In a letter to Environment and Forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan, Gowda said that Tumkur was declared as one of the most backward districts as per the report of D M Nanjundappa Committee based on the regional imbalances in the state.

The state government has decided to set up a full-fledged University campus in Tumkur and identified 98.02 hectare of deemed forest land since no other land in a single plot is available anywhere in Tumkur, he said, adding a clearance was sought from the Ministry of Environment and Forest to spare it to take up the project.

"All the details sought by your Ministry have already been furnished along with the original topo sheet map. In view of the urgency for establishment of a full-fledged University campus in this backward district, I request you to kindly help in arranging to release 98.02 ha of deemed forest land in Tumkur at the earliest," he said.