Patna University's refusal to provide land to set up a Dolphin Research Centre has stalled utilisation of Rs 28 crore given by the erstwhile Planning Commission in 2013.

Patna University zoology teacher Ravindra Kishore Sinha, popular as "dolphin man", had conceptualised the idea of setting up a National Dolphin Research Centre on the banks of the Ganga in Patna in 2012.

Sinha had approached then Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia with his idea to set up Asia's first research centre. He was made chairperson of the working group for dolphin conservation set up by the Centre. The erstwhile Planning Commission also released Rs 28 crore for setting up research centre in 2013.

The centre was to come up on 2.5 acres of land opposite Patna Law College on the banks of river Ganga. The land belongs to Patna University. "I don't know why the varsity is not giving its nod for a first-of-its-kind centre in Asia," Sinha said on a day (October 5) the state celebrates as Ganga River Dolphin Day. Sinha also received the Padma Shri for conservation of dolphins.

"Even chief minister Nitish Kumar, the governor and the chief secretary have asked the university to speed up the process, but to no avail."

The National Dolphin Research Centre will be an autonomous institution, though the building and land will be fully owned by Patna University. But university sources said the centre's "autonomous" clause was not acceptable to many teachers and varsity officials. "The university administration is working on the modalities to set up a dolphin research centre but is not ready to give 2.5 acres to set up an autonomous institution," Patna University registrar Sanjay Kumar Sinha said.

"Another reason why the administration is reluctant is that majority of the centre's governing body officials will be from the state forest and environment department," said a senior varsity official on condition of anonymity. "Giving university land for an autonomous institution would create a separate institution within the university."

But Sinha said the dolphin centre would be an institute of national importance. Researchers from various parts of the country will do research but preference will be given to Patna University students.

There are around 1,500-1,600 Gangetic river dolphins left in India. There is sizeable dolphin population at the confluence of the Ganga and Saryu rivers at Doriganj in Saran district, confluence of the Ganga and Gandak at Sonepur in the district and confluence of the Ganga and Kosi at Kursela in Katihar district.

The number of dolphins is on the decline, largely because of increasing pollution of river waters and indiscriminate killing of the animal by some fishermen for its flesh and oil.