VC appeals for cooperation to construct campus

Coimbatore,Jan 16 (PTI):Amid strong opposition from teachersand students of Bharathiar University here to handing over 130acres to Anna University of Technology (AUT),Dr K Karunakaran,AUT vice-chancellor, today urged all sections to cooperate toconstruct its campus there.

In a statement, he said AUT started functioning here in2007 after trifucation of Anna University and did not have itsown land, considering its growth and development,as it has 151affiliated engineering colleges coming under nine districts.

The university was now paying Rs 14 lakh as monthly rent forits premises at Jothipuram on the outskirts. Considering thegrowth and contribution to education and R&D of Tamil Nadu andthe country, the state government had allotted over 130 acres,from 994 acres owned by Bharathiar Unviersity, to constructits own campus, he said.

Stating that the land purchased by the university waswasteland, without any buildings, Karunakaran assured that AUTcampus would not in any way affect future growth and R&Dactivities of Bharathiar University.