the gram sabha on Monday, December 20 and a notice was issued in this regard. The gram sabha was again held but once again all the panch members except Arjun Melekar were absent. The angry villagers later held a day-long protest in front of the panchayat. The government has been given two days to accept their demands with a warning that the villagers may be forced to restart their agitation if their demands were not met.
Speaking on the occasion, Shashikant Savardekar, convener of the agitation committee, slammed the government saying that the government had promised to drop the cases against the protesters but has not kept this promise till date. He accused the BJP government of misleading the people.
Shankar Naik, office bearer of the committee, said that the people should not vote for the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections warning that the villagers' protests will continue till the demands are met.
Meanwhile, on December 19, the Diamond Jubilee of Goa Liberation Day, the panch members were required to be present at the Panchayat Hall for flag hoisting. However, the flag was hoisted by panch Nitesh Gawde as rest of the panch members were absent.
