Chandra Prakash Chaudhary

Ranchi, Jan. 14: Science and technology minister Chandra Prakash Chaudhary has expressed willingness to implement the Centre’s proposal to set up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Jharkhand on a public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

“Adequate lands are available in different parts of Ramgarh district, especially in Patratu and Gola areas. As several companies have already shown an eagerness to run two new state-owned engineering colleges in Chaibasa and Ramgarh, finding potential partners for the IIIT shouldn’t be difficult for us,” Chaudhary told The Telegraph today.

The Union cabinet had taken a decision on December 7 last year to establish 20 IIITs across the country on a PPP basis.

The capital cost of each of the IIIT is pegged at around Rs 128 crore, which will be shared by the central government, state government and industrial firms in the ratio of 50:35:15.

“After the chief minister returns from Delhi, I will raise the issue with him to get the proposal passed as early as possible,” the minister said. Once the chief minister gave his consent, the science and technology department would hold a meeting with potential private players willing to partner the government for the project, he added.

The Centre will provide Rs 10 crore to each IIIT for recurring expenditures during the first four years after the project begins, besides annual funds, which might vary according to the growth the institutes.

The project has set a nine-year deadline — 2011-12 to 2019-20. It aims to set up five to 10 IIITs this year, depending on the responses of the state governments and private partners.

In a letter to chief secretary A.K. Singh, Union human resources development department secretary Vibha Puri Das had mentioned that availability of land, is an important criterion for establishing an IIIT in a state. A minimum of 50 to 100 acres of contiguous land or a minimum of 50 acres in an area, with additional land elsewhere, will be required free-of-cost, the letter stated.

The state government will be responsible for identifying industrial partners for the project. Each IIIT will specialise in application of information technology skills in one or more domain areas relevant to the state concerned.

“The ministry would like to know the commitment of the state governments to set up these institutes, in terms of lands, funding and other facilities,” the letter mentioned.

“It is, therefore, requested to indicate land availability, choice of location, domain of specialisation in consultation with industry partners and willingness of the state government to provide Rs 45 crore as capital contribution,” the HRD secretary added.

The Union ministry has also asked the state government to send its reply within this month.

Subsequently on December 28, the chief secretary directed the science and technology department secretary B.K. Tripathi to examine the proposal and submit his report within 10 days.

Meanwhile, in north-eastern states, industry participation in capital costs for the project has been pegged at 7.5 per cent, with a contribution of 57.5 per cent by the Centre. The remaining 35 per cent of the costs will be borne by the state government concerned.