The Hindu : Karnataka News : Panel protests `move' to take back varsity land

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 03, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Panel protests `move' to take back varsity land

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, MARCH 2. The Tumkur University Protection Committee has decided to file a caveat petition before the Supreme Court to pre-empt "the Government's move to take back the land allotted for the university."

C.N. Narasimha Murthy, chairman of the committee; G.M. Srinivasaiah, its vice-chairman; S.G. Siddaramaiah, G.S. Somanna, Naraseeyappa, and Byatarange Gowda, its executive members, on Tuesday took presspersons around the varsity campus site at Gollahalli, 8.5 km north-east of Tumkur (off National Highway No. 4), and said it is not forest land but revenue land.

Prof. Murthy said "a move by the Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology," to take back the land is unwarranted. The official's action is in response to an objection filed by an environmental activist, who contends that it is forest land. The contention is not true. Prof. Siddaramaiah said the land is located at Gollahalli, close to Kadirenahalli and Janapanahalli. There is nothing to show that it was once a forest.

He said: "Universities all over the world have taken steps to preserve nature. Gulbarga University is an example. The master plan of Tumkur University, which is ready, envisages building pick-up dams to improve the water table and raising greenery. Is this a mining proposal for environmentalists to oppose?"

Alleging that an environmentalist has described the site as forest land with a selfish motive, the office-bearers of the committee criticised the Government for "considering his views."

"We will fight it out, both in courts and on the streets,'' they said.

"The land was fenced recently. A signboard reading, "Tumkur University, Gnana Kalpatharu Campus," has been installed. Security men have been posted. We will not allow the Government to shift the campus from here,'' they said.

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