ON PAGE 3
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AAP raises alarm over private university plans
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A banner opposing the private university put up at a prominent location in Tivim.
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MAPUSA
The once quiet village of Tivim has recently become the epicenter of a growing movement against the establishment of a private university.
What began as whispers of discontent has turned into a wave of organized resistance, as locals unite to protect their land, heritage and environment.
Banners, social media campaigns and public interactions now flood the village, amplifying opposition to the proposed university.
The movement is gaining traction, with residents collecting signatures for a petition to be presented to the panchayat.
This initiative comes in the wake of a separate petition, signed by over 400 villagers, which called for a special gram sabha to discuss the matter.
Robert Colaco, a Tivim resident and one of the voices behind the movement, explains, “The villagers are ready to fight to protect their precious land for future generations. It’s a silent campaign now, but what starts as a ripple will soon become a wave.”
One of the primary objections from residents concerns the legality of the land transfer.
A group of villagers has written to the Investment Promotion Board (IPB), alleging that the allocation of land to the proposed M/s World Peace University by the Tivim comunidade is illegal.
They argue that the components of comunidade were neither informed nor involved in any formal application or General Body meeting regarding the land grant.
According to these villagers, the process violated the Code of Comunidades, 1961 and lacked proper legal oversight.
Additionally, opponents point to the Regional Plan of Goa 2021, which designates the land in question as a "No Development Slope."
The slope, with a gradient exceeding 25 degrees, is protected from development activity, raising further environmental concerns.
Locals warn that proceeding with the project would lead to environmental degradation and disrupt the area’s natural landscape.
The project’s broader implications also worry residents.
There are fears of a demographic shift, driven by the influx of students and staff from outside the village, along with economic concerns.
The university, which would be run as a private entity, is expected to charge high fees. Villagers feel this offers little to no benefit to the local gaunkars or Goan residents, further stoking the flames of opposition.
In light of these concerns, the villagers are urging the IPB to reconsider its decision and revoke the “in-principle approval” granted to the university.
For now, the campaign remains peaceful but determined, with residents rallying to protect Tivim’s landscape, heritage and future from what they perceive as a threat.
The villagers’ collective voice is growing louder, their resistance symbolizing a community united in defense of its home.
As Robert Colaco and others have suggested, the movement is just beginning – what starts as a ripple may soon become a tidal wave of opposition.
