Date:01/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010150310100.htm

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Government identifies 3 locations for NIT in Puducherry

Serena Josephine M.

We will send the proposal to the Centre within 10 days: Shahjahan
Pondicherry University asked to allot unutilised land on its campus

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government will send a proposal to the Centre, presenting three possible locations for setting up the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in the Union Territory.

The Centre has given in-principle approval for establishing an NIT in the Union Territory. Hence, the government has come up with three possible locations, Collegiate Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan told The Hindu.

“We will send the proposal to the Centre within 10 days. The locations identified are the Pondicherry Engineering College (PEC) campus, the second at Karaikal and the third at the Pondicherry University campus,” he said.

In fact, the government has asked Pondicherry University to allot the unutilised land on its campus. A meeting of the Chief Minister, the Collegiate Education Minister and the Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University had discussed the possibility.

“The Vice-Chancellor has agreed to give some land, and a part of the land of the PEC will be included with it. This way, a separate piece of land will be given for the NIT. However, the Centre will take a final decision on the location,” Mr. Shahjahan said.

He said another meeting with the Vice-Chancellor would be held on either January 3 or 4. “The Centre wants the details of land to be specifically mentioned in the proposal. It requires nearly 300 acres for the NIT,” he said.

The government had included Karaikal in the list of possible locations, following the demand from the people. However, the Centre was keen on a place with road connectivity, airport, educational facilities and colleges. In the case of Karaikal, the government had to acquire land and allocate funds, official sources said.

Once the proposal was submitted, a high-level delegation, comprising the Chief Minister, the Collegiate Education Minister and two Members of Parliament, would visit New Delhi for further discussions. “A team of the Central government will visit Puducherry to inspect the land. They will choose the best of the three options,” Mr. Shahjahan said.