2600-acre plots identified for IIT in Kerala

The state government has appointed higher education department additional secretary M Sherif as liaison officer and he will be inspecting the plots on October 10. “After inspection, I will submit a detailed report to the government. We hope to finalise one of the plots to set up IIT,” Sherif said.

Kerala was awarded an IIT in the 2014 Union Budget but on the condition that between 500 and 600 acres of land free of any legal dispute was provided by the state government.

The plot identified at central Puduserry consists mainly of private land and bit of forest land, while at west Puduserry it is private land.

“At central Pudussery, there are around 25 houses and a private college, while in west Puduserry there are few semi-permanent structures. I interacted with local residents and they are not opposed to their land being acquired,” said Palakkad district collector K Ramachandran.

Sources said that residents there were willing to move out, provided they got decent compensation and are rehabilitated as per the new Land Acquisition Act.