Finally the UPA Government in the Centre has accepted the demand of NDA ruled Bihar government and has decided to set up a central university in Motihari in addition to the one proposed in Gaya, ending a prolonged slugfest over the issue.Talking with media, the Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, "I have given the approval for establishment of a central university in Motihari and I am happy that the issue has been resolved". The news of two central universities at one go in the state of Bihar is welcomed by all section.
It should be noted that till date the state of Bihar doesn't have a Central University. A couple of years back the UPA II came with the plan of setting up a Central University in Bihar and asked for land from the state government. In response to Centre's project Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had offered land in Motihari district. However, the Union HRD Minister and Central Government didn't accepted the land and asked for land at Gaya, by sighting the reason of poor connectivity at Motihari. The HRD ministry had said that Gaya is having good connectivity hence the Central University should be established there only.
After a long series of 'Yes' or 'No' finally in the month of May this year Nitish Kumar had a meeting with Kapil Sibal where the option of setting two campuses at Motihari and Gaya came into notice. In less than two months time Kapil Sibal had given his nod for two central universities in Bihar, which is really a big gift for the state of Bihar.
Earlier this year, the HRD Ministry had decided to set up a central university in Gaya, arguing that it had good connectivity and enabling infrastructure. However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other political parties had been insisting that the central university should be established in Motihari to end regional disparities, leading to a slugfest for months.
The Bihar Assembly even passed a resolution to demand the university in Motihari. As a consequence of the decision, the Central Universities Act, 2009 would have to be amended to enable opening of two central universities in Bihar. The Act had a provision for setting two central universities in Jammu and Kashmir as a special case.
This is only the second exception made by the Union government of setting up two central universities in a particular state, the first being Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said there would be no additional allocation for Bihar and the Rs 240 crore meant for the state for the central university would now be divided among the two varsities. Sibal said the campus in Motihari would be adjacent to an upcoming national highway, the completion of which would reduce the travel time to and fro Patna by two and half hours.
After a long series of 'Yes' or 'No' finally in the month of May this year Nitish Kumar had a meeting with Kapil Sibal where the option of setting two campuses at Motihari and Gaya came into notice. In less than two months time Kapil Sibal had given his nod for two central universities in Bihar, which is really a big gift for the state of Bihar.
Earlier this year, the HRD Ministry had decided to set up a central university in Gaya, arguing that it had good connectivity and enabling infrastructure. However, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other political parties had been insisting that the central university should be established in Motihari to end regional disparities, leading to a slugfest for months.
The Bihar Assembly even passed a resolution to demand the university in Motihari. As a consequence of the decision, the Central Universities Act, 2009 would have to be amended to enable opening of two central universities in Bihar. The Act had a provision for setting two central universities in Jammu and Kashmir as a special case.
This is only the second exception made by the Union government of setting up two central universities in a particular state, the first being Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said there would be no additional allocation for Bihar and the Rs 240 crore meant for the state for the central university would now be divided among the two varsities. Sibal said the campus in Motihari would be adjacent to an upcoming national highway, the completion of which would reduce the travel time to and fro Patna by two and half hours.
