IIT to be set up in AP during 11th Plan: CM

Hyderabad, Dec 19 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today announced in the state assembly that one of the three IITs proposed to be set up in the country during the 11th Five Year Plan, would be set up in the state.

Making the announcement, Dr Reddy said Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had written to the state government of the decision in response to the state's proposal.

He said Mr Singh had requested the state government to identify and allot 500 to 600 acres of land, free of cost, having physical and social infrastructure, including road, rail and air connectivity.

The Chief Minister said the government had initially considered to set up the IIT at Basara in Adilabad district, where an ancient Saraswathi Temple was located. However, the government had chosen Medak district, which was once represented by late Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha as it would satisfy all the requirements stipulated by the HRD Minister.

Dr Reddy said the government proposed to start one Twenty First Century Gurukulam Centre at Basara, to train over 250 rural youth in Information Technology and related areas. The Centre would award Masters Degree in Information Technology with National and Global acceptance.

The Gurukulam Pragramme was conceptulized by Prof Raj Reddy, former consultant to the US President.

Dr Reddy said the government would invest Rs five crore to develop a full-fledged Gurukulam Campus in a year and expressed confidence that the project would transform the backward Adilabad district into a knowledge hub.

Apart from the Adilabad Medical College, two more colleges would also come up in the state. He also said the government was making efforts to get sanction for a Horticulture University too.

On behalf of the House, Dr Reddy thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi and the Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh for sanctioning the IIT.

UNI JRK/SM VD KN1534