The delay in fixing a date convenient for Union Ministry of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar to lay the foundation stone for the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Palakkad, is raising concern.
The State government had approached the Union ministry many times in the past three months for a date for the stone-laying function, but the authorities in New Delhi are yet to pay heed.
In January this year, the State government had handed over the required land to the ministry to begin construction works.
‘Political dimension’
The issue has now got a political dimension with Palakkad MP and CPI(M) leader M.B. Rajesh accusing the State leadership of the BJP of influencing the Union Minister to go slow on the stone-laying function. Mr. Rajesh told The Hindu that the Minister had given him two dates in the past three months. Each date was cancelled in the last minute.
Though five IITs were sanctioned after the NDA came to power at the Centre, only Palakkad IIT could start courses early with the State government setting up a temporary campus and completing land acquisition in time. “IITs allotted to BJP-ruled States are yet to begin classes. So they are delaying works in Palakkad. The issue is political. We have ensured all infrastructural facilities for the IIT campus. The Union government is disregarding the matter,” he said. As per plan, the construction of the campus will start on 70.02 acres after the stone-laying function.
BJP’s denial
BJP Palakkad district president C. Krishnakumar denied the charge of Mr. Rajesh that the party’s State unit was behind the imbroglio. “Why he is politicising the issue? It seems to be a case of lack of proper communication and coordination. The State government has to approach the Union Minister and convince him of the importance of the issue,” he said.
The then Union Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani had inaugurated the temporary campus on August 3, 2015. It was then said that a 500-acre permanent campus would be set up at Pudussery in three years. The temporary campus at Kozhipara near here lacks facilities to accommodate all students.
Both the Union and State governments decided to establish the IIT in Palakkad after finding its strategic location in the middle of the State and its proximity to Tamil Nadu’s second largest city, Coimbatore.
