Establishment of IIIT in Srikakulam district seems to have been practically shelved with the government revoking the GO for allotment of land which it issued only recently.
The government initially planned to sanction 340 acres at SM Puram of Etcherla mandal and everything was ready for inauguration of the project during Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s visit in the first week of January.
Infra is ready
At present, classes are being conducted at Nuzvid in Krishna district. The institution will be shifted to Srikakulam after the allocation of land and construction of the building. In fact, infrastructure is ready in SM Puram limits as buildings constructed for 21st Gurukulam have been lying vacant for many years. The houses which were constructed under Rajiv Swagruha on the same premises are also vacant. IIIT officials feel that 340 acres will be needed for the institution as intake of students is expected to go up to 2,000 in the days to come.
According to sources, differences between Labour Minister K. Atchannaidu and Etcherla MLA Kala Venkata Rao are said to be the main reason for shelving the project. Mr. Venkata Rao’s loyalists argue that a few influential people tried to stop the final sanction of the land as it would ensure mileage for their leader.
“We thought IIIT classes would begin at least in 2017-18 academic year with the availability of infrastructure along with land in SM Puram. But the cancellation of the GO has hampered its establishment. Political leaders should join hands to get the institution to the backward district. Otherwise, many students of remote areas will not get an opportunity to pursue quality education,” said a senior official.
“It seems the government does not want to allocate huge chunk of land for a single institution. IIIT officials should follow up the issue with a revised plan so that the land issue can be sorted out without further delay,” he added.
