Making a statement in the State Legislative Assembly, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy said, "I am happy to inform this House that I have just received a communication from Arjun Singh, Union HRD Minister, informing that one IIT is sanctioned to AP in response to our sustained request for locating an IIT in our state. This acceptance to locate one IIT in AP is a part of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan agenda to start three (new) IITs in the country."
The union HRD ministry has requested the state government to identify and allot 500 to 600 acres of land free of cost, having physical and social infrastructure, which includes road, rail and air connectivity.
"Therefore, my government has decided to locate the IIT in Medak district, which was once represented by former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, as it will satisfy the requirements laid down by the HRD Minister," he pointed out.
The Chief Minister recalled that the Assembly had earlier adopted a resolution requesting the government of India to locate IIT at Basara, the temple town of Goddess Saraswati on the banks of river Godavari in Adilabad district. The government had been pursuing vigorously with the Central government to locate the IIT at Basara.
"However, we are constrained to locate it in Medak district having proximity to the metropolitan twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad, in view of the letter of the HRD Minister. The location of IIT in Medak district, I am sure, will help to develop the backward parts of Telangana, providing opportunities to a large number of our youngsters to pursue high quality technical education, which is our strong point in the entire country," Dr Reddy said.
