Kolar: Bangalore University's Post Graduate Centre in Kolar will get an independent campus soon. This follows a prolonged struggle by student unions, political parties and academics.

The centre has been granted 30 acres of land at Survey No 90 of Mangasandra village in Vakkaleri hobli of Kolar taluk, according to an order issued by Principal Secretary of Revenue Department.

With the sanctioning of land, a long cherished dream of students is being realised. The need for an independent campus was felt since the centre was set up in Kolar in 1995. At present, the centre is being run on the premises of the Government Boys College. The building, which housed the centre, lacks basic infrastructure.

The classrooms are congested and do not have ventilation and light.

This created resentment among parents and students and in teaching faculty too. And a demand for a campus was raised by student organisations, including Students Federation of India. They, and political outfits, staged several agitations. Director of the centre P.R. Nanjunda Gowda also took part in the struggle. The building is dilapidated.

Now the decade-long struggle has paid off. The order, addressed to Deputy Commissioner, a copy of which was made available to The Hindu, has cheered up students and the teaching faculty.

Efforts would be made to get more land for the campus, Mr. Nanjunda Gowda said. He said this was necessary to meet the future requirements. "We are planning to bring in more courses," he said.

The sanctioning of land for the campus has also opened up the possibility of starting of a university in Kolar district. The campus may be converted into a full-fledged university in view of the large number of educational institutions in the district, Mr. Nanjunda Gowda said.

"To reduce the burden on Bangalore University and to get better results, a university here is necessary," he said. There are 48 colleges in the district which speaks for the need for a university, he added.

Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor and Registrar are scheduled to inspect the site shortly. A date would be fixed for laying the foundation stone, according to sources. The construction of the campus is estimated at Rs. 10 crore.

Students Federation of India district unit president M.P. Munivenkatappa said the authorities should start construction work.

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