New Delhi: The decision to setup an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Orissa was ruled out by the Central Government on Tuesday. The Centre said that it has already approved the three IITs which will come up in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Orissa State Minister for Human Resource Development D Purandeshwari said that the setting up of three new IITs was decided on the recommendations of the Planning Commission and Prime Minister's Scientific Advisory Council. The government had initially approved setting up of an IIT in Orissa but later changed its decision.

Brij Kishore Tripathy of BJD said, "Minister of State for HRD Mohd Fatmi had said in August 2006 in Patna that an IIT will be set up in Orissa. Then why has the decision been changed?" Tripathy asked.

Tripathy also asked the government to approve a proposal by IIT-Kharagpur to set up an extension centre in Bhubaneswar.