Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 2: The failure on part of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education department to arrange makeshift accommodation in Jammu, has reportedly delayed the official launch of courses in proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Jammu during ongoing session.
Sources informed Early Times that though the Union government had sanctioned IIT for Jammu province in the month of July 2014 and state government was directed to start course work from session 2015-16 and make the IIT functional.
“The state government was asked to identify some makeshift accommodation in Jammu to start the course work but owing to callous attitude of officials in Higher Education department, even the makeshift arrangements were not made”, sources said, adding that due to which the proposed IIT for Jammu was not made functional this year.
“Those aspiring to get admission in IIT lost the opportunity in their home state and had to move other states for admissions in IITs”, an aspirant rued, and criticized the department for slow pace of functioning.
Sources further said that the Minister for Higher Education during recent assembly session had reported that land has been identified in Jagti Nagrota for establishment of IIT.
“The state government had also identified land adjoining to Commerce College. It was decided by department to shift Paloura college to Priyadarshani B.Ed college’s private building. While it was also decided to shift Engineering College near old campus of Jammu University to Mishriwala, where 55 kanals of land belonging to Evacuee property was also identified for college.”, sources said, adding that Rs. 3.09 Crores compensation to Evacuee property department was also approved in the Plan and approval of Finance department was required.
Sources further said that it was proposed by government to also shift old campus hostel of Jammu University to some other location and hand over all the land for establishment of IIT.
“After identification of land, a communiqué was sent to Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and final approval was awaited”, sources said.
They further said that it was still unknown, whether MHRD has given approval to Nagrota land or not.
Pertinently, IIT for Jammu province was among the five IITs sanctioned across country including in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kerala.
“Except Jammu and Kashmir, the remaining four states have already identified the land and forwarded the communication to Union government, following which latter has also permitted these states to start course work in new IITs”, sources said. As per estimates, each of the IITs would entail an investment of roughly Rs 1,800 Crore.
The 16 existing IITs now offer 10,000 B.Tech seats.
The strength is likely to go up to 10,500 next year with the establishment of the new IITs.
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