Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit president Pralhad Joshi has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to choose a location in north Karnataka, preferably Dharwad, to set up the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, he said the Union government’s role was over after it sanctioned the IIT for the State. Now, it was left to the State government to choose a location and provide land and other facilities. “We urge Mr. Siddaramaiah to see that the proposed IIT comes up in north Karnataka and Dharwad is the most suitable place. Even the report submitted by scientist U.R. Rao had suggested setting up the IIT there,” Mr. Joshi said.
To a query, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani had clarified that such projects would be implemented in consultation with State governments and the Union government would not interfere in matters of choosing the location. The HRD Ministry’s expert committee had powers to accept or reject the locations suggested by the State government. But, it may not reject the State government’s choice, he said.
To a query about the previous BJP government recommending setting up the IIT at Raichur, the former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said that the recommendation was made to address regional imbalance. However, asked whether he would support setting up the IIT in his home town, Mr. Shettar did not give a specific reply.
‘Dharwad is the most suitable place’