The Legislative Council saw members from north Karnataka, especially from Bagalkot district, criticising the bifurcation of the 18-year-old University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, to create Integrated Agriculture and Horticulture University in Mandya. Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjun said that the decision was taken due to pressure from elected representatives of the region.
“The Cabinet decision to create a new university in Mandya has been taken due to pressure from elected representatives of Mandya, Hassan, and Mysuru. They had complained about the distance and brought pressure,” Mr. Mallikarjun acknowledged, drawing the ire of the Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti.
“Have you asked the opinion of elected representatives from that region on splitting the university and taking one portion away?” Mr. Horatti asked the Minister.
BJP member P.H. Poojar said the government had not taken the opinion of either the Vice-Chancellor or the Board of the university. Another BJP member Talwar Sabanna said that splitting of university that is currently helping farmers in north Karnataka will lead to underutilisation of resources.
On a related issue, BJP member Hanumanth Nirani asked the government to strengthen the existing university instead of starting another university. “As many as 669 posts in Bagalkot are vacant,” he said.
The Minister, in his written reply, said the university had developed and released 46 varieties of horticulture crops and has developed 300 modern technology for the benefit of farmers. Nationally, for the past seven years, the university won the highest junior research fellowship.
Published – March 11, 2025 08:37 pm IST
