Lack of funds will not hamper fisheries university: Minister

Financial constraints will not hamper the development of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (Kufos), said K. Babu, the Minister for Fisheries.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the academic block of the University here on Sunday, Mr. Babu said that the State government was making efforts to bring more funds for the new university.

The university authorities have estimated that the academic block would require Rs. 58 crore for completion. State government has already made a budget allocation of Rs.12 crore for the university, he said.

The State government has forwarded a proposal for setting up a guest house in the land owned by the university with the State Tourism Department.

The tourism department will build the guest house with space allocation for the university. The university could save considerable amount required for setting up the guest house through the arrangement. If the governing council of the university clears the proposal, the State government would go ahead with the project, he said. The swimming pool project of the university would get Rs. 45 lakh and the repair of the aquarium, Rs. 17 lakh. The opening of the university centres in Thiruvananthapuram and Malabar region can be considered at a later stage, he said.

The Minister suggested that the University shall rent out one of its unused buildings to the Hydrographic wing of the Ports Department. The wing will temporarily function from this campus till it moves to its own office, the Minister said.

The five-storied academic complex of the university will have smart class rooms, seminar halls, mini library and faculty rooms. The inaugural session was attended by S. Sarma and Dominic Presentation, MLAs; Eldose Kunnapally, president of the Ernakulam District Panchayat; T.K. Devarajan, chairman, Maradu municipality; G. Sudhambika, Palluruthy Block President; A.J. Joseph, president, Kumbalam Block Panchayat; C. Mohanakumaran Nair, Pro-vice-chancellor of the university, and K. Ambady, managing director of the Authority.