Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 29: Sopore residents have decided to launch an agitation against the authorities of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST) for shifting the Horticulture faculty from Wadura in Sopore area to Shalimar in Srinagar.
The university has issued an order earlier this month to shift the Horticulture Department to Main Campus Shalimar in Srinagar. Signed by the Registrar SKUAST under University Order No. 1027 (Est), dated: December 09, 2013, it reads, “In pursuance of the recommendations of the Board of Management at its 51st meeting and decisions taken by the University Council at its 20th, 21st and 22nd meetings regarding consolidation Plan of Faculties, the Faculty of Horticulture shall be located at the Main Campus, Shalimar, Srinagar.”
The residents said the shifting of the campus from Sopore would be opposed as they were planning to take to roads till the order was revoked. “The SKUAST move will be resisted by all the residents in few days as we are holding consultations with prominent members and people associated with trade union bodies,” said Haji Mohammad Ashraf, president Traders Federation Sopore.
Haji said the SKUAST’s move of shifting the campus would be tragic for Sopore as it would deal a blow to apple yield.
Advocate Latief Ahmad of Bar Association Sopore said Sopore always faced discrimination from the Governments and the shifting of the campus from Wadura would be disastrous. “We will launch an agitation in few days. We are mobilizing people against it and within very short time we will spill on the roads against it,” said Ahmad.
Sources in the SKUAST said faculty of Agriculture Engineering has been shifted earlier from Wadura to Shalimar and the plans are in the pipeline to shift Forestry Faculty as well.
As per Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), sources said, the State Agriculture Universities are rural universities to be set up in rural areas.
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