COIMBATORE: BJP’s Coimbatore district unit has condemned reports that Bharathiar University’s management has approved the transfer of 196.22 acres of university land to TIDCO for setting up industries.
He recalled that around 925.84 acres were acquired for the university between 1978 and 1986. He said the Tamil Nadu govt had initiated steps to provide Rs 164.28 crore to resolve the long-pending compensation issue for original landowners.
Kumar said the BJP had not opposed use of university land for the growth of educational institutions, including Anna University, as it fell within an educational purpose. He also flagged concerns that the proposed land parcel reportedly includes elephant movement corridors and said environmental and wildlife protection must be fully ensured. However, he argued that diverting land acquired for education to industrial use through TIDCO would alter the original objective. He demanded that any govt order enabling such transfer be withdrawn immediately.
In a statement on Friday, Coimbatore city district BJP president J Ramesh Kumar said land acquired for Bharathiar University should be used only for education and research.