Chhattisgarh's IIIT will be a catalyst of growth in IT sector: Piyush Goyal

Raipur:  Union Minister of State for Power and Coal (Independent charge) Piyush Goyal on Tuesday inaugurated the newly built International Institute of Information Technology campus at Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh and said it will become a catalyst of growth in IT and telecom sector.

"The institute will become a catalyst of growth in information technology and telecom sector in coming days. Not only in Chhattisgarh, but students from this institute will serve in the entire country," he said at the opening ceremony.

Spread over 50 acres of land, the ultra-modern campus is jointly built by Chhattisgarh government and NTPC at a cost of Rs 200 crore in the upcoming state capital- Naya Raipur.

Goyal also announced to set up an innovation lab - Scientific Research Centre - on the IIIT campus within next two years where students will get an opportunity to take up research and innovation projects of their interest.

"With the collaboration of National Thermal Power Corporation, the state government would establish an innovation lab in the IIIT premises where renowned scientists from eminent institutes across the world will be called up to guide the students to take up research and technology projects," he said.

The lab will provide an opportunity to students to showcase their talent in area of research and innovation and will also help greatly in discovering and introducing new technology in coal mining, power generation though thermal, solar and wind energy, he said.

Referring to the rich reserves of coal and its high production in Chhattisgarh, the Minister said, "A large number of thermal power plants are in the state. Innovation and research in the institute will help in developing new technology to reduce pollution due to power plants, reduce use of water and land requirement for projects and others."

Chhattisgarh would earn a whopping royalty of Rs 1,10,990 crore in coming days via coal mining with the new allocation of coal blocks through auction system in the state, he said.

Appreciating the IIIT building, Goyal said, "It resembles the structure of Belur Math founded by Swami Vivekanand...I hope the students will take it as an inspiration and excel in their future."

Two courses - Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering - will be started in the 2015-16 academic session in IIIT.

Chief Minister Raman Singh presided over the function. State Higher and Technical Education Minister Premprakash Pandey was also present on the occasion.