Updated on: Monday, August 13, 2012
The Karnataka government has urged the Centre to sanction an Indian Institute of Technology in the state at the earliest.
Higher Education Minister C T Ravi in a letter to Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said Karnataka is an ideal place to establish an IIT as it is a hi-tech hub where a majority of IT activity is concentrated. The state also topped the country's total software exports in the last fiscal, he said.
"Karnataka has always been at the forefront of industrial growth in India and the government will provide land and other infrastructure facilities for establishment of an IIT in the state," Ravi said.
The minister said government has also initiated various steps to reform higher education and many technical institutions have taken advantage of this significant science resource in changing the scientific scenario.
He noted that Karnataka has been requesting for sanction of an IIT since 2006 and received acknowledgements stating that the matter would be looked into.
Ravi said government has established several organisations and institutions to provide infrastructural support to private sector enterprises, "which is a significant move in this direction."
Software Technology Parks established in other upcoming cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli-Dharwar play a big role in encouraging this industry, he said.