Saturday, September 30, 2006
Arjun Singh says no to Hassan IIT
BANGALORE: Karnataka will have to wait for its IIT. In a major setback to state government, Union HRD minister Arjun Singh has politely rejected chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's request for an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hassan.
In his reply to the CM, Singh said the request will be "considered at the appropriate time'' as the ministry is engaged in cost-effective options like increasing the intake in existing IITs and upgradation of promising academic institutes.
Overlooking Bangalore and NIT-K Suratkal, CM H D Kumaraswamy had made a strong pitch for establishing IIT in former PM Deve Gowda's home constituency — Hassan.
In the proposal sent to the ministry on August 11, the CM had committed himself to provide 1,000 acres of land free of cost in Hassan and also make investment to improve connectivity.
These promises, obviously, have clearly failed to impress the HRD minister.
Arjun Singh has told Kumaraswamy: "At present, cost-effective options such as increase in intake in the existing IITs an upgradation of academic institutes are being facilitated. However, depending on the availability of resources, a view on opening new IITs will be taken in the 11th Five Year Plan period and your request will also be considered then.''
In the proposal, the state government had asked the Centre to fund major part of the one-time expenditure on buildings and equipment. "Karnataka can substantially fill in the gap by mobilising resources from the private sector.
This participation would enhance academic quality as well create a stake for the private sector,'' CM had said.
Though the Planning Commission's approach paper to the 11th Five-Year Plan states that at least 20 universities could be upgraded during the period, it does not specify the number of IITs that could be set up between 2007 and 2011.
With 27 per cent OBC reservations coming into effect from next year, the Centre will be spending a whopping Rs 9326.32 crore in IITs, NITs and other central technical institutes in the country over a five-year period.
In his reply to the CM, Singh said the request will be "considered at the appropriate time'' as the ministry is engaged in cost-effective options like increasing the intake in existing IITs and upgradation of promising academic institutes.
Overlooking Bangalore and NIT-K Suratkal, CM H D Kumaraswamy had made a strong pitch for establishing IIT in former PM Deve Gowda's home constituency — Hassan.
In the proposal sent to the ministry on August 11, the CM had committed himself to provide 1,000 acres of land free of cost in Hassan and also make investment to improve connectivity.
These promises, obviously, have clearly failed to impress the HRD minister.
Arjun Singh has told Kumaraswamy: "At present, cost-effective options such as increase in intake in the existing IITs an upgradation of academic institutes are being facilitated. However, depending on the availability of resources, a view on opening new IITs will be taken in the 11th Five Year Plan period and your request will also be considered then.''
In the proposal, the state government had asked the Centre to fund major part of the one-time expenditure on buildings and equipment. "Karnataka can substantially fill in the gap by mobilising resources from the private sector.
This participation would enhance academic quality as well create a stake for the private sector,'' CM had said.
Though the Planning Commission's approach paper to the 11th Five-Year Plan states that at least 20 universities could be upgraded during the period, it does not specify the number of IITs that could be set up between 2007 and 2011.
With 27 per cent OBC reservations coming into effect from next year, the Centre will be spending a whopping Rs 9326.32 crore in IITs, NITs and other central technical institutes in the country over a five-year period.
