Almost all the works have been completed and in a few days it would have been handed over to the Higher Education Department but the Koraput Model College building will be soon demolished for the Bharatmala project.
More than Rs 12 crore from both the Central and State Governments will go in vain and as such, the fate of the model college, which was approved by the Narendra Modi Government at the Center to be set up near Semiliguda in Koraput district, will be soon demolished.
In June 2017, the Central Government had announced plans to set up model colleges in six districts, including Koraput under Rastriya Uchhtara Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA) 2.0. It was scheduled to begin in the 2019-20 academic year, but was delayed due to Corona. While Rs 12 crore has been sanctioned for each college, the college has 24-hour internet facilities, laboratories, libraries, faculty common rooms and toilets. The funding is 60:40 share between the Central Government and the State Government.
The main goal of the college was to promote higher education in rural areas. The college was also set up to educate young women who are school dropouts. On February 8, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the college through video conferencing from Jammu and Kashmir.
Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the district had been sanctioned one model college and almost 100 per cent of the work had been done. “But, it has now been decided that the Bharatmala road project will pass on the same location where the college has been established and hence, it will be demolished. We strongly oppose this,” said Bahinipati.
BJD senior leader Ishwar Panigrahi said it would not be allowed to be demolished under any circumstances. “Discussions will be held with the district administration and departmental heads. All the BJD legislators in the district will come together and work for the cause of Koraput," he said. While District Magistrate Abdul M Akhtar said the college would be demolished as the Bharatmala project was going through the college. “The NHAI has already paid the price of the land and cost of the building. Other arrangements will be made soon," he said.