Panaji
Congress Member of Parliament from South Goa, Francisco Sardinha, strongly criticized the BJP-led government’s plans to acquire private land for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state. Sardinha asserted that the government must utilize the available barren land owned by the state instead of encroaching on private properties. Denouncing the BJP’s agenda as detrimental to the interests of Goans, Sardinha emphasized the need to preserve private land and prioritize the use of government-owned uncultivated land for the proposed IIT project. Sardinha further affirmed that the forthcoming 2024 elections would witness a Congress-led INDIA bloc government, which would be committed to revoking all projects that are deemed detrimental to Goa’s interests and environment. He emphasized the need to uphold the ecological integrity of the region, signaling the Congress’s stance against the BJP’s contentious initiatives. The government’s recent identification of a new site in Rivona, Sanguem taluka for the IIT project follows earlier attempts at site selection in Canacona, Shel-Melauli, and Cotarli, which were met with strong public resistance and environmental concerns. The persistent opposition highlights the increasing significance of balancing developmental aspirations with environmental conservation, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions such as Goa. As the controversy surrounding the IIT project continues, the discourse underscores the imperative for collaborative decision-making that integrates both developmental and environmental considerations, ensuring sustainable progress and the protection of local communities’ interests.
