Anantapur: This is the third year of state division, along with which new institutions had also been promised for the two states in the Rajya Sabha. But, the leaders of ruling Telugu Desam and BJP failed to mount pressure on the Centre to get such projects for the region.

The setting up of a Central University, one of the alternative institutions promised for AP, is progressing at snail's pace. In fact, the Centre had allotted five national-level educational institutions to AP during the post-bifurcation period.

The central varsity wouldn't be a burden on the state government, which has to allot land for the purpose, so as to accommodate students from AP and other parts. Even as HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao had announced plans to set up the central varsity in Anantapur from this academic year, no progress was witnessed so far.

A central team had done a feasibility study of the location and the land proposed for the central university near Reddypalli in BK Samudram mandal, about 15 km from the district headquarters last year. The district administration had reportedly okayed plans to allot land for the purpose.

The JNTU-A-owned Anantapur JNT Engineering College had agreed to accommodate the central varsity to run classes temporarily and also gave its consent to the district administration in this respect last year.

An engineering college was also planned to run classes on shift system till completion of permanent buildings for the central university. A senior official from JNTU-A said it was ready to help in the running of the central varsity classes for a period, but it did not receive any directions so far.

Anantapur BJP district president Ankal Reddy has alleged that the state government is delaying allotment of a suitable land for the varsity as also completion of the formalities.

Mr Ankal Reddy said, “The BJP district committee had represented to the then HRD minister Smriti Irani seeking speedy disposal of files pertaining to the central varsity at Anantapur.” He also said the BJP district committee would mount pressure on the state and the Centre to get the varsity for Anantapur.

CPI district secretary Jagadish threatened to stage protests over the delay in inaugurating the institute. “If the state and the Centre initiated the process, a batch of post graduate students would by now have passed out at Anantapur,” he felt.