Its often a matter of pride when a prestigious Institute comes knocking on your door. Now before i sound that i am pre decided that the IIT at Loliem is best for the people and environment let me make it clear that no "developments" ever made by man has gone in the favour of nature. But yes, if the question is that i support IIT campus in Loliem or for that matter any place in Goa, then the answer is yes!
One of the perks ( at times could be nightmares!) of being in my field of job ( i would not mention it here so soon, so that the reader is not prejudiced) is that i get to travel every once in a while to different parts of the country. And recently i was lucky to get a chance to visit IIT Madras and stay there for a week.So here are few of my observations.
1. The IIT Madras campus is located next to Guindy National Park. Its very green. i mean very very green. Its almost a mini forest. don't believe me? take a look at this..
No this is not photoshop'ed unlike most of the Whatapp forwards we get now a days. I clicked them in person. Did even manage to touch one! These animals roam around as if its their natural habitat. The campus is that good.
The fear that IIT campus might destroy the environment is baseless. Even IIT Bombay campus is next to a lake in Powai. Not as green as Madras but nevertheless greener than any industry or private institute of any kind i have seen.
Look at below images from Google of IIT Madras and IIT Bombay campuses. And look at the surrounding areas near the campuses. which are more greener?
2. They have their own waste management and segregation plant. In Goa its kind of fashion now to oppose anything for the sake of opposition. Be it even the urgently required infra to manage the amount of waste we generate. Just look at our roads and fields. they are lined with polythene bags filled with our waste. But we oppose any garbage treatment or segregation plant. If a proper agreement is made with the village, even their waste can be treated in the IIT plant.
3. The best water in town. I have heard horror stories of people having hell of a time with Chennai water. To the extent that people even have bath with Bisleri. Of course i dont know if the Bisleri thing is true. But during my stay in the Campus of IITM i had absolutely no problem with water. So will the IIT in Loliem solve locals water problem? look at it this way. if the IIT campus does not come the water problem will never be solved. yes you read it right. proof? did you see the enthusiasm of incumbent government to repair roads for BRICS? yes thats right. the Authorities need a push to get things done. IIT campus is that push for villagers of Loliem. Things will happen now with the campus. If it shifts their problems will never be solved. sad i know. Being on a plateu a arrangement of water harvesting can also be worked out with the IIT admin which will benefit both the parties involved.
4. Job opportunities galore. Government promises jobs from industries but we know better all these low level jobs are taken up by people from outside. so how is IIT different? IIT Goa at its current campus in Goa Engineering college, Farmagudi employs staff of Goan origin. Seen it with my eyes. Be it security or housekeeping. Now in a full fledged campus there are lot of jobs which can be filled by Goans. Lab assistants, Clerks, Peons, Housekeeping, Security, Garden staff, Mess and Hostel staff and other administrative jobs. Plus every IIT organizes several functions, workshops etc throughout the year. Those contribute in following jobs: catering, Pandals, Taxis. Also with people visiting from outside will contribute to increase in air, bus, train passenger inflow. Remember these are over and above the tourists. These are academia people who would otherwise will not be coming. They will also require accommodation. so business for hotels outside the campus.
5. Having a institute of national importance in near vicinity brings added advantage for our Goan students studying in other private and govt. colleges. It increases student interaction, creates awareness and helps the teachers also to raise their standard. In all which contributes to the development of the society.
6. Another point which comes up is the sheer number of people that are going to stay in the campus. Yes, campuses like Madras, Bombay and Kharagpur etc. have more that 10000 people in the campus. But these are established institutes running for the past 50 years. If one looks at the new ones like mandi, indore etc then the total number is less than 2000. Even Guwahati has less than 6 being more than decade old. Secondly the campuses are built self contained and self sufficient. So other than water (which can be taken care of as above) there is no adverse effect of people in campus on the village and its life.
An IIT Campus is lot better than having industries of any kind. It greener and cleaner. And it contributes to the society.
One of the perks ( at times could be nightmares!) of being in my field of job ( i would not mention it here so soon, so that the reader is not prejudiced) is that i get to travel every once in a while to different parts of the country. And recently i was lucky to get a chance to visit IIT Madras and stay there for a week.So here are few of my observations.
1. The IIT Madras campus is located next to Guindy National Park. Its very green. i mean very very green. Its almost a mini forest. don't believe me? take a look at this..
No this is not photoshop'ed unlike most of the Whatapp forwards we get now a days. I clicked them in person. Did even manage to touch one! These animals roam around as if its their natural habitat. The campus is that good.
The fear that IIT campus might destroy the environment is baseless. Even IIT Bombay campus is next to a lake in Powai. Not as green as Madras but nevertheless greener than any industry or private institute of any kind i have seen.
Look at below images from Google of IIT Madras and IIT Bombay campuses. And look at the surrounding areas near the campuses. which are more greener?
2. They have their own waste management and segregation plant. In Goa its kind of fashion now to oppose anything for the sake of opposition. Be it even the urgently required infra to manage the amount of waste we generate. Just look at our roads and fields. they are lined with polythene bags filled with our waste. But we oppose any garbage treatment or segregation plant. If a proper agreement is made with the village, even their waste can be treated in the IIT plant.
3. The best water in town. I have heard horror stories of people having hell of a time with Chennai water. To the extent that people even have bath with Bisleri. Of course i dont know if the Bisleri thing is true. But during my stay in the Campus of IITM i had absolutely no problem with water. So will the IIT in Loliem solve locals water problem? look at it this way. if the IIT campus does not come the water problem will never be solved. yes you read it right. proof? did you see the enthusiasm of incumbent government to repair roads for BRICS? yes thats right. the Authorities need a push to get things done. IIT campus is that push for villagers of Loliem. Things will happen now with the campus. If it shifts their problems will never be solved. sad i know. Being on a plateu a arrangement of water harvesting can also be worked out with the IIT admin which will benefit both the parties involved.
4. Job opportunities galore. Government promises jobs from industries but we know better all these low level jobs are taken up by people from outside. so how is IIT different? IIT Goa at its current campus in Goa Engineering college, Farmagudi employs staff of Goan origin. Seen it with my eyes. Be it security or housekeeping. Now in a full fledged campus there are lot of jobs which can be filled by Goans. Lab assistants, Clerks, Peons, Housekeeping, Security, Garden staff, Mess and Hostel staff and other administrative jobs. Plus every IIT organizes several functions, workshops etc throughout the year. Those contribute in following jobs: catering, Pandals, Taxis. Also with people visiting from outside will contribute to increase in air, bus, train passenger inflow. Remember these are over and above the tourists. These are academia people who would otherwise will not be coming. They will also require accommodation. so business for hotels outside the campus.
5. Having a institute of national importance in near vicinity brings added advantage for our Goan students studying in other private and govt. colleges. It increases student interaction, creates awareness and helps the teachers also to raise their standard. In all which contributes to the development of the society.
6. Another point which comes up is the sheer number of people that are going to stay in the campus. Yes, campuses like Madras, Bombay and Kharagpur etc. have more that 10000 people in the campus. But these are established institutes running for the past 50 years. If one looks at the new ones like mandi, indore etc then the total number is less than 2000. Even Guwahati has less than 6 being more than decade old. Secondly the campuses are built self contained and self sufficient. So other than water (which can be taken care of as above) there is no adverse effect of people in campus on the village and its life.
An IIT Campus is lot better than having industries of any kind. It greener and cleaner. And it contributes to the society.
