AMRITSAR: Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University Dr. Jail Rup Singh said here Friday  that proposal submitted by the University to establish an Institute for Innovative & Emerging Technologies is under active consideration of the Central Government.

Dr. Singh informed that the University proposes to establish 8 Centres of Research under this Institute in two phases. The first phase would focus on thrust areas of immediate concern, and Centres for Genetics Engineering; Medicinal Plants, Drug Discovery & Drug Design; Biopesticides; Bioinformatics & Information Technology; and Biomedical Engineering would be established. The second phase of the Institute would focus on thrust areas on Waste Management, Energy from Biomass and Textile Sciences and Technology.

Talking of the future plans of the University, the Vice-Chancellor said that the University proposes to establish Centre for Molecular Medicine at a cost of Rs. 33 crores with financial assistance from the ICMR. In addition, Centre for Blood Diseases, Stem Cells, Umbilical Cord and Adult Blood Banking for Rs. 24 crore, and Bioinformatics and Information Technology Park with a cost of rupees 10 crore are also in the pipeline. The other proposals include Advanced Research & Development Centre for Textile Sciences and Technology (Rs. 5 crores); District Development Plan Rs. (17 lakh); Planning and Development of Valtoha Block, Distt. Tarn Taran (Rs. 2.40 lakhs) and for Heritage Village (Rs. 12 crores) are also in the process.

Talking about the new courses, Prof. Jai Rup Singh said that additional units in MBA, B.Tech. (Computer Science & Engineering) and B.Tech. (Electronics & Communication Engineering) have been given at the University campus, Amritsar from the current academic session.

M.Phil. courses in Physics, Zoology, Botany, Environmental Sciences and Music (Vocal) and Music (Instrumental) have also been introduced.. Dr. Singh added that the University is deeply concerned with the menace of drug pedaling in the border areas of Punjab. The University has established a Counselling Centre for Drug De-addiction with the  help of the psychiatrists, medical experts and psychologists. A 'Helpline' for drug addicts would be setup soon, he added. The other social issues being actively pursued are capacity building among women, social inclusion of excluded classes, rural environment etc.

A Velodrome is being constructed at the University campus with a cost of Rupees 75 lakh. Shooting Range and Synthetic Track are also in the pipeline, informed Dr. Singh.

 The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University would play host to the South East Asia Inter-University (Men and Women) Hockey Tournament in which nine teams from different countries would participate.