Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) officials on Saturday informed that the recent media reports of a Rs 400 crore scam was not justified since the funds were actually released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) after getting sanction from Building Committee, Finance Committee and Executive Council along with final ratification by Ministry of Human Resource Department (MHRD).
Explaining about the investigation over this matter, Chief Communication Officer of CUJ Prasanta Bora said, “Neither the university nor any investigating agency has approached for a formal thorough inquiry over this issue.” However, sources suggest that an independent probe agency is scrutinising certain university documents for its perusal.
“A nexus of persons with vested interests from within and outside the university have colluded together to oust OSD (Project) so that they can take over campus development and control of perceived large funds for construction. Photocopy of over 80,000 pages of documents from Project Office (as per fact finding committee report) was done. Those stolen materials are being selectively compiled to fabricate allegations by this group. We express our desire for a full fledged inquiry by any competent agency”, added Prasanta Bora.
Tackling with all these hurdles, the four years old CUJ is in all possible manners going to start its next academic session from this August for which construction works at the new campus at Cheri Manatu (Kanke block) is being done at war footing level.
Five hundred acres have been allotted to CUJ for its permanent campus under Kanke Block and of that 319 acres were handed over to the university by the State Government.
The construction started in March 2012. The buildings include academic complexes, hostel complexes, administrative block and library so far. Work for residential quarter is under process. Deadline for some of academic blocks and hostel buildings is June end while for others this year end is targeted.
“If all goes well as per the pace, construction and flow of funds, we hope to have our first phase of construction completed by December 2014. This will also include auditorium, guest house and shopping complex. As far as quality monitoring is concerned, all buildings are registered with GRIHA, which is a Government of India independent body that rates buildings for being eco friendly and of higher quality,” Bora said.
According to the CUJ officials, total payment made for permanent campus construction (2012-2013) stands at Rs 45 crore against funds received during the same fiscal including Rs 25 crores in August 2012 and Rs 25 crore in December 2012 besides other fund grants for fellowship to the tune of Rs 1.75 crores totalling Rs 51.75 crores.