National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Cuncolim the need of the hour

 National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Cuncolim the need of the hour

By Armstrong Vaz

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) has had been in the news for all the wrong reasons in Cuncolim village in Goa. A section of the villagers headed by Dr Jorson Fernandes are up in arms against the project. Is the opposition to the project a justified one?

The protestors had first raised the bogey of reservation of seats for Cuncolim residents. Then came the demands for job reservation for locals. And, now they are harping on the ‘bio-diversity’ aspect of the proposed site.

First things first, the protestors should come with a white paper as to why they are opposing the project. Hopefully reservation and bio-diversity are not the only issues which are troubling them at the moment.

They have other issues which have forced them to go vocal. They say the government is not transparent enough about the project details. I agree with them, the government is too cagey in divulging the information to the people in many cases in the paast.

But to set the ball rolling it would just on the part of the protestors to come up with a white paper on the topic.

A white paper which will make things crystal clear on why there is opposition to the project and which will make it easier for people to make their opinion and arrive at a decision.

Public opinion is divided over the setting up of NIT in Cuncolim. A group of people under the banner of Cuncolim Citizens Forum (CCF) along with Utt Kunkolcara forum have assured full support to the project.

So we cannot call Dr. Jorson and his ten-member committee the custodians of Cuncolkars opinion over the project.

And mind a section of the members of the committee formed have been ‘habitual protestors’, they oppose anything and everything that has been coming up in Cuncolim. Strangely, they were silent when the Cuncolim market Complex and the Cuncolim Municipal Hall were constructed by filing up paddy fields in the heart of Cuncolim. The construction of the two projects has led to more flooding in Cuncolim in the last eight years.

Coming back to NIT, I feel the reservation of seats for local students is a farfetched preposition.

Already the NIT has made provision for 50% reservation for Goans at the institute.

I wish to inquire from the committee members as to whether any seats are reserved for locals of bambolim and Farmaguidi where the Goa Medical College and Goa Engineering College are based.

Certainly not, then, why only for Cuncolim people should get reservations. Are we trying to set up a bad precedent?

As for job reservation for locals, the local MLA has assured to gainfully employ them wherever possible.

The biodiversity aspect is yet another factor which the protestors have given a spin on a regular basis.

Most people from Cuncolim know how the flora and fauna has suffered over the years due to the onslaught of pollution in the village. Fish have died and are dying in the rivulets. In fact, someone told me that most of the fish in the rivulets have died on account of pollution and there hardly any fish left there.

Toxic waste from the chemical factories is lying in the Estate for last five yearsis yet another environment issue.

The ground water has been contaminated by the industrial pollution.

Cuncolim people staying in the vicinity have since stopped drinking water from the wells. They are relying on the water from Selaulim pipeline. Sad, when water is available throughout the year in Cuncolim wells.

The toxic waste would hopefully be disposed off, thanks to Goa Pollution Control Board and to people like Levinson martins, an official of GPCB, who has his links to Cuncolim village.

It will be worthwhile exercise on the part of protestors like Oscar Martins if he could compile a list of the plant and animal species which are found in the Cuncolim ‘forest’. It will help in widening our knowledge about it and serve as a useful tool for students.

Students from the five schools, two higher secondary’s and one college can do visit the rich biodiversity spot in the ‘forest’ and update them about the flora and fauna, if Oscar is able to compile the list.

Cuncolim has long been an educational hub for people from surrounding villages who have been frequenting the schools, higher secondary schools and college to arm themselves with the necessary skills.

The advent of an NIT will be yet another cap on the educational front for Cuncolim. It will be giant leap.

I for one feel the NIT is needed and is welcomed in Cuncolim. A technological institute in Cuncolim’s backyard will set the wheels of change in motion.

My only advise to my fellow villagers; if you are opposing the project just for opposing, then please do not put hurdles in the path of educational progress of Cuncolim. If you have valid reasons for the same then we wish to know them and they should be in black and white.