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Nalanda, Aug. 8: The boundary wall of Nalanda University has hit a roadblock, literally.
The wall could not be erected on a stretch of around 20ft on the southwest-end of the upcoming campus because of stiff opposition from the residents of Kuberpur village. The villagers are demanding an alternative passage to the main road, either along the northern stretch of the campus or to Virayatan Road to the south of the hamlet. Claiming that the boundary wall would block their only existing pathway to the Rajgir-Chhabilapur road along the northern side of the campus, the villagers have compelled Allied Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd — the agency selected to execute the work — to leave the gaping hole.
The construction of the boundary wall along the perimeter of the campus sprawling over 450 acres started in December 2011. Barring the 20ft gap, the construction work was completed in February.
The residents of Kuberpur village claimed they would have to take a detour of around 10km to reach the Rajgir-Chhabilapur road if the hole in the boundary wall is plugged. At present, they have to walk just 2km through the varsity campus to reach the Rajgir-Chhabilapur road.
Chinta Devi, a resident of Kuberpur, said: “We have lost our land for the university. Now, we don’t want our pathway to be snatched. Till an alternative pathway is laid, we will not allow the authorities to erect the boundary wall.”
On the way to the Rajgir bus stand, the 40-something woman told The Telegraph: “After our land was taken for the university, we have to work very hard for two square meals. Against this backdrop, taking a detour of 10km to the main road — the lifeline of the village — for taking up odd jobs would make our life even more difficult.”
Pankaj Kumar, whose hut is barely 20m away from the campus, said: 'If we are given an alternative link to the main road via Negpur hamlet, we will have to walk around 10km. But if the alternative pathway is laid towards the south, we would be able to reach the Virayatan Road in front of Indo Hokke Hotels, walking just 2km.'
Pankaj said the pathway towards the south was a more viable solution because it would not require any private plot acquisition as the land to the south of Kuberpur belongs to the government. 'If the connector is laid along the western boundary of the varsity campus to the Rajgir-Chhabilapur road, the administration would have to acquire private land. Till we have a link road, we would not allow the boundary wall to come up adjacent to our village.'
The Kuberpur residents recently demonstrated in front of a district administration delegation demanding an alternative route, said a security guard manning the campus of the upcoming university. They are adamant on their demand for an alternative route, he added.
Nalanda University vice-chancellor Gopa Sabharwal said: 'We have not erected the boundary wall on the Kuberpur side taking into account the problems the villagers would face. We had a talk with the district administration, which would make an alternative arrangement soon.'
Ajay Kumar, land acquisition officer, Nalanda, said: 'The district administration has decided to build a permanent road for the villagers soon. A survey has been conducted.'
The security personnel claimed that the incomplete boundary was a cause for concern.
'The villagers have given up tilling on the varsity land but domestic animals still graze on the campus. Also, villagers frequently pass through the campus. If the boundary wall is not erected near the village before the actual construction work begins, raw material could be stolen,' said a security guard manning the first gate of the campus.
The Nalanda district administration has recently sent a proposal to the rural works department for the construction of a road towards the southern side of Kuberpur village, connecting to Virayatan Road. 'We have sent a proposal to the rural works department for construction of a new road from Kuberpur village to Virayatan Road,' said Rachna Patil, the sub-divisional magistrate of Rajgir.
One more hurdle
A house along the northern boundary of the varsity is another hurdle on the boundary path, where only iron scaffolds could be laid. The owner of the partially demolished house, Malti Devi, said: 'We have been allotted a plot at Mahuwala village under Indira Awas Yojana. We would move out once the house is built there.'
An officer of Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited - the nodal agency for construction of the boundary wall - said 27m of the total 8.5-km-long boundary is yet to be erected.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ROSHAN KUMAR