Governor Fazal roots for biotech varsity at Nagpur

Facility may be housed in Nagpur Raj Bhavan premises

Maharashtra governor Mohammad Fazal has submitted a proposal to the state government for setting up a bio-technology university that provides comprehensive courses in all sectors related to this sunrise industry.

The university, according to state government officials, is sought to be housed in the Raj Bhavan premises located in Nagpur district.

Confirming plans for setting up the bio-technology university, secretary to the governor Sumeet Mallick told Business Standard: "There is a proposal that the governor and the state government are considering. However, it has not been decided to house the bio-technology university in the Nagpur Raj Bhavan premises."

He added that the university would offer courses in a bid to comprehensively cover all bio-technology spheres such as genetic engineering and pharmaceuticals.

Vice chancellor of the Pune University Ashok Kolaskar, a bio-technologist himself, is spearheading the efforts for setting up the university.

A brainstorming session will be held in Pune tomorrow to discuss the proposal in detail. The effort comes in the wake of rapid growth in the bio-technology sector and is aimed at creating a pool of professionals to meet the increased future demand.

A university would also help ensure quality standards of education imparted to the global levels, the state government official said.