The long-cherished dream of the Central University of Kerala (CUK) to bring its academic activities under one umbrella will become a reality soon with Union Minister for Law and Justice D.V. Sadananda Gowda laying the foundation stone for the eight academic blocks on its Periye campus on Friday.
The project, estimated to cost Rs.200 crore, would be completed in two years, turning the North Malabar region a hub of education and development, Mr. Gowda said while addressing the function at Chandragiri open air auditorium on the university campus.
Following a request made by the university Vice Chancellor, Mr. Gowda assured that he would impress upon the Centre to set up a Medical College in the earmarked area on the campus, mainly to provide treatment to hundreds of endosulfan victims.
He also assured that he would take up with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) the issue of providing scholarship to SC/ST students from other States who pursue courses in CUK.
During his presidential address, Vice Chancellor G. Gopakumar said the 310- acre university campus at Periye was witnessing a flurry of developmental activities with works of as many as 25 building blocks progressing at a fast pace.
While the work on two hostel blocks, which can accommodate 650 students, would be completed by February next year, the work on multipurpose hall would be over by December end.
The university was also planning to start courses in Kannada and Tulu.
Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan; P. Karunakaran, MP; K. Kunhiraman, MLA; and district panchayat president P.P. Shyamala Devi spoke.
