An engineering college in Kashmir sanctioned under a centrally-sponsored scheme is run from a makeshift arrangement since four years because the higher education department is yet to complete construction of the permanent campus for it.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 2015cleared two colleges under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhyian (RUSA), anambitious Government of India program in higher education.
While the engineering college in Kashmir is being set up atSafapora on Ganderbal-Bandipora border, the other one will come up in Kathua ofJammu province.
In Kashmir, the college has been operating from a few roomsof the Government Degree College Sumbal for the past more than three years.
A college official said they have given few rooms to themanagement of the engineering college for running their academic and otheractivities.
“It has become very difficult for us to accommodate our ownstudents and the students of the engineering college. We have to arrangepractical classes for engineering and undergraduate students in differentshifts,” a college professor said.
For the first year, the higher education department hadauthorised the University of Kashmir to start classes for this academicsession. The university authorities had hired the faculty for the college ontemporary basis.
“But now the college is run by higher education departmentand we have appointed its Principal and other faculty as well,” an officialsaid, adding the state cabinet had already given the sanction for the creationof the post in this college.
The decision to start courses at the engineering collegewhen hardly any infrastructure exists comes at a time when around 24 existinggovernment degree colleges are functioning from makeshift campuses.
Meanwhile, an official said the project cost of the collegeis Rs 26 crore out of which only Rs 19 core has been released by GoI.Construction work is being executed by J&K Projects ConstructionCorporation (JKPCC).
“As of now only 60 percent construction is completed. Twoacademic blocks are near completion and the department has asked the executingagency to construct a hostel building after which the college may be shifted toits permanent campus,” the official said.
“The college will have five to six buildings but to beginwith the department will use the two academic blocks and the hostel building tostart the courses from its permanent campus.”
Secretary higher education department, Talat Parvez Ruhellawas not available for his comments.