Efforts on to start classes from this year

Anantapur: With the Union Cabinet giving its nod to set up central university in the district, the district administration is making arrangements to host the university in temporary buildings.

District collector Veera Pandian told The Hans India that he was planning to discuss with heads of local universities Sri Krishna Devaraya University (SKU) and JNTU-Anantapur and authorities of certain private engineering colleges to explore possibilities of making temporary arrangements for holding classes in the current academic year 2018-19.

The district administration had already allotted about 450 acre at Dendulur village in Bukkarayasamudram mandal in the district for the central university. Out of the estimated budget of Rs 1,000 crore, the Centre will release Rs 450 crore for executing the first phase of the project in the current year itself. The funds are not only meant for creating infrastructure, including buildings and classrooms, etc., but also would be spent on maintenance of university in temporary buildings.

Sri Krishna Devaraya University and the JNTU-A university authorities have expressed willingness to host the new university on their campuses. 
SKU registrar K Sudhakar Babu told ‘The Hans India’ that the SKU also would extend its cooperation in establishing the university from the current academic year.

The Centre’s move comes in the wake of Kia Automobiles and even multi-crore Bharath Electronics Limited (BEL) planning to set up its plant in the district. “Already, the district is a hub of non-conventional energy sector.

The central university will preside over industry-education interface and introduce courses that will support the upcoming industries in the district. Job-oriented courses will be introduced in the central university,” Sudhakar Babu added.