By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net,
Kochi: The Kerala government will hand over 100 acres of land for the regional centre of the Aligarh Muslim University by October 31, said KP Rajendran, state Minister of Revenue. He added that the rest of the land would be handed over by December. He was talking to media persons after the analysis meeting of the developments in the AMU campus held at Malappuram.
Mr Rajendran said that the government would make the necessary arrangements for beginning the classes in a temporary centre this year itself if the AMU authorities agree. The government has informed the AMU VC of this. At least two courses can be begun in a temporary centre. The state government would arrange for the temporary building. The VC of AMU had said that he would present the matter before the academic council and that further measures on the matter could be taken after that. The government is trying to begin classes this year itself, Mr Rajendran added. However, when contacted earlier the AMU had made it clear that it did not prefer beginning classes in any temporary centre.
The state government should ensure the basic facilities of water, road and electricity for the campus immediately before the campus is set up. The ministers of education, revenue, electricity, public works, water resources and local self-government departments will meet tomorrow to discuss the matter and take a decision.
It was after procedures of months that the AMU allowed regional centres in five states including Kerala. The states need only acquire land suitable for setting up the campus and hand it over to the university. The university can apply for funds only if the land is available. The academic procedures will begin once the construction of the campus is completed.
However, land acquisition is delaying the setting up of the campus in the state. The government had selected a suitable land at Panakkad earlier, but it could not be used for the campus since the Industries Department refused to hand over the land which it owned. Now, 400 acres of land has been selected at Perinthalmanna but acquisition still remains a hurdle since a part of the land is already in some legal controversy. Besides, the owners of the land have approached the court against the government move to acquire the land.
The land at Perinthalmanna is of 397 acres. However, the AMU had asked for only around 250-300 acres. The AMU is supposed to send a technical team in September to the state.
The regional centre is to be set up in the Malappuram district, a backward and Muslim-majority district in Kerala. The centre can change the face of the district where education facilities are very poor compared to other districts of the state.