Dharwad: Ending the suspense over the location of the new Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Karnataka, the Centre has decided to set up the premier institute at Dharwad.
BJP MLA Aravind Bellad, who was leading a campaign for IIT in Hubballi-Dharwad said, “We received an official communication from the ministry that Dharwad has been chosen over Raichur and Mysuru.”
Dharwad district administration has identified the required 500 acres near Mummigatti on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway off Dharwad. Deputy commissioner P Rajendra Cholan and IAS officer P Manivannan, who oversee development works in the district, prepared the presentation.
Karnataka had recommended Dharwad, Raichur and Mysuru. Though Mysuru is technically more competent, sources said Dharwad clinched it for political and other reasons.
BJP sources said lobbying by political heavyweights like Union minister HN Ananth Kumar, opposition leader in the legislative assembly Jagadish Shettar, Joshi and Bellad, a leading businesman from the region, worked in its favour.
In 1998, a committee headed by former ISRO chairman and space scientist UR Rao submitted its report recommending an IIT in Hubli-Dharwad. Rao had said the twin cities would act as a springboard for education-industry collaboration.