Not enough land for IIT Gujarat
17 Nov 2008
Though the Gujarat government has been quick to allocate land for Tata Motor's Nano project, it has not shown the same alacrity for the needs of IIT Gujarat campus, seems to be the lament of parents whose wards are left to rough it out in makeshift classrooms and lodging facilities.
The IIT in Gujarat opened earlier this year in a makeshift building at Chadkheda ending the grievance about the state not being in the IIT state league. The Gujarat government had at the time allocated 450 acres of land in Palej village in Gandhinagar. However, the IIT authorities had to turn it down as it fell woefully short of the 800-1,000 acres they had in mind factoring in land required for future exapansion. Besides, about 50 acres turned out to be ravines.
There are 96 students currently enrolled in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering courses. The lectures are held in three classrooms of Gandhinagar Engineering College, Chandkheda. Lodging facilities are provided in an apartment building in one of the six towers built by Adanis to facilatate movement of their employees. The building has 30 single bedroom flats in which students are accommodated three to a flat. Living conditions are far from ideal, but things can get really bad during monsoon due to waterlogging and outbreak of diseases like malaria. Around 25 students fell ill with 10 from malaria this year.
There have been several meetings with the state chief secretary to sort out issues but the prospects of IIT having its own campus in the next three years remain bleak. Dean of academic and student affairs, IIT, UA Yagnik said the government authorities have shown them land, but since it was not in proximity of urban centres for the convenience of faculty, it had to be turned down. Principal secretary (education) Hasmuk Adhia informed that the IIT authorities were given a few options, but due to the demand for 700-1,000 acres there are some issues. The Tata Motors plot of land was also offered but it was rejected on concerns of pollution, Adhia informed.
Meanwhile students who are left in the lurch have given up hope of moving into a proper campus in the next three to four years.
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