The Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, (IIT-D) which has begun classes for students, will have a formal inauguration on August 28 and Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will participate in it.
On the day of the formal inauguration of the prestigious educational institution, both the Union Minister and Chief Minister will interact with students.
Disclosing this during a preparatory meeting pertaining to the inauguration here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli said that first, the dignitaries would inaugurate the temporary IIT campus set up on the premises of Water And Land Management Institute (WALMI) off National Highway No. 4 (Pune-Bengaluru) and then participate in a public function at the Seed Unit of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad.
Although the inauguration of the IIT was initially scheduled to take place on August 1, the day on which classes were to begin, the district administration postponed it citing unforeseen circumstances. However, it later turned out that the volatile situation in the region because of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) rejecting the interim plea, was the reason for the deferment.
Mr. Bommanahalli told the meeting that Union Minister for Fertilizers Ananth Kumar and a host of Ministers in the State government were expected to participate in the ceremony, as it marked the beginning of the first IIT in the State.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the officials to complete the process of handing over land required for the permanent campus of IIT immediately. He also directed them to ensure supply of quality power and adequate water to WALMI building, the temporary campus of the IIT. The guidelines issued by the police with regard to security on the campus should be strictly adhered to, he told the officials.
Superintendent of Police Dharmender Kumar Meena, Additional Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish, Assistant Commissioner Chandrashekhar Naik, Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Commissioner Major Siddalingaiah Hiremath, Dean of IIT Dharwad Narayan Punekar and others were present.
Mr. Bommanahalli said that Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi would chair another preparatory meeting on August 23.
New boardMeanwhile, as per the Three Language Policy of the Union Government, a new name board giving primacy to Kannada has been installed on the temporary campus of the IIT. Prof. Narayan Punekar has also written to the Kannada Development Authority about it.
