Vijayawada: The Centre's decision to release funds in a phased manner has left a question mark on the future of many Central government institutions in the state.
The state has urged the Centre to give bank guarantee to lend money for creating its infrastructure.
The Centre, which has allocated five Central government institutions to AP, including Indian Institution of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research (IISER), and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), has now proposed to allocate funds for their infrastructure in a phased manner, which will now take at least 10 to 15 years for completion of works.
Ten other institutions allocated to the state were facing the same issue. The Centre had promised to establish seven Central government institutions in post-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh. The state government had allocated land to five projects in the proposed areas.
The Union government allocated National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Tadepalligudem, Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM) in Nellore, National Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics (NACEN) inAnantapur, National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT) at Tupilipalem near Nellore, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Training (CIPET) centre at Surampalli village of Gannavaram mandal and others and the state government had allocated 3,408 acres land to these projects and allocated Rs 670 crore for constructing compound walls and road connectivity.
Majority of these institutes have started classes in rented buildings at temporary campuses and the Centre had prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for these projects.
It proposed to develop IIM in Visakhapatnam with Rs 1,030 crore, NIT Tadepalligudem with Rs 500 crores, IIIT at Sri City with Rs 300 crore, IISER Tirupati with Rs 450 crore.
"Schedule 13 of the bifurcation Act says that the Centre should establish educational institutions here. Foundation stones for prestigious projects like All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) laid mo-nths ago were left aside and kids are playing cricket there. The situation of oth-er institutions is very path-etic and even compound walls have not been built.
The government should at least respond now and pressurise the Centre," K.S. Lakshmana Rao, former MLC, said.
Minister for Human Resources Development & Education Ganta Srinivasa Rao accepted that works were going in a slow pace and Mr Naidu had requested the Centre to allocate necessary funds.
"We met the Union Finance Minister recently and requested the Centre to give a bank guarantee so that they can complete works with loan from financial institutions. We will propose vehicle or a body to speed up infrastructure works,” he said.
