Chandigarh, Jul 21 (IANS): The Punjab government has signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the IIT Ropar to boost skill development.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday held separate video conferences with the heads of the IIT Ropar and the IIM Amritsar.

The MoUs provide for IIT's Technical Education Department to become academic mentor for engineering colleges in Gurdaspur and Ferozepur, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Skill Institute at Shri Chamkaur Sahib, five government polytechnics and 10 government ITIs.

Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the IIT would help the state in developing one model ITI and one model polytechnic. Others would be modelled on those lines later, he added.

IIT Director S.K. Das said the state should take the initiative for setting up a defence manufacturing corridor with IIT's support in strategic designing of defence equipment.

The Chief Minister said he would take up the issue with the Centre.

When he urged the IIT to help the state in production of small devices for curbing water wastage in irrigation, Das extended the institution's full support.

He asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to resolve the IIT's land acquisition issues and urged the IIT to develop a green campus with extensive landscaping and afforestation.

He also asked the Chief Secretary to set up a panel to look into the IIT director's submission that private universities and colleges in Punjab were increasing seats for engineering courses without any check.

Extending support for skill development, IIM Amritsar Director Ramamoorthy Nagarajan said it would be organising various short-term courses for officers. The IIM has adopted five villages in Amritsar as part of CSR outreach.