Unmindful of the controversy raging in Kerala over the ISRO land deal, classes for the first batch of the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) are set to begin at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre here on September 14.
Students began arriving here since Tuesday to attend the classes at the VSSC campus where the institute will function temporarily till its new building is ready.
The institute will offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral educational programmes to meet the requirements of ISRO. The courses will have special modules on space technology and space science.
On Friday, classes will begin for BTech in Space Technology (Avionics and Aerospace engineering) and Integrated Masters in Applied Science.
ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair is scheduled to open the IIST at a function at the VSSC.
House stalled
Meanwhile, the Opposition UDF stalled proceedings in the assembly for the second consecutive day demanding an inquiry into the sale of land at Ponmudi here by Merchiston estate to ISRO for the proposed IIST. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan stuck to his stand that it was a land deal between the ISRO and a private party without the knowledge of the government.
The Congress-led UDF wanted a CBI inquiry into the deal by keeping Forest Minister Benoy Viswam out of the cabinet as they allege that he had gone out of the way to facilitate the sale of forest land by the Merchiston Estate. The UDF members who arrived in the house with their mouths covered by black clothes in protest later conducted a satyagraha inside. The Speaker later adjourned the house.
