A view of Bharathiar University.
| Photo Credit: Siva Saravanan S.
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, is understood to be moving ahead with the resolution adopted at its Syndicate during January-February for handing over 196.22 acres in its possession to the State government, in lieu of ₹164.28 crore that will be utilised for paying compensation to farmers from whom the land had been acquired to establish the varsity.
Out of the 196.22 acres, 77 acres falling under elephant corridor is to be provided to the Forest Department, and the remaining land to TIDCO purportedly for establishing non-polluting industries.
The move, which academics reason out would be detrimental to future expansion of the university, looks closer to fructification once the land owners withdraw all pending appeal suits before the Madras High Court, and Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court for enhanced compensation.
This will be the second time the university would be relinquishing a huge portion of its campus.
During October, 2016, BU handed over 130 acres to Anna University, Coimbatore, for establishing its campus, for an academic purpose.
The contention of the university is that in the 415.98 acres out of the 925.84 acres under utilisation, the buildings are scattered and suitable vacant lands are available for future expansion.
The State government, responding to protests by farmers, demanding settlement of compensation as per sub-court orders or to return the unutilised land, during January-February this year, decided to get the revised enhanced compensation proposal, from the District Collector.
According to the proposal, the 196.22 acres barren land on the northern part adjacent to Reserve Forest area of Boluvampatti Reserve Forest region lies interior, and, if unutilised will lead to anti-social elements carrying out illegal activities.
Land lays unutilised for several years, and government money invested on the land is being stagnated for a long tenure, the report states.
The BU Syndicate had, during January, approved transfer of the land with a condition that the State government should bear entire financial expenditure towards settlement of compensation to the land owners.
“The University also requested the State government to establish non-polluting technological industries/ manufacturing industries in the allotted land parcel,” University Registrar R. Rajavel said.
During 2024, the State government had to abandon its plan to develop TN Tech City in an area of 321.74 acres in Somayampalayam village, following stiff opposition from conservationists and nature enthusiasts in the region.
The land identified for the TN Tech City sandwiched between the Forest boundary, and the campuses of Bharathiar and Anna University (Regional campus) form the foothills of Marudhamalai where wild elephants move to cross from Thadagam to Boluvampatti valley.
Somayampalayam, environmentalists point out, is covered under the Hill Area Conservation Authority, implying that it has to be protected.
Published – October 12, 2026 08:35 pm IST
