Date:18/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/18/stories/2007031814590500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Row over location of engineering college

Staff Reporter

Student unions want it to be established on SKU campus Student unions want it to be established on SKU campus

ANANTAPUR: A four-member committee formed by the State Government to look into the `controversy' over the location of engineering college of Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) will visit the university campus on Sunday. The panel is likely to interact with different sections to settle the issue.

The AICTE had sanctioned SK College of Technology last year and the first batch was pursuing B. Tech course in two streams. Classes were being held in the Biotechnology Department building temporarily, as construction of separate buildings for the engineering college was yet to be completed.

10 acres allotted

On a request by the university authorities the district administration had allotted 10 acres for construction of the college buildings, 1.5 km away from the campus. Vice-Chancellor A. Rama Rao mobilised about Rs. 4 crores from philanthropists for the construction of college on the site located between NH-7 and NH-205. However, a few students unions, particularly All India Students Federation, National Students Union of India and Telugu Nadu Students Federation, opposed construction of college away from campus. They argued that the campus would develop if the engineering college were on it.

SKU campus was one of the smallest in the State with 482 acres of total land. Of it, about 300 acres was already utilised by the university and another 82 acres given to Kendriya Vidyalaya campus school, police station, bank and BSNL. Only about 100 acres was left for all future requirements.

The university plans to start college of education and college of pharmacy in the next couple of years and the vacant place could be utilised for the purpose. As per AICTE norms 3 to 5 acres was enough for running an engineering college, but the land allotted for the purpose was 10 acres. It provides the university scope to develop more wings on the engineering college site in future, if required.

An interaction with several students and parents revealed that a majority of them were in favour of the college being located outside the campus. When contacted, the V-C pointed out that almost all universities in the State had more than one campus, citing the example of JNTU, HCU and others. universities as example of having more than one campus.

Land sharks

Meanwhile, it was reliably learnt that a few land sharks reportedly eying the site allotted to engineering college and adjoining land, were said to be behind the row over the college location. With the tacit support of political circles, the land sharks were allegedly planning to pocket the valuable land allotted to the college.