THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid reports that moves are afoot to shift the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) campus to Thrissur, Vattiyoorkavu MLA K Muraleedharan raised the issue in the Assembly demanding that the varsity should be retained in the capital.
Replying to the submission by Muraleedharan in the Assembly, Education Minister C Raveendranth assured that a final decision would be taken after a committee, constituted to identify a permanent location for the University campus, submits its report.
The committee headed by KTU Registrar G P Padmakumar and comprising of Deputy Secretary M G Renjith Kumar and Senior Director M Sherif, would submit its report soon, he said.
According to Section 3 (6) of the KTU Act, the headquarters of the University should be located in Thiruvananthapuram. In order to get UGC funding for the University and affiliated colleges, KTU should obtain 12 (B) status. In order to obtain that status, KTU should have a campus with at least five departments, the Minister said.
The University plans to set up a residential campus with world-class facilities, he added.
Muraleedharan’s plea
In his submission, K Muraleedharan said that KTU began functioning in the campus of the College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET) in 2014. A total of 210 institutions including 153 engineering colleges, 23 MBA colleges, 25 MCA colleges and eight Architecture colleges in the state are affiliated to the University.
The previous government had identified 50 acres of land belonging to the University of Kerala for setting up a permanent campus of KTU. Though the Syndicate of the University ratified the proposal, the University later took a U-turn and said that the land could not be allocated and suggested that an alternate place be considered. Muraleedharan said that land was available in various areas of the capital, including land near Technocity in Kazhakkoottam and also the Corporation-owned land at Vilappilsala. Even after citing abundant availability of land, attempts are being made to shift the KTU campus to some other districts, he alleged.The Vattiyoorkavu MLA said that while Thrissur and Kochi have three universities each, Thiruvananthapuram has only one University at present Muraleedharan reminded the government that the very Act of the University stipulates it would be located in Thiruvananthapuram.