AP House adopts Bill to create Nalgonda Varsity

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) Close on the heels of creation of three new Universities, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly tonight adopted a Bill for the formation of Nalgonda University to augment educational facilities in the backward Telangana region.

Higher Education Minister P Venkateswara Rao, who piloted the bill, announced the creation of a Horticulture University in Tadepalligudem.

Keeping in view the Knowledge Commission's recommendations to set up 1500 more universities in the country, the State Government planned to set up in a phased manner more universities to improve the educational standards and to increase the level of higher education in the state from the present 8.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent.

Earlier cutting across party lines, the members demanded setting up of new Univerisities in their respective districts.

The House also adopted the Bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Socieities Act adhering to the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) signed with the Centre as per the Vaidyanathan Committee recommendations to strengthen the cooperative socieities as also the bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Rural Electric Cooperative Socieities Act.

The Bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Sugarcane(Regulation of Supply and Purchase) Act, was also passed making Sugar Minister in-charge of the State Sugarcane Advisory Committee instead of the Agriculture Minister consequent on separation of the Department of Sugar from Agriculture.

UNI