Bangalore, Aug 21: Horticulture Minister S K Bellubbi on Thursday, Aug 21 said the state government has decided to convert the proposed agriculture university to horticulture university to be set up at Bagalkot.

Mr Bellubbi told reporters here that the decision to change it from agriculture to horticulture was taken today at a meeting of the officials of the both the departments.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyuarappa, who had proposed for the setting up of the agriculture university in his budget, had also approved the change with a focus on horticulture, he said.

The Horticulture university, along with another proposed agriculture university in Raichur, would start functioning from the next academic year, he said adding the government had already acquired a land of 312 acres at the rehabilitation centre in Bagalkot for the purpose.

Mr Bellubbi confirmed that the Chief Minister had asked him to step down from the ministry to pave way for Mr Umesh Katti, who joined the BJP recently.

To a question, he said that Mr Yeddyurappa would not do any injustice to him.

The Chief Minister had approached and persuaded five ministers to step down from the cabinet in the interest of the party to accomodate the new comers in the proposed reshuffle of the ministry, he added.



UNI