2 yrs on, K'handi Govt Engg college yet to have own building

The Pioneer, July 25, 2011
BIKASH KHEMKA, Bhawanipatna

The foundation stone of Government College of Engineering, Kalahandi had been laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on February 7, 2009 at Bandopala near Bhawanipatna, but the construction work is yet to be completed.

Two years have passed for the study of engineering students in Kalahandi. Neither have the students got their own college building nor have they been allotted hostel yet. The progress of the building works at snail’s pace has added to the worry of the students and staff alike.

It was strictly instructed by the Government to the R&B, PWD to complete the building works in time but 50 per cent works have been completed so far.

After laying the foundation stone, the Government had started its counselling and accordingly admissions were taken up and now classes are going on a rented building on the first floor of Sardar Rajas Medical College situated at Jaring, 18 km from Bhawanipatna.

The Government is paying Rs 2,68,000 towards the rent to a private medical college since the study of the engineering college began and lakh of rupees is being spent towards the occupancy of four hostels at Bhawanipatna. The Government has also hired buses for commuting the students to the engineering college. Though the counselling for the third year engineering students has also been completed this year, the question arising now is where the 240 boys and girls will stay after their admission?

The principal in-charge of the engineering college, Dr Tusar Kumar Nath, told the media that the building is now under construction. “We have not been handed over the building yet,” he stated.

Since the students are staying in four different hostels and a college building, they are scattered which is difficult for us to interact with them properly. We are also facing difficulties in monitoring the academic and other activities, he said.

Sweety, an engineering student of second year said, “I came to know that the college did not have a building after only taking admission and reaching here for study.”

Now we are studying in a hired building for which we travel 18 km everyday from Bhawanipatna. We get so much tired in commuting up to Jaring. As an engineering student we have not been provided any facility here, she rued.

Similarly, K Sangeeta, a student of the college said, “After staying in different places, we are suffering various problems each and every day. No improvement has been done so far even after many complaints and strikes were done. Even we have not been provided library room here.”

Though the State Government had started the engineering college after much hue and cry, it seems it has been showing apathy in terms of providing required facilities and infrastructure to the students.