AMU Kishanganj Centre: Bihar Gov. transfers land to varsity

Aligarh: Amidst a wave of enthusiasm, a new chapter of modern education was initiated in Kishanganj district of Bihar with the transfer of 224.02 acres of land to Aligarh Muslim University [AMU] by the Government of Bihar for establishing the AMU Kishanganj Centre.

The Transfer of documents along with the certificate for delivery of possession was initiated by Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Government of Bihar. The Principal Secretary, Human Resource Department, Government of Bihar, Patna was the authority to undertake the delivery of possession and Mr. Sandeep Kumar, R. Pudakalkatti, District Magistrate and Collector respectively of Kishanganj, Bihar; had delivered the possession as per the authorization of Bihar government.

The land falls under the Kishanganj circle, Mauza Chakla, Khata no. 384 and Mauza Govindpur, Khata No. 40, together totaling 224.02 acres. The land has been transferred over to the Registrar, Aligarh Muslim University by the District Magistrate and Collector of Kishanganj District, free from any encumbrances for setting up a Centre of the Aligarh Muslim University.

The Minister Incharge of Kishanganj and Araria districts, Mr. Brijendra Prasad Yadav; Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Energy, Registration and Excise, Mr. Anjani Kumar Singh; Principal Secretary, Human Resource Development Department, Government of Bihar, Mr. Brijesh Mahrotra; Commissioner, Purnea, Mr. Rahman Balyavi, representing the Government of Bihar, were present during the transfer ceremony along with Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University; Prof. V. K. Abdul Jaleel, Registrar, AMU; Mrs. Yasmeen Jalal Beg, Finance Officer and Member in charge, Property; Prof. H. S. A. Yahya, OSD, Nodal Office for AMU Centres; Prof. N. A. K. Durrani, Media Advisor; Prof. Javaid Akhtar, former Dean, Faculty of Management Studies and Research and Prof. Ekram Husain, Principal, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, representing Aligarh Muslim University.

The Minister, Mr. Brijendra Prasad Yadav has assured all possible support in providing the necessary infrastructure required including the construction of a 30 meter wide road, 30 KV electricity substation dedicated to AMU Centre as well as water supplies to the campus will be provided. Besides he assured to build a fence to make the land encumbrance-free.

Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University assured that AMU Kishanganj matter will be put on fast track and within a couple of days a consultant will be appointed with instruction to submit DFR and DPR within a month’s time so that the University can submit a suitable proposal for funding of the project and for getting approval from the Visitor under Section 12(2) of the AMU Act 1981. In the meantime, the matter will be brought before the Academic Council, Executive Council and University Court for undertaking necessary amendments. He said that the project for the Kishanganj centre will be prepared similar to that of the AMU Malappuram Centre and Murshidabad Centre in terms of facilities and long-term plans and the AMU Kishanganj Centre will be a state-of-the-art centre of higher education with world class facilities and technological support.

The Vice Chancellor also assured that if the State government provides temporary accommodation, the University hopes to launch some of its programme in the next academic session itself.

The visiting AMU team inspected the land along with the District Revenue Officer. AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis observed that before fencing the land, all temporary settlements should be shifted taking in to consideration all humanitarian principles, while evacuating. Prof. Azis said that if necessary, around 2-3 acres can be parted away from the land given to AMU in order to resolve the temporary settlement issue in an amicable way. The district officials said that the land transfer has been made after the decision of the state cabinet.

Prof. Azis expressed gratitude to the people who organized a movement for the identification and transfer of land for the AMU Kishanganj Centre and congratulated them telling that their dream had finally come true.

Maulana Asrarul Haq Qasmi, Member of Parliament from Kishanganj, was present for the meeting, he expressed extreme happiness for the helps provided by the State government, Central government and the initiative taken by AMU Vice Chancellor, as his dream of bringing a modern education centre to Kishanganj has come true now. He hoped that in the near and distant future it is going to change the fate and face of this underdeveloped region of the country.

Mr. Akhtarul Iman, MLA, who played an active role in the identification of the land, and a number of distinguished people of the area were all present for the programme.

Courtesy: TCN