Orissa govt to hand over 300 acres to NISER free of cost

Bhubaneswar, Jun 7 (UNI) The Orissa government has decided to hand over 300 acres of land free of cost for setting up of National Institute of Science and Education Research(NISER),Higher Education Minister Samir De told the state assembly today.

Replying to a question of Ramesh Chandra Chau Pattnaik(BJD),the minister said since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Orissa in August last year had announced the NISER, he hoped that the proposal would receive the approval of the Union Cabinet soon.

Mr De said the state government has already identified 325.965 acres of government land under Jatani tehsil for NISER and the State Revenue Department has been directed to hand over 300 acres of land free of cost to the Institute.

The minister said the Department of Atomic Energy has been taking necessary steps to set up the Institute adding that students would soon be inducted into the institute.

He denied that there has been a delay in establishing the institute in the state and outlined various steps taken by the government as per the request of the Centre.

Mr De said the General Administration Department has been directed to provide 10 acres of government land close to the Physics Institute to set up the NISER Campus.

The government, he further said has also provided 30 quarters to NISER for constructing a students' hostel and residential houses for the teaching as well as non teaching staff while another 14 houses in an apartment would be soon provided to the Institute.

The Higher Education Minister said Rs 841 crore would be invested in NISER which would induct 40 students in pure science from this academic session.

To a supplementary question of Bhibhuti Bhusand Harichandan(BJP), Mr De said the UPA government has allotted Rs two crore this year for undertaking infrastructure development and denied that there has been inordinate delay in setting up of the Institute.

UNI