The main problem here is one of incentive. Of course the researchers, university departments, contractors, etc want to build it. But who benefits? A very small number of people. All the locals get is: more traffic, more pollution, more waste, all of which are a direct result of the construction itself plus the increase in visitors. Plus, the locals feel this is imposing on their scared grounds. Again, without ANY benefit to them.

I talked to one person at the protests, who said "The researchers don't want light pollution. We don't want telescope pollution."