Digital Goa, June 28 –A large number of villagers gathered at the revered Katamgal Dada shrine at Farmagudi on Sunday to oppose the proposed permanent campus of IIT Goa, reiterating that the project should not come up at the site due to religious, cultural and environmental concerns. Activists from different parts of Goa, along with St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, joined the villagers in support of the protest.The gathering, held under the Save Katamgal’ campaign, saw devotees perform a traditional garane. Protesters alleged that survey markers for the proposed campus had been placed within the sacred precincts of the Katamgal Dada shrine and expressed fears that the project would damage a traditional mango grove and adversely affect the area’s cultural heritage.The protest comes after the Union Ministry of Education, following a site inspection by its Site Selection Committee, approved the Farmagudi site for IIT Goa’s permanent campus. On June 11, 2026, the Ministry directed the Goa government to complete all formalities and transfer the land at the earliest. Subsequently, the Goa Cabinet approved the transfer of five lakh square metres of government-owned land to the Union Ministry of Education for the project. Incidentally, the Farmagudi protest marks the latest chapter in the decade-long search for a permanent IIT Goa campus. Earlier proposals at Loliem, Melauli, Cotarli, Keri and, most recently, Codar were shelved following sustained public opposition, largely over concerns relating to land acquisition.
