Community Outcry: Proposed College Site Shifted, Leaving Locals Disappointed, says Col. SS Pathania (R)

04-06-2023: Col SS Pathania (R), the President of the Sainik Samaj Party in JKUT, has expressed deep concern and disappointment regarding the decision to relocate the proposed government degree college from Rakh Rara village to the border village of Palota. In 2019, the government sanctioned the establishment of a degree college in Ramgarh tehsil, district Samba, along with several other degree colleges in different districts of JKUT.

According to the government order, Rakh Rara village was chosen as the site for the college, and the foundation stone was laid in May 2020. Sixty kanals of land were allotted to the higher education department. However, despite numerous requests from the local community, no construction work has commenced even after three years. Then, on May 31, 2023, the Principal Secretary of higher education, Alok Sharma, and DC Samba announced on social media that the proposed degree college would now be shifted to the border village of Palota. This announcement has dashed the hopes of thousands of people from nearby villages who had envisioned a government degree college in a central location with good connectivity and ample space for future infrastructure development in education and sports.

The proposed site in Palota raises significant concerns as it is situated close to the first line of defense, the Ditch Cum Bandh (DCB), posing potential safety risks for children due to the volatile border situation. Moreover, the land in Palota has not been fully acquired, with only 28 to 30 kanals available, which is insufficient for a degree college. This limited space will greatly hinder future expansion plans and compliance with UGC norms.

Pathania expressed his bewilderment as to why no construction work has commenced despite the foundation stone being laid and land being allotted to the higher education department. The reasons behind the decision to shift the college to Palota, a border village, remain undisclosed and appear unjustifiable. In response, a significant number of people have already begun protesting, and a Sangarsh Samiti has been formed to oppose this decision by the concerned authorities. The honorable Lt Governor is urged to investigate the matter and provide justice to the people of the area and the affected students by reconsidering this decision if it is indeed being contemplated by the authorities, which include the Secretary of higher education and DC Samba.