Vedanta University project president Bijay Kumar Patnaik has stated that Rs 5,000 crore would be invested for setting up of the university in the State.
He also batted for setting up of the project on 3,000-acre land identified in Puri.
In an interview to a local TV channel, the former Chief Secretary of the State said, “My personal view is that the project must come up on the 3,000-acre land.
Along with the university, a medical college will also be set up in the same land. Around Rs 5,000 crore will be invested in the university project which would include a medical college and a smart city.
He further stated that his priority would now be to expedite the decision in a case regarding land acquisition for the project pending in the Supreme Court.
land acquisition for the university started in 2006 under the land Acquisition Act and Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 while PIls were filed in the Orissa High Court alleging that the State Government and Vedanta did not follow the land Acquisition (companies) Rules (1963).
In November 2010, the court quashed the land acquisition process and declared it 'illegal', drawing curtains on the project that faced strong opposition from anti-land acquisition campaigners.