Government hikes cost estimates of 5 new IISERs by 2,299 crore

NEW DELHI: In a major push to the pace of work to set up five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, government today hiked their cost estimates by Rs 2,299 crore.

The Union Cabinet approved the revised cost estimates to the tune of Rs 4,799 crore as against the originally approved cost of Rs 2,500 crore for setting up IISERs at Kolkata, Pune, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram.

"While construction of the five institutes is in progress, approval of the revised cost estimates will enable the ministry and the boards of governors of the institutes to enhance the pace of work and expeditious completion of fully operational permanent campuses with 9,275 students, 928 faculty and 1,020 non-teaching staff by 2018-19," a statement said here.

The institutes will integrate under-graduate education, post-graduate education and research under the same umbrella.

They will interact with national laboratories and other research institutes to develop a synchronous environment for research that would transcend rigid administrative structure and also encourage interdisciplinary research.

In another decision, the Cabinet also approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Israel in the field of water resources management and development cooperation.

The bilateral cooperation will benefit both the countries in strengthening the techniques for efficient use of water, micro-irrigation, recycling/re-use of waste water, desalination, aquifer recharge and in-situ water conservation techniques.

A joint working group will be formed to monitor the activities to be carried out in fulfilment of the MoU, a statement said.