ZeusIndia

TIRUVARUR: The Central University at Tiruvarur can start functioning as soon as the proposal receives Parliamentary nod.

The District Collector M. Chandrasekaran said on Monday that the university can function temporarily from the annexe building of the Collectorate till the permanent facility is created at the identified 500-acre site near Vandampalayam for which, he said, land acquisition will be made.

Briefing a team led by Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Mr. Chandrasekaran said that 96 rooms with an area of 200 sq. ft. each in the three-storey annexe building could be converted into 24 rooms of 800 sq. ft. each for classroom purposes.

The building, currently housing government offices and located near the land earmarked for the medical university, had sufficient amenities including a conference room, toilets etc., he said. There was also sufficient number of rooms to provide temporary housing for the faculty, he said.

The team later visited the identified site where K. Ganesan, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, said that the government was committed to acquiring the land without controversy.

He said that the farmers (most of their land is under cultivation) would be compensated adequately.

The Collector assured the team that road widening would be taken up at the earliest, and other facilities would be provided. He said new plans would be submitted to the team for review based on suggestions made by Mr. Kumar for modifications to the current acquisition plan and laying access roads to the grounds.

When asked about expectations from a central university, Mr. Kumar said, “Oxford and Cambridge were not built in a day. Over time we can make the university a hub for higher education in the area.” He said that if the proposal was approved, PG classes could be started in the temporary facility.

J.A.K. Tareen, Vice-Chancellor, Pondicherry University, expressed satisfaction with the temporary accommodation, and said that his university would provide full co-operation if the university was approved. He and Rashmi Chawdhary, Director - Management, MHRD, were also part of the team. Renu Batra, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission, and U. Mathivanan, Dairy Development Minister, accompanied the team along with local representatives.

A small group of people had gathered to present petitions to the team but were not allowed to meet the team by the police.

Taken from Hindu..