Demand for varsity in Kolar gets louder

Elected representatives want to drop Bangalore tag for the new university

The demand for a separate university for Kolar has grown loud with elected representatives from the district demanding setting up such a varsity from the next academic year itself.

The elected representatives, officials and principals of government first grade colleges who took part in a meeting on splitting Bangalore University here on Monday, were unanimous on forming a separate varsity, with a distinct identity, for Kolar district.

District in charge minister U T Khader, who chaired the meeting, has convened one more meeting of elected representatives from Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Hoskote to proceed further in the matter. The meeting is scheduled for February 2.

Srinivaspur MLA K R Ramesh Kumar suggested that the deputy commissioners of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts should check availability of at least 150 acres of land in either of the districts for the campus of the proposed varsity. He asked Kolar DC Dr Trilok Chandra K V to hold talks with his Chikkaballapur counterpart on the matter. The MLA also suggested that the land for the campus should be situated away from any forest. “Securing a forest land for the campus will be a long-drawn process,” he said.

Ramesh Kumar said that Kolar was not an extension of Bengaluru and hence the proposed varsity should not have the word “Bangalore” in its name.

“The proposal to split Bangalore university is again centred on Bengaluru only. Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts should have a varsity, which is liberated from the Bengaluru tag,” the MLA said.

Members of Legislative Council Y A Narayanaswamy and R Chowda Reddy urged Khader to draw the attention of the government on the long-pending demand for a university in Kolar.

Principal of government  first grade college, Malur, Dr V Chandrashekhara Nangali said that post graduation centres were established at Tumakuru and Kolar during 1994-95.

“However, the PG centre at Tumakuru has developed as a varsity while the one in Kolar has been neglected,” he said. He suggested that the proposed new varsity be named “Antara Gangotri” as the name would symbolise the geography of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. His suggestion was widely welcomed in the meeting.

Additional Deputy Commissioner R S Peddappaiah and principals of government first grade colleges in Kolar district were present in the meeting.