University Teachers Protest Potential Loss of Land for Tourism Center

INDIA REPORTER TODAY

RAJESH SURYAVANSHI

The teachers’ associations of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Agricultural University) Palampur up in arms against a proposal to allocate 120 hectares of the university’s land for a tourism center or village.

They argue that this decision jeopardizes the university’s ability to function effectively and fulfill its mission.

Reasons for opposition:

• Land shortage: The university has already given away significant land for other projects, including Vikram Batra College, a Science Museum, and a recently announced heliport. They claim the remaining land is barely enough to sustain the existing four colleges and their research activities.
• Increased demand: With the implementation of the new education policy, student intake is rising every year, putting pressure on the available space for practical fieldwork and experiments. The disputed area was being developed specifically to meet this growing demand.
• Essential infrastructure: The university needs the land for additional infrastructure, including a piggery and goat farm required for accreditation of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. Additionally, a lack of hostel space forces many students, especially girls, to live outside the campus, another issue that requires land allocation.
• Future aspirations: The university harbors ambitions to become a Central Agriculture University for the North Western Himalayas. Losing more land, they argue, will diminish their chances of achieving this goal.
• Seed production: The disputed area plays a crucial role in producing high-quality breeder seeds and planting material essential for hill farmers.

Appeal to the Chief Minister:

The teachers’ associations urge the Chief Minister to reconsider the decision and cancel the order to transfer the land. They fear that losing this land will severely hamper the university’s academic and research activities.

Comparison to past silence:

While expressing their outrage, the associations acknowledge their silence during the previous government’s request for land for an airport. This inconsistency raises questions about their motivations and potentially weakens their current argument.

Overall, the university teachers present a strong case against the proposed land transfer, highlighting the potential negative consequences for the institution’s future and its crucial role in supporting hill farmers.