Central varsity only in K'put

Tathya.in, May 8, 2009
Bhubaneswar:8/May/2009

Succumbing to the tremendous presure from the intelligentsia of Orissa, now Surabhi Banerjee is singing a different tune.

The Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa (CUO) said here on 7 May that the campus of the new varsity will open at Koraput only.

Professor Banerjee met the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here to apprise him the developments on the new varsity front.

She is clearly defensive and said that the campus will be at Koraput and classes will start in August next.

For next June and July, process will be on to arrange facility for classes and faculty, she said to tathya.in over her mobile.

Though she agreed for an interview but later informed that she will be busy in another meeting.

During the meeting with Chief Minister, she made it clear that the Campus will be at Koraput.

She said that there seems to be some misgivings about the Second Campus at Bhubaneswar.

Prof.Baneerjee seems defensive and said that all out efforts are being made to start the Campus at Koraput.

When the move of the VC to set up the Second Campus first in the Capital city exposed by tathya.in, leading Non Resident Oriyas(NRO) Sandip Dasverma questioned the decision point blank.

Mr.Dasverma was outraged over the decision and demanded action against the people concerned.

Young NROs led by Digamabara Patra created huge stir in both the state and at national level.

Professor Patra wrote it to the Prime Minister, Minister HRD and Chief Minister.

More than 100 students, teachers, educationists and members of the civil society demanded immediate action by sending e-mails.

All of them demanded that if et al the second campus will be opened it should start at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi.

The Chief Minister’s Office(CMO), was flooded with e-mails from all parts of the world and the mandarins were worried over the matter.

Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary to CM took up the matter seriously.

And Prof.Banerjee was summoned to clarify the factual position.

Madhu Sudan Padhi, Secretary Higher Education department, who did not buy the idea of Second Campus of CUO here, before starting the original
campus at Koraput.

Mr.Padhi asked her to make arrangements in Koraput.

Prof. Banerjee is now under pressure to start classes at Koraput.

And sources said that few buildings have been located for the same in the tribal zone to start the original campus at Koraput.