A large section of the teaching fraternity and almost the entire student community of Andhra University are against the proposal of a private IT tower coming up on the university campus.
HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, a few weeks ago, had hinted that the government was keen on taking over about 25 to 30 acres of prime land that the university has on the beach front to build an IT tower.
This has not gone well with the teaching fraternity and the students, and they are determined to oppose the move. They feel that the university is the oldest university in the State with a hoary past and it is an intellectual hub, and that its land cannot be utilised for commercial purposes.
Sensing opposition to the move, the university’s administration is now singing a new tune. According to Registrar V. Uma Maheshwara Rao and Vice-Chancellor E.A. Narayana, it is the university that is planning to set-up an IT innovation centre.
“There is a proposal from the university’s side to set-up an IT innovation centre and it is still at the drawing board stage. We are yet to finalise its modalities such as whether it will come up on BOT basis or PPP or AU will fund the project and let it out to private operators. The idea is to earn revenue,” said Vice-Chancellor E.A. Narayana.
Critical response
Criticising the administration’s idea of earning revenue by giving away prime land, a senior professor, on condition of anonymity, said, “Whether it is the State government or a private party, or for that matter the university itself, the landed property cannot be diverted for commercial gains. It is an educational institution and not a real estate company. Revenue can be garnered through research projects, academia-industry interface and patents, like universities across the world do.”
Not the first time
Such a move by the top brass of the university was made several times, earlier. While some succeeded, many failed due to the opposition from the staff and students.
In mid-2000, a move was jointly made by the university administration and VUDA to break down the quarters at Siripuram, including the historic Assembly Hall, and build shopping complexes. Even the foundation stone was laid by the then Governor N.D. Tiwari, but it was opposed tooth and nail, and it did not succeed.
Disguised approach
Whenever land was acquired from the university, the reason stated was one and what had come up was another.
GVMC had acquired about 5 to 6 acres on the beach front under the pretext of developing a green belt, and what has come up is Rajeev Smriti Bhavan and other private commercial outlets.
“AU had given some land on the beach front to the police department for building a guest house. A part of the land has been sub-leased to a private hotelier from Vijayawada to build a swanky restaurant. How can this be done,” questioned G. Priyanka, SFI campus activist.
The land is taken citing one reason and another project comes up. The land is handed over to private players for building shopping complexes, sports facilities and hotels. This is how AU has been losing prime land over the years. AU has over 400 acres of prime land in the heart of the city covering the beach front and this is being eyed by many realtors, who are making their moves through the politicians and in connivance with a few university authorities, said a senior professor.
