Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Department, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, today convened a meeting here to review progress of ongoing infrastructural and developmental projects under RUSA.The meeting held threadbare review of physical and financial status of works taken up under Capex budget.During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary was briefed about progress in various initiatives taken up for development of higher education sector in the State. The meeting was informed that two cluster universities have been approved each in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions against the total allocation of Rs 110 crore, while as Rs 35.19 crore have already been utilized for creation of infra for these universities and construction is going in full swing.It was given out that Rs 40 crore have been approved for upgradation of infrastructure in University of Kashmir and University of Jammu.The officials informed the Commissioner Secretary that renovation works in both the Universities is nearing completion.
About establishment of two engineering colleges in the state with each in Kathua and Ganderbal districts, it was said that Rs 52 core have been approved for establishment of these colleges to be shared between Centre and State Government on 90:10 basis, out of which first installment of Central share of Rs 11.70 crore stands released for execution of work to JKPCC and Rs 1.17 crore State share has also been released.The meeting was informed that for upgradation of Government Degree College Ganderbal, Government Degree College Shopian, and Government Degree College Samba as Model Colleges has been approved under RUSA for which Rs 12 crore have been approved out of which Rs 1.48 crore stand utilized.For construction of new toilet blocks, cafeterias, upgradation of libraries, establishment of computer centres, procurement of computers, library books, and sports material for 22 Government Degree Colleges in the State, the meeting was told that an outlay of Rs 43.54 crore have been approved, out of which Rs 5.13 crore have been released.Later, Dr. Samoon visited Amar Singh College and took stock of functioning of Institute of Mathematical Science there. He directed the concerned engineers to speed up the pace of work on all ongoing developmental projects under RUSA there.