Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi iterated on Friday that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) would be set up on the Magadh University campus.
Manjhi said in Bodhgaya: 'I have talked to the Magadh University vice-chancellor this (Friday) morning. All the legal formalities would be fulfilled before the transfer of land for setting up the IIM on the campus of Magadh University.' The state education principal secretary, R.K. Mahajan, had earlier sent a letter to the Magadh University vice-chancellor, Mohammed Ishtiaq, on land for IIM. Ishtiaq has referred the matter to the Bihar governor, also the chancellor of universities in the state. He also apprised the syndicate and the senate - the two apex bodies of the university - of the issue. Despite the chief minister's claim, the land transfer issue has not been included in the agenda of the syndicate and the senate meeting of Magadh University scheduled on March 15.
The cellphone of registrar D.K. Yadav was switched off and that of the vice-chancellor was not reachable.
A team of senior officials from IIM-Indore - the mentor of the upcoming business school in Bihar - would be arriving in Bodhgaya on January 28 to assess the available infrastructure. But the Centre has not yet given its consent to setting up the IIM at Bodhgaya. The last word on the issue from the Centre was a letter to the state in which it had asked the Bihar government to look for a site for IIM in the vicinity of Patna. Chief minister Manjhi spoke about the IIM locale before inaugurating the modern surveillance system control room on the World Heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara campus. On the Mahavihara campus, 26 super advanced night-vision high resolution closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) have been installed. For monitoring of the footage, there is a control room on the Mahavihara campus.
While interacting with reporters, Manjhi said the state government was making efforts to operate flights on daily basis to Delhi and Calcutta from the Gaya international airport throughout the year. 'Bihar has great potential in the tourism sector. The state government will develop Buddhist, Sufi, Jain and the Mahatma Gandhi circuit and ensure quality road connectivity with other necessary facilities. For the development of the state, the government will encourage opening of private medical and the engineering colleges,' he said.
On the second day of the Bodh Mahotsava, maiden Mahila Mahotsava was organised. A large number of women participated in the mahotsava inaugurated by Bodhgaya Nagar Panchayat chairperson Priti Singh.
During the daytime, cultural programmes were organised. Artistes from Allahabad performed Ghumar dance.
