BU proceeds with proposal to handover 196.22 acres to State government; academics, conservationists question move
Bharathiar University is proceeding with a plan to transfer 196.22 acres of land to the state government to settle compensation claims for farmers. Academics and conservationists have raised concerns regarding the impact on the university's future expansion and the local elephant corridor.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the tension between land acquisition for industrial development and the preservation of educational and environmental resources.
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, is understood to be moving ahead with the resolution adopted at its Syndicate during January-February for handing over 196.22 acres in its possession to the State government, in lieu of ₹164.28 crore that will be utilised for paying compensation to farmers from whom the land had been acquired to establish the varsity.
Out of the 196.22 acres, 77 acres falling under elephant corridor is to be provided to the Forest Department, and the remaining land to TIDCO purportedly for establishing non-polluting industries.
The move, which academics reason out would be detrimental to future expansion of the university, looks closer to fructification once the land owners withdraw all pending appeal suits before the Madras High Court, and Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court for enhanced compensation.
This will be the second time the university would be relinquishing a huge portion of its campus.
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