GU organisations object to IT park, convention park NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, Oct 3: A number of organisations linked to the Goa University have taken strong objection to the Information Technology Park and the Convention centre coming up on the University plateau and expected to cover a large part of the land belonging to the University.The officials of the Goa University, however have not reacted to the same and refused to comment on the issue. Those objecting to the two major government projects include the Goa University Teachers’ Association (GUTA), the Association of Officers of Goa University (AOGU), the Goa University Non-Teaching Employees Association (GUNTEA) and Postgraduate Students Union of Goa University (PGSU). The Registrar of the Goa University, Dr Mohan Sangodkar told ‘The Navhind Times’ today that the views expressed by the respective associations are the reactions from their members. “If the Goa University has to react on the issue it would do so through the official medium,” he added. Meanwhile, a public appeal jointly released by GUTA, AOGU, GUNTEA and PGSU states, “Goa University is now facing the highly unpleasant reality of having a sizable piece of its land being used for purposes that are far removed from its prime objective, that of academic study.” The appeal further says, “A series of alarming and unprecedented events began in October 2005 in which the government of Goa initiated a concerted move to acquire some 50 acres of the land belonging to Goa University, that is about one third of the total land. The moves by various government agencies such as tourism department, department of land revenue, and IT department to brow-beat and intimidate Goa University into surrendering the chunk of land desired by the government ostensibly for establishing a convention centre and IT Park, are classic cases of bullying an educational institution into submission.” “With this backdrop of intimidation and pressurisation, the executive council of Goa University and its principal officers capitulated in the council’s meeting in October 2005 and in June 2006, finally gave an NOC to the deputy collector (North Goa),” it points out. The appeal finally says, “On behalf of the stakeholders of Goa University, the people of Goa and the future generation of young Goans, who would be studying at this university, we appeal to you to support our attempts to stop the takeover of the precious land that was acquired for the only state university in Goa and join your hands and voices to ours in protecting the Goa University.” _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
