The longstanding row over whether the Alaka College in Jagatsinghpur district comes under the Jagatsinghpur block or Biridi block has been resolved and the authorities have made it clear that the institution is under the Jagatsinghpur block.
Reports said that Alaka College was established in mid seventies and recognized as the third college of the then Jagatsinghpur sub division. The founders of the college were some well-known personalities like late Gangadhar Rath, late Radhamohan Mohanty, late Budhishyam Rout, late Suryamani Nayak and Darpa Narayan Das. The
college’s location had been identified between Biridi and Jagatsinghpur block border.
However, later the college was cited to be in Biridi block. The reason being then there was a rule that Government can only provide recognition to one college in a block. Already there were three colleges in Jagatsinghur block and to secure recognition, the then governing body had made records so that the college comes under Birdi block.
late Gangadhar Rath, former advocate general, became founder member of the college and was president of college management in 1978. He continued in post since his demise occurred in the mid nineties. After Ganga dhar Rath, former MlA Bishnu Das became president of college management in 1992 and occupied the post in the year 2002, 2004 and 2012.
But when Dr Rajashree Mallick was elected as Tirtol MlA in 2014, she wanted to be president of the college’s GB. As per rule, the local MlA is to be the president of a college’s GB if it comes within his/her area. Biridi block is part of Mallick’s constituency. She approached the Chief Minister alleging that Bishnu Das had been encroaching upon her legal rights to become Alaka College president. The Chief Minister had instructed the Higher Education Department and Jagatsinghpur Collector to furnish reports on exact location of the college and specify if it is in Biridi or Jagatsinghpur blocks.
The revenue staff including Tehsildar, Revenue Inspector and Amin had surveyed the location and finally concluded that the college exists on Birabarpatana village under Rambhadei pur Gram Panchayat in Mandasahi Revenue inspector circle under Jagatsinghpur block and its administrative works fall under Jagatsinghpur block and Tehsil. They stated that there was no revenue village Anantabata where the Alaka College Record of Rights [RoR ] exists.