IISc campus in Bhopal finalised

The decks have been cleared for setting up the Indian Institute Sciences campus in Bhopal.

The MP government has agreed to allot 200 acres(one acre is 4,840 sq yards) "free of cost" for the purpose.

The principal secretary, MP's department of revenue, Pukharaj Maru, and District Collector SK Mishra confirmed the report.

"We have sent the proposal to the department of higher education after taking a decision to earmark 200 acres for the Indian Institute of Science Campus in Bhopal. A proposal to set up an IISC campus came to our department and after discussion with the district collector we have decided to offer required land area for the institute gratis," Maru told Business Standard, adding "the approval is with the department of higher education."

Higher education top officials refused to give details but a well-placed source in the department said, "The Union Human Resource Development Ministry had sent a proposal few months ago for setting up the Indian Institute of Science in Bhopal. They (Union government) will set up a Central School, a research centre, a post-graduate college, hostel facility etc. We have promised to allocating to the HRD ministry last week."

Reportedly land has been allocated in Peepulner village near the airport. "We may change the location on demand, we have enough land," district collector SK Mishra said.

However, it has yet to be clarified by the union government if it will set up an IISC campus or build scientific research institutions of the highest standards in which teaching and research at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels will be undertaken in an integrated manner.

A Press Information Bureau release yesterday said: "The Union government has planned to open Indian Institutes of Scientific Education and Research (IISERs) at Kolkata and Pune. A third IISER is being set up at Mohali and two more have been proposed at Bhopal and Thiruvanathapuram. It is hoped that... IISERs will attain the eminence of IISC, Bangalore."