Thursday, March 28, 2024
News

In U-turn, Goa Minister now says he's against IIT-Goa project

   SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

Panaji | Tuesday, 2021 9:15:06 PM IST
Taking a U-turn on the IIT-Goa campus project, state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the project from his Valpoi Assembly constituency in North Goa in view of public protests.

Rane, who earlier repeatedly insisted on going ahead with the construction of the Indian Institute of Technology-Goa campus at Melaulim village "at any cost", has now cited "popular sentiments" against the project for his about-turn.

"I have written to CM Pramod Sawant that I do not want an IIT in my constituency. I have taken this decision in the people's interest... the people's sentiments are against the IIT," Rane said in a video message on the social media.

The Minister also urged Sawant to withdraw criminal cases filed against protestors who turned violent and also action against police officials for alleged assault on women who protested against the project last Wednesday.

"I urge the CM with folded hands that the cases against people should be withdrawn," Rane said.

More than 100 residents of Melaulim along with opposition politicians were booked, many on the charge of attempt to murder, for the violent protests against the IIT-Goa project.

The IIT was allotted to Goa by the central government in 2014, but it was functioning from a temporary campus shared with Goa Engineering College in Farmagudi village in South Goa.

Two IIT campus sites previously identified by the state in Canacona and Sanguem sub- districts were also dropped after protests by area residents and opposition pressure, which alleged a "land scam" in the shortlisting of probable sites for the institute.

The Melaulim residents, mostly from Scheduled Tribes, claim that they were getting forcibly evicted from their land by the Goa government to make way for the IIT campus project.

--IANS maya/tsb

( 307 Words)

2021-01-12-15:28:03 (IANS)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS ()
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
From 'Microphone' to 'Pressure Cooker', ...
Centre extends AFSPA in 8 districts, 21 ...
From 'Microphone' to 'Pressure Cooker', ...
NET score allowed for admissions to PhD ...
DMK's South Chennai candidate kicks off ...
Tamil Nadu: MDMK's Erode MP Ganeshamurth...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
Coming up on Friday: PM Modi-Bill G... 
ED attaches asset worth Rs 70 lakh ... 
Jamia Millia Islamia appoints Mohd ... 
Lok Sabha polls: Congress candidate... 
"China may repeat its baseless clai... 
ED seizes Rs 3.89 crore in raids at... 
Pushkar Singh Dhami visits Nanakmat... 
"Something going right": Hardeep Pu...