By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A sum of more than Rs 87.99 crore was sanctioned today by Bihar government for acquisition of land needed for establishment of Vikramshila Central University in Kahalgaon subdivision of this district. With sanction of the amount land acquisition process for establishment of Vikramshila Central University is likely to gain momentum.
It was in 2015, central government had announced establishment of Vikramshila Central University near Antichak village in Kahalgaon where ruins of ancient Vikramshila University are located. The establishment plan of proposed central university however could not make headway in absence of land acquisition for the purpose.
Initially it was decided total 500 acres of land would be acquired for the purpose. Taking into consideration it would be difficult getting 500 acres of land at a place for establishment of the proposed university, the state government and central government mutually agreed subsequently on acquiring 200 acres of land for the proposed university.
Following revision of land requirement, efforts were stepped up local administration for identifying land that could be acquired for the planned university.
As per information the required land for the university has been identified in Antichak and Malakpur moujas of Kahalgaon circle by local administration. To ensure the process of land acquisition for the proposed university could be initiated without delay on receipt of fund allocated for the purpose, the details of the identified land have been procured besides other pre acquisition formalities have been also completed by local administration to some extent.
District Magistrate (DM) Nawal Kishore Choudhury who had been keenly involved in identification of land for the university was quoted saying there would not be any delay in beginning process of land acquisition on receipt of allocated fund.
Establishment of Vikramshila Central University close to the ruins of ancient seat of learning it may be mentioned is a long pending demand of people of this region. Fund allocation by state government for land acquisition has been welcomed by different local organizations.
Pawan Kumar Choudhury, senior journalist, a keen supporter of people’s demand concerning establishment of central university said allocation of fund for land acquisition is a step forward towards realization of long pending demand of people.
Meanwhile Vikramshila Kendriya Vishwavidalay Nirman Samiti, Kahalgaon in a meeting held today at Ganguli Park, Kahalgaon thanked chief minister Nitish Kumar for allocation of fund for acquisition of land needed for central university.
The participants at meeting also thanked DM for initiative being taken by him for establishment of the university. The meeting decided to invite chief minister and governor of state for visiting excavation site of ancient Vikramshila University in near future.
- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516