Renowned nuclear scientist and the Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, Prof (Dr) Srikumar Banerjee called on the Minister for Education, Mr Naeem Akhtar here today to discuss the modalities for establishing the Central University campus in Kashmir.Expressing apprehensions over the viability of establishing the CUK campus at Ganderbal where around 5000 kanals of land have been identified for the purpose, Prof Banerjee said the area is swampy and would require enormous amount of funds for development. He said the development of the campus at the identified site would also involve huge infructuous expenditure and the construction cost would be also many times higher than normal land.
The Chancellor said that the executing agency Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has expressed reservations over the development of the site given its perpetual threat of inundation. He sought the intervention of the State’s Education Minister in addressing the issues pertaining to the site.Mr Akhtar assured the Chancellor that the State Government would consult various structural and town planning experts to address the concerns of the CPWD on the issue.The Minister also urged the Chancellor that the CUK should adopt two schools in Ganderbal area and develop the same as model educational institutions. He also sought CUK’s assistance in career counselling and personality development of students in the higher educational institutions of Kashmir. He also called for frequent academic and extramural exchanges between various Central Universities across the country.Akhtar also called for introducing more job-oriented courses in CUK so that the pass-outs don’t have to wait for jobs. He said campus recruitment should also be conducted at CUK.Vice-Chancellor of CUK, Prof Mairaj-ud-Din was also present on the occasion.