Goemkarponn Desk
MARGAO: In view of a protest against IIT at Sanguem, South Goa Collector today imposed section 144 of CrPC prohibiting the assembly and gathering of five or more people within a perimeter of 200 meters from the demarcated site of the proposed IIT Goa campus at Sanguem.
As per the order, section 144 prohibits the gathering of 5 or more people with a perimeter of 200 meters from the demarcated site falling in Survey number 21/1 of Cotarli village, Sanguem Taluka, for those who visit the site to disrupt or delay the process, survey and demarcation of the proposed IIT site
The order came in force from 12:00 am Oct 5th till 12:00 am of Oct 6th. The order was issued on the basis of intelligence gathered on the likelihood of anti-IIT agitators holding a protest rally on Oct 5th at Ugem and Sanguem.
Local farmers have been protesting against the project for the past several days. One person was arrested, and a warrant was issued against three persons for obstructing demarcating work and threatening officials.
“As soon as the Government announced setting up of IIT-Goa at Sanguem, some farmers and villagers of Sanguem locality got together and formed a group and started agitation against the setting up of IIT project at village Cotarli stating that they will be deprived of their agricultural land and the natural flora and fauna of the village will be destroyed,” the Collector’s order said.
Meanwhile, the farmers are expected to gather in large numbers at their sit-in agitation today morning, given the scheduled visit of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to lay the foundation stone for the new temple building of Paikdev Devasthan at Sanguem.