*Rs 1.70 cr funds blocked due to official apathy
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 13: In what could be termed as cruel joke with the less privileged population, the satellite centres of the Jammu University mooted for far-flung areas of Billawar and Surankote eight years back have yet not become reality because of soft-paddling approach of the concerned authorities of the varsity and constraints of funds.
For taking higher education to less privileged population living in far flung areas of Jammu division, the University of Jammu in the year 2008-09 submitted proposal for establishing five satellite centres one each at Reasi, Ramnagar, Surankote, Billawar and Kishtwar to the State Government.
Acting on the proposal, the Government released Rs 3.70 crore for five satellite centres during the period between 2009 and 2012. Of this, Rs 70 lakh each was sanctioned for Reasi and Surankote, Rs 80 lakh for Ramnagar, Rs one crore for Billawar and Rs 50 lakh for Kishtwar. The amount was released in three installments— Rs 1.40 crore in 2009-10, Rs 1.85 crore in 2011-12 and Rs 45 lakh in 2011-12.
Though three satellite centres at Kishtwar, Ramnagar and Reasi were made functional albeit not up to the satisfaction, two satellite centres at Billawar and Surankote for which an amount of Rs 1.70 crore was released could not be made functional as no land was transferred/acquired by the State Government till December 2014.
This was also pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in September 2013 during the scrutiny of the records of the Registrar, University of Jammu. “The injudicious action of the State Government to release funds before acquisition of land for the satellite centres at Billawar and Surankote resulted in blockade of funds to the extent of Rs 1.70 crore”, the CAG has said in its latest report.
On being pointed out in audit, the Coordinator (Campuses), University of Jammu stated in October 2013 that satellite centres at Surankote and Billawar could not be made functional for want of land and resources to begin any academic activities and the State Government had been requested time and again for providing sufficient funds to make these centres functional.
The Registrar, University of Jammu also stated in December 2014 that process of land acquisition for the satellite centre Billawar had been initiated and that in respect of satellite centre at Surankote, the authorities decided to strengthen the already established campus at Poonch first and then initiate the process for establishment of new satellite centre.
The status of these centres remains the same as was projected officially two years back, which is evident from the information given by the Deputy Commissioners of Kathua and Poonch.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ramesh Kumar said, “as desired by the University of Jammu, land was identified for satellite centre at Billawar in October 2012. Even a team of varisty visited the identified land to assess its suitability for the satellite centre but thereafter we have heard nothing from the University authorities”.
In response to a question, he said, “in the absence of follow-up action from the authorities of University of Jammu the administration didn’t initiate step for acquisition of identified land”, adding “till date the varsity has not cleared its stand vis-à-vis establishment of satellite campus”.
About satellite centre at Surankote, the Deputy Commissioner Poonch, M H Malik said, “though construction work for building was started in the vicinity of Poonch town but it has been abandoned by the project executing agency for want of funds”, adding “during the past some months construction work has remained stalled”.
He, however, said that satellite campus is being run temporarily from the Degree College Poonch with only one subject. “In the recent District Development Board meeting, it was decided that five more subjects would be started but the necessary orders in this regard are yet to be issued by the concerned authorities”, he added.
“The injudicious action of the Government to release funds before acquisition/transfer of land for the satellite centres followed by subsequent inaction to provide land for the satellite centre at Billawar and decision of the University of Jammu to delay the process for establishment of satellite centre at Surankote has resulted in blockade of funds to the extent of Rs 1.70 crore for the period ranging between three to five years”, the CAG has remarked.
“Due to this the less privileged population living in far flung areas has been deprived of the envisaged benefits of satellite centres”, the CAG said, adding “though the matter was reported to the Government in January last year but no reply has been received till date”.
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