As the lobbying for setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the State picks up momentum following the budget announcement, the people of north Karnataka are apprehensive whether the Congress government will go by the recommendation of the Bharatiya Janata Party government headed by B.S. Yeddyurappa at all?
The former Chief Minister, on March 9, 2010, had submitted a written appeal to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to establish the IIT at the then Belgaum. He argued the case of Belagavi by highlighting its potential for growth.
Educational hub
Mr. Yeddyurappa had said that Belagavi was an important educational hub in Karnataka. The government was setting up the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha there to hold the winter session of the State legislature to boost the growth and progress of the city having common boundaries with Maharashtra and Goa. The city had ideal and salubrious weather conditions too. “As Bangalore (now Bengaluru) is already overcrowded with educational institutions, setting up an IIT at Belgaum will be helpful for students,” Mr. Yedurappa had said and had promised to provide land for the purpose.
Abhay Patil, the then MLA from Belagavi South, on July 26, 2009, had organised a 16-km long human chain in support of the demand. Later, he submitted an appeal carrying signatures of 127 legislators to the Union Human Resources Ministry. However, the United Progressive Alliance government did not take a decision on the proposal.
Political equations
Now, as the political equations have changed with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government coming to power at the centre and the Congress assuming office in Karnataka, the people of the north Karnataka region want Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to abide by the recommendation of the previous government without any delay, Mr. Patil said.
