900 B Tech seats in Pvt Colleges slashed in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Even as the counselling process for engineering has started in Odisha, nearly 900 B Tech seats in private engineering colleges have been slashed this year.

Two private engineering colleges in Bhubaneswar and Rayagada have been debarred from participating in the admission process as they failed to get necessary approvals from AICTE.

As a result, the number of seats in private engineering colleges has now dropped to 38, 698 from 39,598 and the seats have decreased in at least 21 disciplines, official sources said.

 “There has been no change in the number of seats in Government colleges. There would be no admissions in two private engineering colleges as they have not got AICTE approvals this year,” said OJEE chairman, Tushar Kumar Nath.

Though the Odisha government has decided to complete the counselling process for admission in three phases, Odisha Private Engineering College Association (OPECA) has opposed the new counselling format.

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Besides, the Association is also opposing the decision to collect Rs 25,000 as registration fee and part admission fee from students at nodal centres during the counselling.

OPECA officials said that earlier the students were depositing only Rs 5,000 towards registration fees while the remaining amount was being deposited at college.

 “Usually SC/ ST students constitute 30 percent in admission and they mostly depend on scholarship and make payments after a year. OPECA will oppose such move and will not undertake admission process if needed,” said OPECA secretary Binod Dash.

Official sources said, the first phase allotment list would be published on July 1 while the students can participate in the counselling at 23 nodal centres across the state from July 5.