'Give IT firms what they want'

'Give IT firms what they want'
The Times of India

[27 Jul,2006 0026hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
HUBLI: In a bid to arrest the brewing controversy over the allotment of land to the IT sector, ignited by opposition leader H K Patil, a high-level meeting on Wednesday decided not to make any move that will deter the interest of IT entrepreneurs from investing in Hubli-Dharwad.

"We are definitely not against the law university. Like IT, we do understand that the university will also play a big role in the growth of Hubli-Dharwad. But let us not make it an issue and spoil the broth, revenue minister Jagadish Shettar said. Presiding over a development review meeting here, Shettar directed Dharwad DC M S Srikar and HDMC commissioner P Manivannan to identify separate and suitable land for the proposed law university.

"Make sure that the land is vast and in the vicinity of the twin-cities, he told them. Primary education minister Basavaraj Horatti also endorsed this decision, though he initially supported the views of H K Patil that the 44 acres of land identified at Rayapur and surrounding areas should be reserved for the law university.

"I have no objection if the law university is given appropriate land, he asserted, when told that the land at Rayapur is inadequate. Dharwad North MP Prahlad Joshi and JD(U) MLC Basavaraj Bommai earlier told the meeting that the controversy raised by H K Patil is unnecessary, since a university would require land not less that 100 acres.

"I am definitely not against IT companies. Their coming here will definitely boost business and economic prospects of the twin-cities and help enhance purchasing power of the people, Bommai explained. Citing the example of VTU in Belgaum, the MP said the new VTU campus in Belgaum is nearly 120 acres. But the proposed land at Rayapur is just about 44 acres, besides, it is dotted with some residential layouts, he said. Considering this, Joshi and Bommai suggested that the campus be identified on Airport Road or anywhere between Hubli and Dharwad. MLC Veeranna Mathikatti also expressed similar views.