| Proposed Vedanta University Project | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2006 |
| Type | Private |
| Endowment | Unverified endowment numbers |
| Chancellor | Sam Pitroda (tentative) |
| Admin. staff | None |
| Students | None |
| Location | Konark, Orissa, India |
| Campus | Rural, 6,000 acres planned, not yet acquired |
| Website | www.vedanta.edu.in |
Vedanta University was a proposed, private, multi-disciplinary, co-educational university to be started by Anil Agarwal of Vedanta Resources corporation near Puri-Konark highway, Orissa, India.
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Anil Agarwal, an Indian businessman, who heads the London based Vedanta Resources corporation and Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa state in eastern India, had signed a memorandum of understanding to create a world class, multidisciplinary university, Vedanta University. [1] The university, which would be entirely a not-for-profit venture, was planned to be funded from Agarwal's personal funds[1][2] Sam Pitroda, the chairman of the Knowledge Commission was the choice of the first chancellor of Vedanta University. Recent reports also suggest that at least three Nobel laureates have been contracted to join the university.[3] In July 2009, the government of Orissa passed a landmark bill to allow the massive university to be set up and function with autonomy.[4][5]
The three goals of Vedanta University are in the following directions:
According to the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the university was being modeled most closely on Stanford University and aims to be a peer institution to them in terms of world class research and education.
The foundation has identified 6,000 acres (24 km2) of land near the Puri-Konark marine drive between Nuanai and Balighai for the proposed Vedanta University.
However the land acquisition for the university has hit a roadblock with the Supreme court ordering a status quo and hence the project has been stayed. [6]
Several environmental violations were raised against the university which resulted in cases in the High court and the Supreme Court. Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday asked the Anil Agarwal Foundation to stall the construction of the proposed Vedanta University at Puri to address issues related to environmental violations in the project [7] [8]
An academic has questioned whether, given its location and size, Vedanta can achieve its aims of being a leading research university.[9] A rejoinder was also published.[10] Another criticism leveled at the university, by politicians, local academicians, and the farmers currently occupying the proposed site relates to the relatively vast area of the proposed campus and its large student intake,although a few individual opinions differ.[11]
On 16 November 2010, the Orissa High Court declared the land acquisition for the Rs 15,000-crore Vedanta University project in Puri town as illegal and void India Human Rights Report - Quarterly [12] Land acquisition procedure for Vedanta Illegal - Indian Express [13] Financial Express [14] Another Setback to Vedanta [15] [15]
A couple of months later, the Supreme court of India based in New Delhi ordered a stay or status Quo on all acquisition proceedings. SC Orders status quo on Vedanta University [16]
News paper reports have appeared that the university is now a closed chapter [17]