Saturday, Jun 12, 2010
Kalpetta: The Ordinance that was passed by the Left Democratic Front government on Wednesday to set up a veterinary university on the campus of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode, near Vythiri, in Wayanad gives fresh hope to the residents, especially the dairy farmers in the hilly district. The proposed university would be set up in the lush green surroundings of the veterinary college, spread in 90 acres, according to the ordinance.

The veterinary college's infrastructure is on a par with international standards and hence, as per the norms of the Veterinary Council of India, only a few modifications are needed here to set up the university, Dr. A. Jalaludheen, Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Pookode, said. The Pookode veterinary college started functioning on the present campus in 2004. “We have been conducting graduate-level veterinary science courses for 40 students a batch for the past six years and a post-graduate course was launched in 2009, Dr. Jalaludheen said. Doctorate-level research work was also planned in various disciplines, he added. “We are planning to give emphasis on wildlife management owing to the proximity of the three wildlife sanctuaries namely the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamilnadu and the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka,” he said.

According to the Ordinance, the proposed university would have the jurisdiction of the entire State.

The Mannuthy Veterinary College and its 400 acres of campus, the Pookode Veterinary College and its 90 acres of campus, the veterinary clinical complex of the Pookode Veterinary College, College of Dairy Science Technology, Mannuthy, Livestock Research Station in Palakkad and its 400 acres of campus, dairy farm at Kolahalamedu in Idukki, various farms in Mannuthy, the cattle infertility centre in Kozhikode and the Veterinary Hospital in Thrissur, cattle breeding farm at Thumboormuzhy, would be handed over to the university.

The Minister for Animal Husbandry would be the Pro Chancellor of the proposed university and the posts of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor would also be constituted.

The Chancellor (Governor), Pro-Chancellor, the MP of the constituency where the university would be set up, Vice-Chancellor, Secretary of the Animal Husbandry department, Financial Secretary of the State, Director of Diary Development Department, nominee of the Indian Veterinary Council, the president of the State Veterinary Council and the Registrar of the proposed university will be the permanent management council of the proposed university.