Regional balance as well as academic excellence in making new IITs and IIESTs

Taking exception to the Centre's move to set up greenfield IITs in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar, the Chief Minister said in his letter on Wednesday that establishment of an IIT in Orissa was necessary to support the rapid industrial growth taking place in the State.

Stating that the State was attracting huge investments in various sectors including the mega steel plant projects of Arcelor Mittal and Posco, Patnaik said there was every reason to set up an IIT to cater to the requirement of the upcoming industries by producing highly qualified technical personnel.

Terming the Centre's move to drop Orissa from the list of States selected for setting up of IITs as `shocking', Patnaik urged the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and sanction such an institute for the State.

Patnaik also drew Prime Minister's attention to the announcement made by the Centre in August last year about establishment of three IITs during the 11th Five Year Plan period in the country. Orissa had figured in the list of the States, he added.

As regards the upgradation of the extension centre of IIT, Kharagpur in the State to a full-fledged campus, Patnaik also urged the Prime Minister to look into the matter for implementation of the project. The State has already sent a proposal in this regard to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and assured allotment of 300 acres of land for the project, Patnaik said.