The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) will come up with a total waste treatment technology park and a 100-KWA solar energy plant on its main campus here.
These projects figure among the key proposals included in the university budget that was presented by N. Chandramohanakumar, convener of the Syndicate’s finance standing committee, here on Tuesday. The budget has earmarked ₹50 lakh for the technology park. It will also have a permanent exhibition of working models of various waste treatment techniques, including the proposed waste management system for the campus.
Cusat will be declared a plastic-free campus. The scheme includes a campaign against the use of plastic, ban on plastic banners, carry bags, bottles and plastic pens. The university will also encourage the use of ink pen. The 100-KWA solar energy plant will be commissioned at the Department of Instrumentation as part of a study to assess the possibility of a partial switch-over to solar energy. The budget has included an assistance of ₹60 lakh for the project. An energy audit will be completed within six months.
A Centre for Consultation and Services will be set up to promote consultancy. The unit for IRAA will be bifurcated in to a Common Admission Cell and Centre for International Relations. The budget has recommended establishing a research activity committee to act as a single window on issues related to research coordination and project formulation. University departments will be directed to generate a corpus fund of ₹100 crore by strengthening their alumni network.
The present practice of appointing contract teachers will be modified in to a five-year-tenure track Assistant Professorship to bring in external funded projects for its continuance. The budget has envisaged a ban on the use of pirated software and proposed a software development centre on the campus. Hostels will be constructed on the main campus of the university and at Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad, with a total outlay of ₹2 crore.
