Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 10: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has taken exception to lapse of over Rs 76 crores worth grant to the Jammu University due to “indecisiveness” on the part of previous authorities, who were at the helm of affairs even as he assured that matter for expansion of the Jammu University will be taken up expeditiously with the Western Command, which has to vacate vast portion of the Varsity land.
Sayeed has asked the business houses to adopt one or two Government schools for building them as “model schools” under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) and also called upon the Ministers and the legislators to follow the suit in developing the Government educational institutions.
Official sources told the Excelsior that in an exclusive meeting among Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Jammu University Vice Chancellor Prof RD Sharma, Sayeed took serious note the way over Rs 76 crores were allowed to lapse by the previous authorities of the Jammu University, which were part of Special Grant of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for development and infrastructure of off-side campuses of the Jammu University.
Sources said UGC had granted a total amount of Rs 116 crores to the Jammu University for construction of buildings and raising infrastructure in the off-side campuses. However, due to “indecisiveness” on the part of the then Vice Chancellor Prof MP Singh Ishar, the works continued to be delayed on one pretext or the other. The amount initially lapsed on March 31, 2014 but the UGC extended it by one year on the request of the Jammu University authorities.
“However, even after one year extension, the University authorities couldn’t utilize the amount and the UGC sought return of pending Rs 76 crores on March 31, 2015,” sources said, adding the new Vice Chancellor Prof RD Sharma has taken up the issue with the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister for utilizing their office and get the funds re-validated from the UGC.
Sources said the Chief Minister has taken serious note of the delay on part of the authorities that led to lapse of the amount, which could have been utilized for construction of buildings and raising infrastructure for the off-side campuses. He, however, assured that the Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Naeem Akhter will take up the matter with the UGC for re-validation of funds.
On his party, the Mufti assured the University Vice Chancellor that whatever possible for expansion of the Varsity and off-side Campuses will be done by the State Government.
On expansion of the Jammu University by vacation of land by the Army, Mufti Sayeed said the matter has been taken up with Western Army Command chief Lt Gen KJ Singh and he has assured early action. He said Dr Nirmal Singh would act as Coordinator between the Western Army Command and the Jammu University authorities for facilitating return of the University land from the Army to ensure expansion of the Varsity, which has been pending for long time now.
Earlier also, the Chief Minister, who happens to be pro-Chancellor of the University and Dr Nirmal Singh had taken up the matter with the Western Army Command chief for vacation of the Jammu University land for expansion of the Campus.
Sources said the Army wanted alternate land from the Government before vacating the Jammu University land. It may be mentioned here that Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts fall under the Western Army Command.
Meanwhile, sources said, the Chief Minister during his tour of the Model Schools in Basohli and Jammu along with the Deputy Chief Minister extended call to the business houses to adopt one or two Model Schools for development as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility and help in improving standard of the Government schools. Mufti Sayeed and Dr Nirmal Singh have adopted two Government Schools each in the State. They have also appealed to the Ministers and the legislators to follow the suit and adopt one or two schools each for development as Model Schools.
Follow our WhatsApp channel