
Bihar drags feet on Central varsity in Bhagalpur; district identifies three chunks of land
Two years after the Centre proposed setting up the Vikramshila central university in Bhagalpur, and earmarked Rs 500 crore for it, the institution has been a non-starter. For, the Bihar government has not been able to identify land, which it had to.
After two years of wait and a gentle reminder by President Pranab Mukherjee in March, when he last visited Bhagalpur, the district administration has now identified three separate chunks of 500 acre land. The proposal will be sent to the education department, after it rejected an earlier one, in which the district administration had identified just one plot of land, leaving the government with no choice.
All the three chunks of land shortlisted are located in Kahalgaon subdivision of the district, close to where the Vikramshila university had existed in the past. The first is a piece of land under Antichak, Nandgola and Singal Biata moujas. Another land holding is under Ekdara, Singal Biata and Parshuramchak moujas and the third under Kissandaspur, Mohanpur and Goghatta moujas.
READ| President Mukherjee bats for full revival of Bihar’s Vikramshila varsity
Bhagalpur district magistrate Adesh T confirmed that three proposals of 500 acre each had been finalised for forwarding to the state government. He said suitability of land was being examined and acquisition cost being worked out. “Once complete, we will send the proposal to the government,” he added.
Efforts to contact the DM on Monday to ascertain the reason for delay in identifying land proved futile. The DM did not respond to HT’s phone call. When HT texted him, he wrote back, “Pl contact education dept for it as it is the nodal dept.”
In March last year, the district had sent to the government a single proposal of 500 acres of land under Antichak, Nandgola and Singal Biata moujas (revenue villages). The same was, however, sent back on the premise that three land proposals of 500 acre each had to be shortlisted.
District land acquisition officer Jitendra Kumar Sah said land acquisition could tentatively cost the exchequer between Rs 202 crore and Rs 350 crore for holdings under consideration.

India’s defence budget for domestic buys to fund fighters, tanks, missiles

Tripura Christians seek change in TTAADC poll date as it clashes with Easter day
- The TTAADC has 30 seats, of which 28 are elected and two are nominated.

Ajit Pawar removes doctor who allegedly tried to molest patient

Delhi HC dismisses plea claiming unsolicited emails sent by central govt depts
- A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh said the simple mechanism available with the petitioner is to unsubscribe to those emails.

Delhi HC seeks details on capacity to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines

India proposes inclusion of Chabahar port in international north-south corridor

J-K LG Manoj Sinha gets 1st Covid-19 vaccine dose, urges people to follow suit

Need regulations for OTT platforms, some even showing porn: SC

Supreme Court rejects plea requesting extension of GST amnesty scheme

Similipal Sanctuary fire: Odisha CM asks officials to take preventive measures

After enhancing ties with Brazil, ISRO eyes new opportunities with Italy

Plea in Supreme Court seeks appointment of regular CBI director

Bengaluru, Shimla best cities to live: See top 10 in Ease of Living Index 2020
- The Ease of Living Index was first launched in 2018 and is based on indicators across 15 evaluation criteria.

3 Jharkhand Jaguar force jawans killed in Maoist landmine blast

New hope to unite Geeta with family, 5 years after repatriation from Pakistan
- Geeta went missing 20 years ago and reached Lahore, where she was found sitting alone in Samjhauta express in the year 2000.