« World Bank To Fund BRTS Project | Home | Phoenix Port - Status Update & Picture Gallery »
Georgia Institute Of Technology SEZ At Mucherla Village
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | April 11, 2008 | 672 views
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...The state government’s decision to allot 250 acres to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Hydearbad outskirts has stirred up controversy. While GIT had only proposed to set up an institute of academic excellence, the state government felt that it should also set up a multi-services Special Economic Zone. Interestingly, GIT does not have an SEZ attached to it even in its headquarters in Atlanta of the United States.
Though the government had initially decided to give the foreign institute 20 acres to start its unit, the extent of land has gone up to 250 acres now because of the SEZ proposal. The revenue department issued orders allotting land to GIT at Mucherla village in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district three days ago. “It is surprising news to us also,” said a senior official of the higher education department. “What does GIT have to do with SEZs?” The official added that the project would become a commercial venture once the SEZ was started.
The empowered committee headed by chief commissioner of land administration had earlier recommended allotment of land to GIT at Rs 18 lakh per acre, which is the prevailing market price. “However, the cabinet decided to give 250 acres and that too at Rs 1.5 lakh per acre, overruling EC, which is highest body vis-à-vis land allotment,” said a senior revenue official.
Sources told this correspondent that a senior official in the Chief Minister’s Office was behind this largesse to GIT. This official also sidelined representatives of AP Invest, the higher education department and AP State Council for Higher Education who were instrumental in bringing GIT to the state for an academic venture. The government, however, defended its decision saying that the SEZ would include a world class academic campus and a technology park that would house research and development facilities from leading industry partners.
SOURCES:
Deccan Chronicle
Topics: Education, Govt In Action |
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.