*Spl FAC meet being held to clear forest land transfer
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 3: A high-level Central team today worked out modalities for construction of transit campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu at the main site near Nagrota to facilitate the start of maiden academic session of the prestigious institute from August next year.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Campus Operationalization Committee of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development arrived here this morning to discuss and finalize all the arrangements required to be made for start of academic session of IIT Jammu and establishment of temporary campus at the main site at Jagti-Khanpur near Nagrota instead of earlier proposed site of Old University Camps on Canal Road in the heart of Jammu city.
The team comprising senior Professors of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, senior Architects and Engineers of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) along with Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education of J&K, Sarita Chauhan visited the identified site at Jagti-Khanpur near Nagrota to analyze the key points from their perspective.
In the evening, the Campus Operationalization Committee had a detailed meeting with Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Sarita Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh and senior officers of the Forest, Public Works, Power Development, Public Health Engineering Departments besides the representatives of the National Highway Authority of India and Jammu Development Authority.
During the meeting, issues relating to removal of trees at transit site to facilitate land development and terracing activities by the Central Public Works Department; time-line required for marking of boundary of 3200 kanals of identified land and time-frame and cost involved in construction of boundary wall of the site were thoroughly debated upon.
Moreover, the Central team had detailed discussion on arrangements to be made for water and electricity supply up to the campus by the State Government and progress on additional 250 acres of land requested for future expansion of IIT Jammu, sources further said while disclosing that the team discussed transit campus boundary adjoining NHIA to avoid impact of any future widening and access points for main campus from highway and other side roads in light of future development of the region.
Stating that several deadlines were fixed for different departments of J&K Government, sources said that it was decided in the meeting that Forest Department would complete the trees removal exercise by December 31 so as to facilitate the CPWD in land development exercise for transit campus and Power Development Department would provide electricity connection within a period of two months. Similarly, water connection would be provided within six months and boundary wall works will be completed by June 2016 ending.
Disclosing that IIT would start its maiden academic session from August next year, sources said that CPWD would erect required number of pre-fabricated structures within the timelines fixed by the Campus Operationalization Committee to facilitate smooth functioning of transit campus.
They said that the architects would carry out detailed visit of the site tomorrow along with the officers of the CPWD and State Government for on-ground study of building plans. Thereafter, the Campus Operationalization Committee would finalize critical timelines vis-à-vis construction activities for the main campus and availability and access to other facilities including contingencies for students, faculty and staff/dependents.
When contacted, Minister for Higher Education, Naeem Akhtar said, “in order to ensure early transfer of land to the CPWD for start of work on ground, the Higher Education Department has made a request to the Chief Secretary, B R Sharma for convening special meeting of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) to clear land transfer proposal”, adding “this is imperative as entire 3200 kanals of land is forest area and without the nod of Forest Advisory Committee land cannot be transferred”.
In response to a question, he said, “hopefully the special meeting of FAC would be convened within next few days”, adding “the establishment of IIT Jammu is another feather in the cap of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government in the education sector”.
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