Six varsities to get ₹210 cr. for research

CM announces ₹150 crore for infrastructure in arts and science colleges

14/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The University of Madras will get ₹35 crore for research in the field of bio medicine.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced in the State Assembly on Friday that ₹210 crore would be allocated to six State-run universities to boost research.

In a suo motu statement, the Chief Minister said ₹35 crore each would be allocated to Anna University (for research on e-vehicles), Annamalai University (health and environment), Bharathidasan University (health), Bharathiar University (cancer research) and Madurai Kamaraj University (bio medicine) and University of Madras (applications of bio medicine).

He announced allocation of ₹150 crore for creating additional infrastructure such as classrooms, laboratories, computer and other equipment in government arts and science colleges. About ₹16.60 crore would be allocated to help 10,000 technical students visit factories as part of training at ₹16,600 each. Another ₹25 crore would be allocated for renovating and carrying out maintenance work in 10 government engineering colleges and 45 government polytechnics, he said.

CCTVs in schools

As for School Education Department, he said that 30 high schools would be upgraded into higher secondary schools by spending ₹55 crore.

While CCTVs were being installed in 1,890 high and higher secondary schools, another 4,282 high and higher secondary schools would be provided the CCTVs at a cost of ₹48.73 crore, he said.

The Chief Minister creased the allocation for maintenance and renovation work in schools from ₹38.50 crore to ₹100 crore in 2020-21. He said 25 government primary schools would be opened at a cost of ₹5.72 crore while 10 primary schools and 15 middle schools would be upgraded to middle and high schools at a cost of ₹3.90 crore and ₹26.25 crore respectively.

Mr. Palaniswami announced that six academies for excellence for athletics, volleyball, football and basketball would be set up at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He said such academies would be set up for swimming in Velachery Aquatic Complex.

A five-floor building would be built at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to provide training in carrom, taekwondo, judo and bridge at a cost of ₹12.30 crore. A sports stadium would be constructed in Tiruppur at a cost of ₹18 crore.

Heritage structures

The Chief Minister announced that the heritage building on Presidency College campus in Chennai would be renovated at a cost of ₹10 crore. The college was established in 1840.

He announced that the historic Institute of Advanced Study in Education at Saidapet in Chennai — the premier teacher training institution and the first-of-its-kind in Asia would be renovated at a cost of ₹10 crore.