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The Indian Institute of Technology
promised to the state will come up in Medak and not in Basara
as proposed by the earlier State government.
However, the Centre wants 500-600 acres of land free of cost
with adequate infrastructure, including road, rail and air
connectivity, to set up the IIT. Officials have zeroed in
Isnapur village near Patancheru as an ideal location, since it
is close to Hyderabad and near the proposed Outer Ring Road.
However, the government would have to spend at least Rs.3, 000
crore to acquire land in the area, which is witnessing a real
estate boom. It owns only 30 acres of rocky terrain in the
chosen locale at present.
Since the ORR project was announced, land is selling at Rs.6
to 8 crores per acre in this area.
The Chief Minister, however, adopted an optimistic tone while
disclosing the shift in location in the Assembly on Tuesday
and said that it would bring development to backward areas of
telangana. "We have decided to set up the IIT in Medak
district, which was once represented by former Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi in Lok Sabha," he said.
Dr.YS. Rajasekher Reddy said he had received a letter from
Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh sanctioning the IIT.
He also recalled that the Assembly had earlier passed a
resolution requesting the Centre to establish the IIT as Basar
in Adilabad district. "However, we are constrained to locate
it at Medak, because of its proximity to the twin cities," he
said.
Instead, the government would start a 21st Century Gurukulam
at Basar by investing Rs.5 crore to train more than 250 rural
youth in information technology, he said Opposition leader
N.Chandrababu Naidu, however, expressed dissatisfaction at the
decision and termed it a failure of the chief minister.
Immediately after the chief minister's announcement, Medak
District Collector B.Venkatesham direct mandal revenue
officers of Patancheru, Sanga Reddy and Ramachandrapuram to
identify the land and submit a report. Patancheru MRO Meru
Nagesh said only 30 Acres of government land was available in
and around Isnapur in survey no.296. "Another 300 acres of
government land is available in Lakdaram village, which is at
a different location.' he added.
The collector admitted that such a huge tract of land may not
be available at a single place. "If necessary \, we will
purchase land from individuals,' he said.
Centre will spend will have to bear the entire cost of the
land. The Centre will spend Rs.1, 800 crore in a span of three
years to set up the campus and another facilities.
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