JOIN USEx-VCs oppose road plan inside Vet College campus
In this case, the BBMP is eyeing 15 acres of land in the Veterinary College at Hebbal to construct a link road to Bangalure International Airport (BIA) by connecting Bellary Road and Sanjaynagar.
The BBMP, which is seeking this land to construct a 60 feet road, has already made several communications to the dean. In the first letter dated May 15, 2010, the Executive Engineer, Road Widening Department, BBMP has sought permission to conduct a survey within the campus. Earlier to this on May 11, 2010 Chief Engineer, Major Roads had requested the VC to transfer the land required to construct the road.
A blueprint, along with the letters, shows that a road from KEB Layout and Central Excise Layout bisecting the campus.
“If this happens, the very purpose of establishing the campus will be defeated,” said R N Srinivasagowda, former Vice Chancellor of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar.
Reduction in size
According to the former VCs, the road, which divides the 52-year-old campus, will cut through the sheep, goat and cattle farms (buffalo and cow farm).
“These farms are isolated for research and should be away from any disturbance. Though the campus requires 125 acres of land, we were granted only 90 acres. This road will further reduces the size of the campus,” explained Srinivasagowda.
He said several research institutes like Institute of Animal Health for Veterinary Biologicals (IAH and VB) and Indian Centre for Agriculture Research (ICAR) do exist in the same campus and the research of these institutes will be affected if the road is allowed to be constructed.
The former VCs have made it clear that after losing a sizeable portion of land to road widening programme, it will not allow the road inside the campus.
“A portion of the land meant for agro industries is already being converted into Ministers’ Quarters. Once the road comes up, the little land left for a playground will be history,” said one of the students.
A delegation of former Vice Chancellors and faculty members and researchers are now planning to meet the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to request them to drop the idea. The VCs say they would even contemplate approaching the High Court, if they fail to convince the government not to go ahead with the plan.