TADEPALLIGUDEM: A central team visited various places in West Godavari district to identify land for setting up of National Institute of Technology (NIT) apart from inspecting various government engineering colleges that could provide temporary accommodation for commencement of operations of NIT from next academic year. Around 300 acres of land is required for the institute which would house 500 students.
The committee accompanied by HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao inspected lands near the airstrip, forest lands opposite YSR Horticulture University near Venkataramannagudem and some other places in the district. The minister said that the land for establishment of the institute will be finalised within the next three months but the state government is keen on starting the NIT operations from next academic year itself. “We have visited various engineering colleges like CR Reddy Engineering College apart from a couple of private engineering colleges in the district for operating the NIT temporarily as it would take at least three-four years to complete the construction of the institute after finalising the land,” he said. The minister said that an amount of `16,000 crore was allotted to the education sector this year and the state government has asked the Centre to accord permission for allowing BEd students to take District Selection Committee (DSC) examinations to fill the vacant teacher posts.
Minister for Endowments Pydikondala Manikayala Rao said that the venue for temporary class rooms will be finalised within a fortnight. Necessary government lands are available near Ramasingavaram and Tadepalligudem in the district to avoid unnecessary problems.
Joint secretary for Union HRD ministry Praveen Prakash, Higher Education principal secretary Neelam Sahani, collector Katamaneni Bhaskar, Warangal NIT director PS Rao, Public Works department chief engineer Sailendra Kumar and others accompanied the central team.