Ganjam BJP seeks CM intervention
The demand for establishment of IIM here has gathered further momentum with senior BJP leaders here deciding to fight to get the premier management institute for Brahmapur.
BJP Ganjam district president BK Swain told reporters here on Wednesday said the Silk City deserves to get the proposed IIM in view of its importance in the south Odisha.
“Brahmapur city played a key role in the fields of education and was the nerve centre of ‘Odisha unification movement’ during pre-Independence period. But after Independence the city has been neglected by the successive Governments. The denizens’ claim for the proposed IIM is justifiable,” Swain said.
He said since two out of three old colleges of the State were in Ganjam, one Khalikote College at Brahmapur and another SKCG College at Paralakhemundi, the district played a great role in imparting education in the whole State during the pre-independent days. While the city has produced a galaxy of Chief Ministers to its credit, unfortunately it has been neglected in a number of sectors. The State’s negligence is evident from the fact that the city which once enjoyed the status of second largest city in State has come down to fourth position now.
The district unit of BJP submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to impress upon the Centre to establish the proposed IIM at Brahmapur.
“The people trust and believe that the Chief Minister, who belongs to the district, would save it from further negligence,” the memorandum said urging his intervention.
The leaders further pointed out that there are hundreds of acres of Government land available at Karapalli (near Gopalpur-Berhampur University air strip) and in the lathi-Tamana area adjacent to the city which can be well used for the proposed institute.
Similarly, the city has the best communication network with the Howarah-Chennai NH, Chatrapur-Raipur (CG) NH and the main railway line running near it. The Rangailunda (near Gopalpur-on-Sea) air strip and the coastal tourist track would be additional advantage for the institute.
Finally, the memorandum argued that while there are dozens of premier national institutes functioning in the capital city and a few in western Odisha, none of such institutes has come up here. The leaders also urged all the elected representatives of the district to fight for the interest of the people.
Among others, senior BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda and former BMC Mayor and BJP leader Siba Sankar Das were present.