Panaji: Bowing to the pressures of locals, Goa government on Friday announced that they will be shifting IIT project from Sattari taluka to somewhere else in the state.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in presence of State Health Minister and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane held meeting with the sarpanchas and Zilla Panchayat members from Sattari taluka on Friday evening at Chief Minister’s Official residence.
Sawant told reporters that the state government has decided to shift the project out of Sattari due to constant opposition from the locals.
He said that the state government had repeatedly tried to convince the locals of Sattari about importance of this project but they refused to listen, due to which State government has decided to shift the project from their area.
Sawant said that the state government has not yet to decided alternate place to set up this project.
The Sattari taluka locals specially from Shel-Melaulim had opposed the project fearing that it would rob away their precious land resource. The locals had clashed with the police last week injuring several including policemen.
Sawant said that the project was planned from the developmental perspective Sattari taluka, but government failed to convince the locals.
“The decision to shift the project is taken after respecting the sentiments of the people,” he said.
Earlier this week, Rane had appealed CM to shift the project due to the opposition of the locals for it.
Responding to a question, Sawant said that the police will review the cases filed against the protestors.
“There are requests to withdraw the cases filed against protestors. There is a process which needs to be followed. We are reviewing the cases,” he said.
