All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) would not be able to control the mushrooming growth of engineering colleges in the state. S S Mantha, chairman of AICTE, informed engineering college managements on Monday that the council would not reject any applications from Andhra Pradesh.Mantha said that the AICTE received nine applications from the state for setting up engineering colleges for the coming academic year. “If they have good facilities as per the new guidelines framed by the AICTE, we will grant them approval,” he said. He added that three years ago colleges from the state used to complain about not getting approval from AICTE. “Now the managements cannot go back on their word and say that they do not need any more colleges,” Mantha said.Mantha also said that colleges will have to spend Rs 20 lakh on ejournals as prescribed by AICTE. “Currently a US-based organisation is supplying the journals and the colleges should buy the same from them,” Mantha said. “AICTE will continue to conduct surprise visits in colleges this year as well,” Mantha said. Last year the council had conducted inspections in 375 colleges and filed cases with the CBI to look into irregularities. “We will continue the practice to ensure quality technical education,” Mantha said.