IIT issue: Codar locals threaten protest ‘bigger than Melaulim’

Ponda: Coda

r villagers have threatened an agitation bigger than the one witnessed at Melaulim in Sattari, where the protest against the permanent campus of IIT Goa had turned violent in Jan 2021.

The protest in Melaulim had seen clashes between police and locals, leading to the plan being called off. Codar is the latest location finalised for the IIT Goa project.The protest on Sunday was joined by hundreds of activists of Revolutionary Goans. RG’s St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar alleged that govt wants to raise the land rate in the village on the pretext of the IIT project.Alleging that BJP govt brings such projects to villages where only poor Goans reside, he asked why such projects are not taken to Moti Dongor or Indira Nagar, where migrants have settled down.Kasamshell villagers met the Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar and sought his support in the protest against the proposed IIT issue.Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai on Monday evening at Codar said that his party would move the court of law to protect the rights of villagers.After meeting the villagers, Sardesai said BJP has some hidden agenda behind bringing the project in the green village.Sardesai has suggested that the projects shouldn’t be set up at the cost of livelihood of villagers.No Mixed-Media Items22 Suraj_Codar residents threaten