Centre has written to the state government to identify suitable locations in Seemandhra region
(Photo: DC file)
Hyderabad: Identification of a suitable location to set up a new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh will be taken up only after a new government takes charge. The Centre has written to the state government to identify suitable locations in Seemandhra region having 500 acres of land and proximity to airport and major railway stations for setting up an IIT, as envisaged in the AP Reorganisation Bill approved by the Parliament in February.
The department of higher education received the letter from the Centre two days ago and has referred it to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan who immediately issued orders to the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education, appointed as the nodal agency for the purpose. He directed APSCHE to coordinate with various concerned departments and submit a report to the Centre at the earliest. APSCHE officials said they will begin the exercise after June 2, the appointed date of the bifurcation of state.
Officials say only the new government, which will take charge after June 2, will be in a position to act on this issue as it requires approvals from the government to allot land and other infrastructure facilities required for setting up the IIT.Incidentally, the YSR government had also entrusted the responsibility of finding a suitable location for setting up an IIT in 2007 to then APSCHE chairman Prof. K.C. Reddy.
The committee had toured various locations and zeroed in on Kandi village in Medak district on the city outskirts, which had accessibility to Shamshabad International airport and other modes of transport.The advantage where Kandi village was concerned was that barring 70 acres, the entire 500 acres of land belonged to the state government.
This would have resulted in no major financial burden to the state exchequer for land acquisition.However, identifying such a vast expanse of government land close to major cities in Seemandhra region will be an uphill task.With the formation of the new state, there will be heavy financial constraints on the government and it would not be possible for the government to acquire private land at existing market prices.
( Source : l. venkat ram reddy )
Next Story
