Goa, varsity tug it out over SEZ land

The Goa government is engaged in a tug of war with the University of Goa. The reason: The university is claiming as its own the land set aside for a special economic zone (SEZ) to be set up by IT giant Wipro.

The state government has earmarked the land for allotment to Wipro for setting up an SEZ. But, the university has now come forward claiming that the one-lakh square metres of land actually belongs to it. This has sparked off a row between the university and the state government.

Save Goa University Forum chairman B D Desai says, "Forms 1&14 contain Goa University's name as the occupant. Their contention is that the transfer of land to the university from the public works department (PWD) was done in 1992 and it is full of infirmities."

The university authorities claim that they have set aside the land for some major expansion plans. But, the state government is in 'no mood' to relent. It says that the university already has enough land for its expansion plans.

That land as per the revenue department belongs to the government, says the state revenue minister.

"This land has never been given to the university," IT minister Dayanand Narvekar told Business Standard.

The Goa University is the only university in the state. The staff feel that the state government out of its zeal to set up an IT SEZ is ignoring the interests of higher education.