Dhanbad, July 28: A group of teachers and students of Indian School of Mines met chief minister Arjun Munda yesterday in Bokaro to seek his support for an ongoing campaign for IIT status for the Dhanbad cradle, requesting him to adopt a cabinet resolution on this long-pending demand.

The delegation, comprising teachers P.P. Bahuguna of mining engineering, D.D. Pathak of applied chemistry and Pramod Pathak of management studies, in addition to a number of students, impressed upon Munda that ISM wanted to intensify its campaign, launched sometime in 2009-10.

In addition to a resolution of the state cabinet or Assembly, the teachers said they would also try to get recommendations from at least 100 MPs now that they had already got the support of 45 MPs.

According to Bahuguna, Munda was extremely supportive and asked some members of the delegation to visit Ranchi to complete necessary documentation to take their campaign forward.

“We are also lobbying with various MLAs,” said Bahuguna, adding they wanted to have a copy of the resolution with them before the monsoon session of Parliament.

He explained ISM was equipped with proper infrastructure and its facilities were at par with any IIT. “There is no logic of denying IIT status to the institute,” he said, adding the chief minister’s support had encouraged them to step up their campaign.

ISM students had launched their campaign for IIT status in 2009-10 when they met Union minister of state for human resources development D. Purandeshwari.