Jan. 9: Cotton College’s plan to construct a modern hostel on the lines of top institutions like the IITs and IIMs received a setback today in the face of opposition by boarders.

Dispur had released Rs 10 crore last week for the proposed hostel to be built by dismantling the existing Assam-type buildings of Anundo Ram Barooah and Swahid Ranjit Borpujari boys’ hostels.

The boarders of the two hostels today threatened to launch an agitation if the college authorities dismantled a single pillar of the Assam-type hostels.

They opposed the Cotton College Union Society (CCUS) which is in favour of constructing the modern hostel.

The boarders demanded that the fund released by the government be used to renovate the existing buildings.

“Under no circumstance will we allow our hostel building to be dismantled because of sentimental attachments. Many prominent personalities, including Bhupen Hazarika, stayed at our hostel. More importantly, the hostel is going to complete 100 years after four years. We do not want a modern building at the cost of sentiment. The boarders want the existing hostel to be repaired and renovated,” Bajarapani Basumatary, a boarder of Anundo Ram Barooah hostel, said.

The boarders of Swahid Ranjit Borpujari hostel submitted a written statement, opposing the dismantling of their hostel building.

They warned that if the college authorities went ahead with the move, they would be responsible for the outcome.

“Our hostel will also complete 100 years after four years. The hostel has sentimental attachments. Many prominent personalities, including filmmaker late Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Chandrayaan-I principal scientist Jitendranath Goswami and litterateur Homen Borgohain, have stayed here,” a boarder of Swahid Ranjit Borpujari hostel said.

CCUS general secretary Jayanta Kalita said the boarders’ opposition was unfortunate and unjustified.

“The existing buildings of the two hostels are beyond repair and renovation,” he said, adding that a modern hostel was the need of the hour and would also help to project Cotton College as a top-ranking institution.

The proposed hostel will have a modern infrastructure, furniture, a dinning hall, entertainment facility and a playground.

“The amount of Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned only for the construction of a modern hostel and not for repair and renovation of the existing ones. If the opposition continues, the funds will return to the government, which will be very unfortunate. The CCUS will try to convince the boarders to agree with it,” Kalita said.

The college now has seven hostels for boys and three for girls.