A central team will visit Medak district of Andhra Pradesh on March 11 to identify the location for a proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

The district authorities have short-listed three villages for the institute in Sangareddy, about 70 km from Hyderabad. Out of the three, government land is available only near Lakadram village. Officials said if the central team selects any other location, the government might have to acquire private land.

The team comprising officials of the human resource development ministry is visiting the district amid rival demands over the location of the institute.

The opposition parties as well as leaders of the ruling Congress from some districts have demanded that the IIT be set up in the temple town of Basara in Adilabad district as was originally proposed.

The previous Telugu Desam Party government had lobbied for setting up an IIT at Basara and the state assembly had also passed a resolution in this regard.

In December last year when the central government sanctioned the institute for the state, the Congress government decided it would be located in Medak district because of its proximity to Hyderabad and thus to various infrastructure facilities.

The move evoked strong protests from the opposition parties, ruling party leaders in Adilabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts and even leaders from Nanded in neighbouring Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has constituted a panel to look into the issue but ruled out shifting the location from Medak district.

SOURCES:
India eNews