Udupi: Govt allots 20-acres land for PG centre at Belapu

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 27 Aug 2013: The much vaunted post-graduate study centre of Mangalore University in Udupi district took a step closer to becoming a reality with the state government providing 20 acres for the centre at Belapu village in the survey number 56.

 

The university authorities received an official communique from the assistant commissioner, Kundapur on August 8. Belapu village that is about 25 km away from Udupi had pipped Kolalagiri, the other possible site that a university’s search committee had inspected for the centre.

 

Vice-chancellor TC Shivashankara Murthy said that the state government has allotted the land conditionally, to be utilized within two-years of the order dated July 31.

 

The university has prepared a proposal for Rs 22 crore to build infrastructure facilities at Belapu.

 

"We have already written to the state government to release Rs 5 crore to start work on the study centre," the VC said, adding the joint director of the department of collegiate education, Mangalore region, too has recommended the release of the fund.

 

The university intends to take up construction works on a block to offer art courses before the end of this year to start with subject to the release of funds from the government.

 

Plans have also been drawn to construct science and commerce blocks, shopping centre and hostels for men and women. The university will decide on courses to be offered at Belapu PG centre at a later date, the VC said, adding the first priority is to get infrastructure for it up and running.

 

Observing that minister for higher education R V Deshpande and urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake are keenly backing the project, the VC said if things move at the same pace, the foundation stone for the PG centre can be laid as early as October.

 

The PG centre at Belapu and the one that is coming up at Chikkaluvara in Kodagu district will help students of the respective regions, he said, adding they have the potential to emerge as independent universities in the next five to six years down the line.

 

Incidentally, location for the Udupi PG centre, which first received support from then minister for higher education late V S Acharya had turned into battle of wits involving then Udupi MLA K Raghupathy Bhat and current Udupi district in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake.

 

While the latter wanted PG centre to be located in his assembly constituency of Kaup, Bhat plumped for Kolalagiri. The search committee’s decision vindicated Sorake’s choice.