BU conditions for giving land to Anna University

Coimbatore,Jan 17 (PTI):Despite Anna University of TechnologyVice-Chancellor''s appeal to teachers and students opposed toconstruction of its campus on land of Bharathiar University atthe foothills of famous Maruthamalai, the BU registrar haswritten to the education department to bring in n amendmentsto the Government Order allocating the land.

The administration has already handed over land from over994 acres belonging to BU and works for clearing constructionwork has started at a cost of Rs 68 crore, since AUT functionsfrom a rented building with a whopping Rs 14 lakh per month.

The registrar has written to the department,based on earlierresolutions passed by the Syndicate that AUT, while taking theland, has to pay compensation to the original land owners--farmers,provide them jobs and also have an approach roadfrom Somayampalayam village, administration sources said.

Moreover, the letter had claimed that the land was notwaste or vacant land as mentioned in the G.O., but nearly 50acres were used by the Institute of Forest and Genetics TreeBreeding, on lease, which would end by 2011 end, they said.

The Institute has already written to BU authorities toextend the lease since the field trials are being held ondifferent species, utilising huge funds provided by differentagencies, the sources said.

BU students also plan to organise a massive demonstrationseeking withdrawal of its order, which they claimed wouldaffect growth of their university and its research, followingthe steps of their teachers, who had observed a one-day hungerstrike a week ago, opposing the deal.