Vet college to make way for judges houses

The college is desperately trying to stave off the State’s attempt to force the institution to allot 30 acres for building houses for Karnataka High Court judges.  The Supreme Court’s directions and the High Court’s harsh criticism of the government’s inability to provide quarters to the judges have reportedly pushed the State to a situation which may jeopardise the interests of veterinary science and its students.

It is learnt that the State has already directed the vice-chancellor, Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Science University (KVAFSU) to spare 30 acres for the judges’ quarters. Varsity sources confirmed that the land was identified at two patches. A team of judges has reportedly identified two patches shown by the University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS) Estate Officer Devraj. “Initially, the principal secretary, Agriculture, directed the estate officer to identify land for judges at UAS without our knowledge. Without our consent, he showed two plots on our campus,” said a source.

Accordingly, a team of judges visited the college on November 23, 2010, and approved both plots, one adjoining the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB) and the other behind the Diary unit on the campus.

Dr R N Srinivasa Gowda, former vice-chancellor, KVAFSU, was furious with the development. He said: “It (UAS) has no business to sacrifice our land, without our consent. This will threaten the very existence of the college, which is the first one in the State and has so far contributed significantly to veterinary science.”

The University of Agriculture Sciences is learnt to have shown that it had 382 acres of which a patch could be utilised for the judicial quarters.

However, in a meeting on November 27 with the principal secretary, Animal Husbandry, and principal secretary, agriculture, the director IAHVB and dean, Veterinary College, denied the UAS claim of 382 acres in its possession. The varsity was yet to hand over 77 acres to the Veterinary College. Instead it was using the land for its main research station and other purposes.

The Veterinary College campus houses other institutions such as the Diary Science College, IAHVB, Department of Animal Health and Veterinary Science, Karnatak Veterinary Council, Indian Veterinary Research Institute), KEB sub station and other institutes which cover about 93 acres.

According to a report available with Deccan Herald, the director IAHVB and Dean, Veterinary College, had refused to part land for the judicial quarters contending that it would threaten the college’s existence.

The college requires at least 150 acres. According to norms, the college’s main building should be housed in 20 acres, residential quarters for staff in 10 acres, sports grounds in 20 acres, fodder demo plots in 50 acres, diary, poultry, piggery, sheep, goat and buffalo units and non-poultry birds in separate plots which require at least 50 acres. A slaughter house unit in five acres is another requirement.

The college, the officials said, now has only 121 acres and, hence, short of 29 acres. Besides, several upcoming projects required another 50 acres.

However, the principal secretary, agriculture and principal secretary, Animal Husbandry, did not accept the contention and directed the college to discuss the issue in detail and submit a report. After a meeting on November 29, 2010, the college agreed to hand over the land with provided the plot in possession with UAS was returned to it.