BANGALORE: The debate on having an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Karnataka was sparked off again, with Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily stating that provisions exist under the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) to setup an IIT in Sir M Visvesvaraya’s hometown Muddenahalli.
“We are trying to set up an IIT in Muddenahalli as there are plans under the 12th five-year plan. Let us see what happens,” Moily told reporters on the sidelines of a function here on Saturday.
Moily was responding to a petition on the same from MLC Dr M R Doreswamy.
“Not having an IIT in the state is a blow to the hopes and aspirations of its people. Karnataka offers peaceful and unhindered conditions and resources. Not only will it fulfil higher education, but will also satiate requirements for technological developments,” Dr Doreswamy said in his petition.
This is the second attempt by Moily to pursue with the Centre the sanctioning of an IIT to Karnataka. In January last, he had said he would try to obtain IIT status to University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bangalore, after Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev had proposed the same to Moily.