Former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, MR Srinivasan, said merging University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) with Visvesvaraya Technological University would “obliterate” the memory of an institute started by Sir M Visvesvaraya.

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He was speaking at the 47th convocation of Bangalore University (BU) on Thursday. He said there were reports that BU might be bifurcated or trifurcated and that UVCE might me made a part of VTU. He said UVCE had a legacy of its own and merging it with VTU would obliterate the memory of an institute that has produced a galaxy of eminent engineers. He said that at UVCE’s reunion in January 2011, the alumni had expressed the view that a new institute of engineering and science should be set up in Muddenahalli, the birthplace of Visvesvaraya.

“I feel envious when I look at universities like Anna University, which have been built on an early legacy,” he said.

Further, Srinivasan lauded BU vice-chancellor N Prabhu Dev for his “great work” towards improving the system of education. He said Dev was taking a lot of load on himself and had introduced exam reforms, eliminated malpractices and tried to restore the integrity in administration. He appealed to the state government to help the V-C and his colleagues in restoring the glory of Central College and UVCE and enable them make BU one of the top universities in the country.Political hindranceThe former chairman of atomic energy commission said the comprehensive report of the task force on education stated that universities in Karnataka enjoyed little autonomy and were subject to constant political and bureaucratic interference, which hampers the initiatives taken by the V-C.

He said it was strongly recommended to keep politicians out of university syndicates, besides setting up a state council for higher education, comprising experts in the field of education.

He said the current set up promoted standardisation, at the cost of innovation.