NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The Indian Institute of Technology-Goa will become a reality from the academic year 2016-17 if the officials of the Union ministry of human resource development arriving in Goa next week give a nod to the nearly 5 lakh sq mts of communidade land identified by the state government in the villages of Shristhal and Poinguinim in Canacona taluka to set up the prestigious institution.
Coming out with this information, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday said that subject to the clearance for the particular land from the Union HRD ministry, the government could provide campus for IIT-Goa at the premises of the Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi, till its own infrastructure is ready at Canacona, within next three years.
“Still better, the government could request IIT-Mumbai, located at Powai to temporarily allow IIT-Goa campus in its premises,” he added, observing that it is very important for IIT-Goa to start functioning from the forthcoming academic year, as the same failed to start last year due to the want of land.
Parsekar, who also holds the education portfolio, further said that he recently spoke to Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani over the issue, and is optimistic about the IIT-Goa becoming functional within next two to three months.
“From the talks held with the Union HRD Minister, there were enough hints that the ministry would reach a conclusive decision, this time,” he maintained.
“It would be a matter of pride for the government to have such an institution in the state,” the Chief Minister noted.
The Union HRD ministry had specified a requirement of 15 lakh sq m of land for IIT-Goa, while the state government clarified that it would be able to, at the most, provide 4 to 5 lakh sq m of land, for the purpose. The ministry had earlier rejected the state government’s proposal to locate IIT-Goa at Dhargal in Pernem taluka, as it fell short of the land requirement.