Panaji: The Goa government on Sunday announced it has scrapped plans to set up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus at Codar village following opposition from residents.

Industries Minister Subhash Shirodkar said the plan to construct the IIT-Goa campus at Codar in South Goa has been cancelled. He added that he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who stated, “We don't want to force the project on the people of that village.”

Residents of Codar, mostly farmers, had opposed the project, claiming it would destroy the natural habitat and negatively impact their livelihood. Shirodkar noted that the IIT campus would have brought development to the area but said IIT will continue functioning at its current Farmagudi location in Ponda, despite limited space for expansion.

The state government will now need to find a new site for the campus. Shirodkar also alleged that some “vested interests” were instigating opposition and asserted that the Codar campus would not have affected farmers' land or livelihoods.