Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

The proposed Model Degree College in Koraput is facing an uncertain future as the residents in the district are still in the dark about the new project site after the construction of the building meant for the college at Semiliguda was halted to make way for the Bharatmala project.

As per reports, the construction of the building for the Model Degree College started on February 3, 2019. Almost all the works were completed in 2021 and in a few days time, it was to be handed over to the Higher Education Department for the commencement of the academic year. However, it could not materialise as it was decided that the College will make way for the construction of a six-lane highway by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Bharatmala project.

Soon, the college building was converted into an office of the contract company. More than Rs 12 crore from both the Central and State Governments will be going down the drain as the college building will be demolished after the completion of the road in three to four months of time.

“The government has no intention to start the Model Degree College in our district and poor students are suffering for it. After matriculation, they cannot pursue higher education,” said a local resident.

“With proper planning and coordination, the academic session in the college could have started. But we missed the chance and ultimately students in the district are the losers,” said Sunil Biswal, an educationist.

As per sources, the Center has already provided Rs 12 crore to the Odisha government. Now the onus is on the State government to find a suitable place in the district to start the project for the Model Degree College all over again. However, the State government has made no headway in this regard even after two years.

Though speculation is rife that a place has been identified between Semiliguda and Nandapur, government officials are tight-lipped over the development. Koraput Collector refused to give any comment in this regard.

Meanwhile, politics has been intensifying over the alleged apathy of the State government. Congress and BJP slammed the State government for its lackadaisical attitude.

“The State government is being lackadaisical regarding the Model Degree College as it is a Central project. I will ask the Collector to identify a place for the college soon. We have already lost three years. Work in this direction should start on war footing,” said Koraput MP, Saptagiri Ulaka.

“Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has already sanctioned Rs 12 crore for the project. However, it is quite unfortunate that Odisha government has not identified the land for the project till now,” said BJP leader Sumanta Pradhan.

However, countering the allegations, the ruling BJD said that the project will start soon.
“Discussions about the project and land acquisition are already done. The project work will start soon,” said BJD leader, Iswar Chandra Panigrahi.

In a bid to provide quality education free of cost to the tribal and poor students, the Union government had decided to set up the Model Degree Colleges in six districts of Odisha namely Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Bolangir, and Dhenkanal.
 

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