Bangalore: The proposed Vedanta University is likely to name the Chairman of the Knowledge Commission Sam Pitroda as its first Chancellor, said Debi Prasad Mishra, Orissa's Higher Education Minister.

Presently, he is also the Chairman and CEO of World-Tel Limited, an International Telecom Union (ITU) initiative. Further, he is the Chairman and Founder of Sevend high-technology. Sam Pitroda is also the founding Chairman of a non-profit Foundation for' Revitalization of Local Health Traditions in India.

Mishra said that the varsity authorities were in consultation with Pitroda to assume office of the Chancellor of the proposed institution which would be set up in Puri district. Besides Pitroda, the varsity authorities also informed the state government, Mishra said that they had already contacted at least three nobel laureates to join as faculty of the proposed niversity. The Vedanta university would offer academic programmes like basic science, humanities, engineering, business management, law, medicine, agriculture, performing arts and bio-science, he said. Tthe varsity aimed at providing a core campus comprising academic and non-academic buildings for one lakh students, 20,000 faculty members and matching number of non-teaching staff in phased manner.

Mishra gave this information while some members from the opposition Congress and BJP raised doubts on establishment of the Vedanta University. Also, the Orissa assembly struck down the varsity's proposal to set up high calibre sports complexes through third party.

But, "The varsity can develop its sports complex and not through third party," Mishra said. Supporting establishment of Vedanta University in the state, the Minister said that the country required as much as Rs. 4,00,000 crore investment in higher education by 2020. "Orissa alone needs Rs. 10,000 crore in higher education sector during the period," he said. Stating that Vedanta University would be set up at an investment of Rs. 15,000 crore, Mishra said that the state should in no way leave the opportunity of establishing the varsity.