Anna University looking for a campus

Anna University, Coimbatore, housed on the Government College of Technology (GCT) campus, still has no premises of its own. It is currently facing a space crunch.
What began as a temporary arrangement seems set to continue as the university nears the first anniversary of its founding in February 2008. Says R. Radhakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor: “As soon as the idea of the university was mooted in the Assembly, it was decided that some 250 acres of land available on the Bharathiar University campus that was identified by the government would be allotted to us. But it has been 10 months and nothing concrete has materialised. There seems to be some legal issues in the transfer of the land.”
According to Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam, a request was indeed made to the university regarding allotment of land. But the stretch of land in question seems to be under litigation. “The owners of 1,000 acres of land of the university have moved the court for extra compensation. They feel the compensation was not adequate as they had sold the land when the prices were not very high. They are seeking additional compensation that is expected to run into several crores of rupees.”
Bharathiar University has sought legal opinion on the compensation issue. Mr. Thiruvasagam feels that it is necessary to clear the legal hassles first. Once that happens, the matter will be placed before the Syndicate for a decision, he says.
With no prospect of land becoming available for Anna University’s establishment and expansion, Mr. Radhakrishnan has urged the government to allot it an alternative location (for example at Vellalore). “If government lands are not available then it should acquire private lands and transfer some to us. Otherwise GCT can be made a constituent college of Anna University, Coimbatore, so that we can have our administrative set-up here and our academic campus at the Bharathiar University premises,” suggests the Vice-Chancellor.