The decision to shift the Khallikote Cluster University to a rented building, 9 km from the Khallikote Autonomous College from where it is running now, has drawn flak from several quarters here.
While the university has failed to attract many students, thanks to the courses chosen to be imparted here by its syndicate without considering the local choices and demands, its recent decision has yet again disappointed the intellectuals.
Notably, the Khallikote Cluster University was the first such university of the State to have been opened taking five colleges in its ambit. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the second campus of the university. Later, funds came for a four-storied building for the university. The Government sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the building, apart from Rs 1 crore for a toilet complex and Rs 5 crore for renovation of a playground. However, its academic block is yet to be constructed though already three years have elapsed.
The syndicate of the university opened various PG courses and appointed 30 teachers for imparting education. But later it was seen the students did not evince interest for the new courses as very few applications came for admission into the courses. Consequently, as on date, there are only 25 students in the six departments of the university. Besides, the lecturers have not got their salaries for last three months.
As per the latest decision, the university will run from Nimarx Resort at Konishi for which the monthly rent to be paid is Rs 8 lakh. The university will function from the rented building till its new campus is ready. However, the intellectuals have questioned when the university has failed to attract students when it was running from the heart of the town, how it will fare
when it starts running from the outskirts.
Notably, initially at a meeting attended by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Higher Education Minister, Higher Education Director, Principals of the affiliated colleges and local MLAs of Brahmapur and Chatrapur, it had been decided that till the new campus is constructed, the university will continue from the Khallikote Autonomous College.