From: Anand Shah [Vedanta University] <anand.shah@vedanta.edu.in >
Date: 30 Mar 2007 07:51:14 -0000
Subject: Vedanta University
To: info@vedanta.edu.in
Cc: cv.krishnan@vedanta.edu.in



Dear All,

We have been fortunate to have such a vibrant group of individuals following the progress of the Vedanta University Project; We have been quite amazed to see the level of interest and the commitment to sharing information through email lists, Orissa Watch, Wikipedia, Blogspot, etc.  It is great to know that others are just as excited about the prospects of such an institution in India, and specifically in Orissa.

For more information, please see the attached letter regarding our progress from C.V. Krishnan, CEO of the Vedanta University project.

Warm Regards,

Anand Shah

Consultant, Vedanta University
anand.shah@vedanta.edu.in

Click Here to see the attached document from Vedanta CEO

Reactions

By Shri Jibanendra Mahanty

Dear All,

The News Letter of the proposed VU reads  like a Marketing Document.

After visiting their Web Site the following questions remain unanswered:

AA.  VU has their mining and industrial operations in the  Western Orissa. It would have been appropriate for Vedant to have the proposed University established in the Western Orissa and dedicated  the same to the people of Western Orissa.    As Western Orissa remains backward in the field  of Education, the proposed VU would have served as a 'Beacon' for the Western Orissa. So will VU clarify as to what prompted them to locate the VU near Puri and not in Western Orissa.

NOTE: Is it the philosophy of Vedant Group to damge the ecology and environment  of the Western Orissa   by their own activities and capture a vast Coastal Area with some Hidden Agenda ?

BB. The proposed University envisages to occupy a total land area of 8000 Acres.  Will VU clarify as to how much Farm/Agricultural land will be taken over to set up the proposed VU. How many families are likely to displaced by the proposed VU?

Has VU done their Home Work to reduce the "total area", to say,  to 2000 acres instead of 8000 acres.? Land is a very scarce resource, specially for a Country like India, where the percapita land availability is  less than 10% of the land percapita available in the USA. Therefore,  for building the University, we have to explore  "Vertical Expansion" instead of
horizontal spread. Can VU justify their demand of 8000 Acres for the proposed VU.

Instead of locating  one campus with very large area in one location, has study been made to explore the possibility of having more than one Campuses?

CC.  What are the Rehab and Resettlement facilities being provided by the VU for the families to be affected by the proposed VU and what progress has been achieved in this direction till date?  Do they have a time bound Plan of Action for the same. It is needless to state that all R and R actions are to be taken prior to acquiring Land from the farmers.

DD. In what way the VU is going to contribute to the education of the Local population? Do they have any special  preference  for the local people in the matter of Education in the University and in employment?

EE.  Will the CEO of VU confirm the  total number of Engineers and  Staff recruited in the Organisation  till date for setting up of VU and the Number of Engineers and Staff  recruited from the State of Orissa.

FF. It is not understood as to why the Vedant University Head Office ( not a branch office) has  been  set up in Mumbai instead of Bhubaneswar. If VU desires to be transparent, then it is logical that the HQ/Apex Office of VU is shifted to Bhubaneswar.


Readers may add to the List of Points.


It is suggested that the OTN Group refer these points to CEO, VU for immediate satisfactory clarification ASAP.

Thanks,

J.N.Mahanty

By Shri Ashok Rath

By Prof. Chitta Baral

The CEO who sent the letter is the CEO of Vedant Univ Project. They had someone else for that role before. Their main hire will be the CAO (Chief Academic Officer and Provost).
That is not finalized yet.

Chitta