Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, June 23: To avoid hurdles on account of environment clearance and ensure smooth transfer of the identified land at Khanpur near Nagrota for establishing the campus of purposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu, the State Government is mulling to secure a Provisional NOC from the Union Ministry of Environment.
For the purpose, a high level State team of Wildlife and Forest officers, led by the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, is going to meet the Union Environment Minister Parkash Javedkar on June 26 and seek a Provisional NOC for around 1500 kanal State land adjoining Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary, official sources informed the Excelsior.
This stretch of 1500 kanal land falls within 10 km radius of the boundaries of Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary and is likely to be declared as Eco-Sensitive Zone as part of the action plan envisaged in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, adopted by the Union Environment Ministry in 2002, sources explained.
It may be recalled that a Central team, comprising Joint Secretary in Technical Education Department, HRD Ministry; Director IIT Delhi and a Technical Expert from the Delhi University had recently visited all the three proposed sites, identified by the J&K Government for the establishment of permanent campus of the IIT Jammu. The site at Khanpur near Nagrota was found appropriate by the visiting team with a pre-condition that the State authorities would make required quantum of land, approximately 4000 kanals, easily available in that particular area without the issues, which may create hurdles at the later stage in the development of the campus.
According to the sources, the Revenue authorities have conveyed to the Higher Education Department that 3400 kanal State land was available at the particular area and required additional land for permanent campus of the IIT could also be managed by shifting some inhabitations after paying adequate compensation.
However, around 1500 kanal area, out of this identified land, falls within 10 kms of the boundaries of Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary and as per the Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002, the said area needs to be notified as Eco-Sensitive Zone to provide better sanctity to protected areas and check the adverse impact of unplanned development in and around.
To overcome the hitch and ensure speedy work on establishment of the proposed campus without any hindrance, the State Government has planned to approach the Union Ministry of Environment and secure a Provisional NOC for the said land, sources explained.
When contacted, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh confirmed that he along with a team of officers, was going to meet the Union Minister for Environment Parkash Javdekar on June 26 for a discussion over the issue and seek a Provisional NOC to ensure that un-necessary hurdles are not put in development of the IIT campus. “Since the build area of the proposed campus will be within 400 kanals only, there would be no adverse impact of the developmental activities on the Wildlife,” he added.
Meanwhile, sources also confirmed that the Government is gearing up for necessary arrangement to start classes of IIT Jammu from the next academic session by establishing temporary campus at the Old University Campus, near Canal Road. To handover the Old Campus to HRD Ministry for creation of necessary infrastructure, the Government Degree College Paloura is being shifted from this premises to some rented accommodation near Purkhoo, sources disclosed.
Besides the Old Campus, an adjoining building of IGNOU Centre is also being vacated for the IIT. The IGNOU authorities are learnt to have agreed for the same with a condition that the JDA land, identified for setting up the IGNOU Centre, would soon be handed over, sources added.
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