MAPUSA
The tranquil village of Tivim erupted into a scene of defiance on Sunday as furious residents united to denounce a controversial project that would see a sprawling private university carve into the verdant hillsides of their homeland. Chanting slogans and brimming with determination, a large crowd gathered to demand an immediate halt to what they condemned as an assault on their environment, heritage and community welfare.
Leading the charge was former MLA Kiran Kandolkar, who didn’t mince words in slamming the government’s alleged complicity in a scheme favouring private profit over public good.
“This is not development; it’s devastation,” he declared, addressing the agitated crowd.
Kandolkar accused the State of selling out Goa’s natural resources under the guise of progress.
“First, they ruined our beaches. Then, they sold our rivers. Now, they want to destroy our hills. This university is just a mask for their true intentions – commercial exploitation. Don’t be surprised if it becomes a luxury hotel tomorrow,” he said.
The protestors’ ire wasn’t limited to the government. The Tivim comunidade’s managing committee also came under fire for its role in approving a contentious 99-year lease of 2 lakh square meters of land to the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering & Educational Research (MAEER), Pune.
The lease, critics allege, was signed in secrecy, bypassing proper consultation with the locals. Villagers accused the committee of selling their heritage for a pittance and using defamatory notices to silence dissent.
“These notices are nothing but tools of intimidation,” fumed local social worker Robert Colaco. “They think they can scare us, but they’ve only ignited our resolve. Even those who aren’t on social media are receiving these so-called love letters. It’s laughable and shameful,” he added.
“WE WILL NOT
BACK DOWN”
The protesters have vowed to escalate their agitation until the project is scrapped.
Kandolkar warned of more aggressive action if their demands continue to fall on deaf ears.
“We’ll march to the Chief Minister’s residence, disrupt his events with black flags and ensure the world knows what’s happening here,” he promised.
The villagers’ demands are clear: a reversal of the land lease, transparency in governance and an inquiry into alleged corruption surrounding the project.
The protestors also questioned the rationale for a private university when a government university already serves the State’s needs.
“This isn’t about opposing education,” Kandolkar emphasized. “It’s about protecting our environment and ensuring justice for our people. We won’t stop until this project is buried.”
As the sun set over Tivim, the chants of resistance echoed louder, a fiery testament to the villagers’ unyielding determination to fight for their land and legacy.
For now, Tivim’s message to the powers that be is clear: Hands off our hills.
A BATTLE FOR
THE HILLS
The project site – a hillside rich in biodiversity and medicinal plants – has become a flashpoint for environmental concerns.
Former sarpanch and current panchayat member, Shivdas Kambli passionately described the ecological significance of the area.
“These hills are not just land; they’re life. They’ve survived mining, but a university will finish them. This is madness!” Kambli also criticized the government for ignoring the pressing need to regularize local homes on comunidade land, instead handing it over to outside interests.
Congress block president Hemant Kambli amplified the critique, slamming the government for ignoring the people’s voice.
“Development should uplift communities, not displace them. This land should have gone to marginalized families, not private corporations,” he argued.
Gaunkar Godfrey D’Lima and activist Xencor Polgi accused the government of blatant corruption and a callous disregard for Goa’s identity.
“This isn’t governance – Its brokerage,” Polgi declared. “They are finishing our rivers, our hills, our agriculture. This project is just another nail in the coffin of Goa’s future,” he said.
