'Establish IIT-K at Belagavi'

As the lobbying for the establishment of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) picks up momentum in some of the major cities of Karnataka, the people of North Karnataka have become apprehensive on whether the present Congress government will go by the recommendation of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed then by B.S. Yeddyurappa on establishing the IIT at Belagavi.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has announced an IIT for Karnataka in the budget proposals for the year 2015-16 on Saturday.

The former chief minister, on March 9, 2010 had submitted a written appeal to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to establish the IIT at Belgaum (now Belagavi). He had strongly argued the case of Belagavi by highlighting its potential for further growth.

He had also argued that Belagavi was an important educational hub of Karnataka and the government was establishing the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to hold annual winter session of the State legislature as a measure to boost the growth and progress of the city having common boundaries with Maharashtra and Goa. Further, Belagavi has ideal and salubrious weather conditions and beneficial to the students of high technical institute, he had said.

“As Bangalore (now Bengaluru) is already over-crowded with educational institutions, setting up of IIT at Belgaum would be helpful to the students as it is a suitable place in all respects,” Mr.Yeddyurappa had said and even assured to provide necessary land for establishing the IIT at Belagavi.

Earlier, the then MLA from Belagavi South, Abhay Patil on July 26, 2009 had organised a 16 km long human chain in the city in support of the demand for IIT. Later, he submitted an appeal/memorandum carrying signatures of 127 legislators to the Union Human Resources Ministry with an earnest request for establishing the IIT at Belagavi.

However, the then Congress led UPA government did not take decision on the proposal during its term.

Now, as the political equations have changed with the BJP-led NDA government returning to power at the centre and Congress in Karnataka, the people of the North Karnataka region want the chief minister Siddaramaiah to abide by the recommendation of the preceding government and recommend the centre to establish the IIT at Belagavi without any delay.