Govt buckles again, scraps IIT campus plan at Codar

MINISTER BATS FOR PERMANENT CAMPUS AT FARMAGUDI

- THE GOAN | NETWORK

Bowing to public pressure, the Goa government on Sunday announced its decision to scrap the proposed permanent site for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus at Codar village. Apparently, this is a sixth identified site that the government was forced to drop following strong opposition from local residents.

The national premier institute -- IIT Goa -- is struggling to secure land for its permanent campus since its establishment in July 2016. In its 9th year of functioning, the institute continues to operate from a temporary facility at the Goa Engineering College (GEC), Farmagudi.

On Sunday, WRD Minister and Shiroda MLA Subhash Shirodkar announced the decision to cancel the proposed project in Codar village. He said that the decision was taken after discussing the concerns of the Codar villagers with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

“CM told me that we don't want to force the project on the people, if they are opposed to it...if they don't want it,” Shirodkar said while proposing that Farmagudi could be made the permanent campus for the institute by acquiring additional land in the area.