PANAJI
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of being uninterested in promoting an educational hub in Goa but rather the business of land dealing and brokerage under the garb of education.
Alemao, who addressed a press conference, said that the government is providing Comunidade land to private universities even as the State-owned Goa University is being neglected, evident from its falling ranking.
“It looks like the Goa government has ventured into brokerage and hence is leasing out land to private universities to garner ‘bags’. We have seen how this government has done deals in the case of Zuari Agro Chemicals. It is a scam worth crores of rupees. The same formula they are now applying everywhere,” Alemao alleged.
“I have learnt that thousands of square metres of land belonging to the Captain of Ports at Britona is leased out to one Ganpat University from Gujarat. Recently people from Thivim protested against the private university coming to their village, which has sought 2 lakh square metres of land. The government is giving away our land to these universities, which will not benefit the locals,” Alemao said.
Citing the example of Birla-owned Zuari Agro Chemicals, which was allotted comunidade land at Sancoale for industrial purposes decades ago and has now sold it as 'real estate', Alemao said, these private universities will in the future also sell using the same modus operandi.
"There will be no land available for the people of Goa,” Alemao pointed out.
Alemao also lamented that institutions like the National Institute of Technology (NIT) have deprived locals of jobs and recruited candidates from other States.
He said, IIT faced opposition at Shell Melauli, Canacona and Sanguem because of the destruction of the environment which will take place after they are allotted 10 lakh square metres.
“Such projects threaten our environment, infrastructure and heritage. They will also put a strain on the village infrastructure including sewage system, waste management, availability of water and electricity,” he said.
Quepem MLA, Altone DCosta who was also present alleged that Parul University, which is setting up a base in Nakeri-Betul has begun work by sidelining the local body.
“We had asked that they should give contracts to locals, fifty per cent concession to students and jobs to our local youths. But if we see their attitude, it seems that they will not fulfil the demands of locals,” D'Costa alleged.
