Several alumni from across the globe have come out in support of the century-old University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) and opposed the State government’s move to shift the college from its K.R. Circle premises to the Jnana Bharathi campus.
The decision to relocate was made after the trifurcation of Bangalore University from the 2017-18 academic year. Both Bengaluru Central University and Bangalore University want UVCE to be a part of their university.
Opposing the move, former students, now living in Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, took photos of themselves standing in front of iconic buildings in the cities they live in and sent them to those organising the protests in Bengaluru.
The UVCE building is located on 16 acres of land at K.R. Circle. The college, which has over 3,500 students, has five departments on the K.R. Circle campus. The remaining two departments are on the Jnana Bharathi campus.
Faculty members, too, have opposed the move and decided to spend ₹25 crore allocated under the State Budget to improve the infrastructure at K.R. Circle as it is a “heritage building”.
AIDSO protest
The All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), which plans to stage a protest, has invited several eminent alumni such as Roddam Narasimha, scientist, S. Shettar, historian, and K. Chindananda Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, to lend their support. The organisation also plans to start an online signature campaign and meet with Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi.
AIDSO vice-president Ravinandan B.B. said their demand was to develop UVCE at the K.R. campus by improving the infrastructure and repairing the buildings. “If they want to expand the college, they can build new buildings or departments at Jnana Bharathi, but the building at K.R. Circle should remain,” he said.
H.N. Ramesh, in-charge Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University, on Wednesday sought a detailed estimate on how they would spend the fund allocation of ₹25 crore. “I have conducted two meetings with UVCE and have also spoken to the State government authorities. We are trying to find a solution. We will, however, have to follow the government order asking us to shift UVCE. But it will be done in a phased manner,” he said.
