Kerala: On Saturday i.e. March 6, 2010,theGovernment of Kerala sanctioned the plot of land allotted for Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU’s) special centre at Malappuram and assured the rest in the next two months. This is the first instalment of the 392 acres of land promised by the State government for setting up an AMU special centre. The second instalment, according to M. A. Baby, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister, would be given in two months.
During a public meeting, M. A. Baby, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister handed over the papers and a map of the 122 acres of land to AMU Vice Chancellor P. K. Abdul Azis. Moreover, Paloli Mohamed Kutty, Local Self Government and Rural Development Affairs Minister, has assured that the remaining 270 acres of land would be handed over by the end of May.
As per sources, the 122 acre was acquired from 103 land owners. They were given Rs 13.13 crore in compensation. The government had sanctioned Rs 15.5 crore for the first phase of land acquisition. AMU had asked the government for 250-300 acres of land for the centre sanctioned for Malappuram district. The government identified and began acquiring 392 acres of land at Chelemala, spread in the villages of Anamangad, Pathayikara and Elamakulam. However, the AMU is set to begin its academic programmes at a temporary building at Cherukara from July 10, 2010.
