Responding to the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, the State Government has started the process of locating 200 acres of suitable land for setting up of the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and has asked four district Collectors to submit details on the land location along with map by September 10 next.
According to sources, the Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam and Sambalpur district Collectors have been directed to identify minimum 200 acres of suitable land keeping in view the specification of the HRD Ministry for establishment of the premier institute.
The HRD Ministry had decided to start the academic session of the Odisha IIM from 2015 for which the Common Aptitude Test (CAT) is scheduled to be held in November next. The State Government has short listed four cities, namely Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Brahmapur for the setting up of the proposed B-School even as people from different areas including Rourkela, Balangir and Baleswar have been demanding establishment of the prestigious institute in their respective areas.
IDCO CMD Vishal Dev said that in separate letters on Monday the four Collectors were told to identify a patch of land measuring 200 acres and furnish details of the land with land schedule and map to the IDCO for the proposed B-School by September 10 next to be forwarded to the HRD Ministry for necessary action.
He said after submission of the proposals for the probable sites, the HRD Ministry would be requested to send a Central site selection team to visit the State to see the identified sites for taking a final decision on one location suitable for the institute.
In view of Finance Minister Arun Jaitly’s announcement in his maiden Budget speech for establishment four new IIMs including one in Odisha, the Union HRD Secretary in August had asked the State Government to provide litigation free land. The land should be given free of premium and should be situated in a city that has better rail, road and air connectivity, the Centre had told the State.
The HRD Ministry had also clearly specified the State to suggest two or three probable locations for establishment of the premier management institute.