Will Karnataka get an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in this year’s budget due to be presented on Saturday? The State machinery is making yet another bid, assuring the Centre that it would provide 500 acres of land and other facilities.
Principal Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Bharat Lal Meena said Karnataka was an ideal place, being a technically advanced place with trained human resource. Karnataka is the lone southern State having no IIT unit.
Though several expert committees have favoured Karnataka as a location, it has never become a reality. In 1996, a high-level expert committee, headed by eminent scientist U.R. Rao, recommended setting up three new IITs, including one in Hubballi–Dharwad. In 2008, the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister had recommended an IIT for Karnataka. But it was Hyderabad that got the IIT.
In 2014, when the Narendra Modi government announced setting up IIT in every State, hopes for Karnataka were high. However, the government preferred Kerala and Goa over Karnataka.
The State has assured the Centre of providing 500 acres of land and other facilities
