Shillong, Jan. 22: The plan of Techno Global University (TGU) to start its academic activities soon has plunged into uncertainty again as the Calcutta-based educational group has to vacate a building rented to it by the Meghalaya government on the campus of Shillong Polytechnic at Mawlai here.
The private university, which has proposed an investment of Rs 1,000 crore for education in Meghalaya, is yet to get land for a permanent campus. It has been paying a rent of over Rs 4 lakh annually to the state government through the education department. The university, which is part of Techno India Group that sets up various institutes in science and engineering courses, was established through an act passed in the Meghalaya Assembly in 2008. It has been functioning temporarily from a small building of Shillong Polytechnic since 2010.
A huge amount has been spent by the university to renovate the building. As the house is too small to accommodate students, commencement of courses has been delayed.
It offers to start courses in electronic and computer engineering, computer science engineering, electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and civil engineering. #Meghalaya commissioner and secretary (education), Donald Philips Wahlang, told this correspondent today that the university has been asked to vacate the building as the state government needs the space for construction of an engineering college.
Wahlang clarified that there is no question of winding up the TGU, but the private university should find some other location.
Officials of the university said they are cooperating with the state government in this regard and the university is making an alternative arrangement so that it can start running courses soon.
"All belongings of the university are being removed on a war footing from the Shillong Polytechnic's building," an official said.
Barring CMJ University which was dissolved following alleged irregularities in its functioning, Meghalaya has at least nine private universities created through various legislations passed by the Assembly. But most of these are still functioning from rented buildings owing to delay in granting permission by the state government to acquire lands. This has hindered their plan to carry out academic activities and administrative functions properly.
The Meghalaya government, through an executive order issued on March 30, 2011, has prohibited transfer of land to non-tribal entities, which includes companies, societies and NGOs pending amendment to Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1971. However, a notification issued on August 24, 2012, exempted education from the purview of the executive order.
The TGU is supposed to acquire a 53-acre plot at Tynring to set up its permanent campus.
Some private universities such as William Carey University (WCU), Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) University and University of Science and Technology (Us&T) have managed to get lands for setting up campuses.
The University of Science and Technology, established in 2008 through an act of the Assembly, has acquired more than 400 acres of land in Ri Bhoi district along the Meghalaya-Assam border.
The WCU, too, will set up its permanent campus in Ri Bhoi district and has bought eight acres of land at Umsning by ACTS Groups of Institutions which is the sponsoring body.
The ICFAI, headquartered at Tura in Garo hills, has acquired about 13 acres of land to establish its permanent campus.
