By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: The concrete fencing of Aligarh Muslim University campus in Murshidabad is in progress at fast pace. The construction work started on 6th August 2012 after a clear announcement by Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee that except the disputed 15 acres of land, the AMU Murshidabad campus will be provided with 273 acres. Then the Murshidabad district administration swung into action,called an all-party meeting and finally decided to start the construction work. The Union Government of India has already allocated an initial grant of Rs 50 Crore for this campus.
The Officer on Special Duty of AMU Murshidabad Campus,Dr Shah Alam told TCN that the boundary wall works will be completed within a week. Daily nearly 500 labors are working at the construction of the wall fencing from 6th August, 2012. Construction works of the main buildings will be started very soon after the completion of boundary walls. Dr. Shah Alam said: “AMU officials expecting the temporary AMU campus will be shifted to the main campus in early January of 2013 with introduction of some new courses. Now AMU campus of Murshidabad is running at a rented building at village Mongaljan, Ghorshala, Umarpur beside the National Highway-34 road, nearly 5 Km away from the main campus of Murshidabad with only two courses of MBA and BA LLB.” Dr Alam also said, “the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Lt. General (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah has given us special direction for rapid progress of construction works of the AMU Murshidabad Campus.” He hoped early of January next year, the main campus will start functioning with senior secondary (10+2) courses. The next course might be Teacher training course Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) both for boys and girls. The VC of AMU Lt. General (Retd.)Zameer Uddin Shah wants to start the classes at the main campus of Murhsidabad as soon as possible, OSD of AMU Murshidabad told TCN.
Temporary rented building of The Aligarh Muslim University Off-Campus of Murshidabad at Village Mongaljan, Ghorsala beside the National Highway-34 in Murshidabad.
TCN on 30th September visited the main campus of AMU Murshidabad at Ahiran, a few minutes away from NH-34 and just beside the Ahiran Railway station. A narrow road links National Highway-34 to Ahiran campus after crossing the Ahiran Railway station. The main name plate of AMU campus of Murshidabad was there and fencing work was in progress. The name plate written in both English & Bengali carried this information: `This land belongs to Aligarh Muslim University Centre, Mauza: Rasunpur (Ahiran), Block: Suti-1, Murshidabad, West Bengal, J.L (Plot) No: 103, Area: 115.76 Acre.’
Officer on Special Duty of AMU Murshidabad campus Dr Shah Alam (centre) along with Prof. Dr Md Junaid (left) & Dr Md Habib Subhan (right) in their office in a temporary rented building at Village Mongaljan, Ghorsala beside the National Highway-34 in Murshidabad
In fact, 288.74 acresof land were acquired for the Farakka Barrage Authority (FBA), under Government of India in 1964 for Farakka Barrage Project. The land had been lying idle since then. The entire piece of land from Farakka Barrage Project was handed over to Aligarh Muslim University authority and foundation stone was laid down on 26th September, 2010. But construction work could not start due to anti-AMU campus movement. Some families backed by Sangh outfits emerged from nowhere and claimed possession on 15 acres of acquired piece for the AMU campus. Unofficially accepting their claim, the West Bengal government asked AMU authorities to start construction work on only 273 acres and leave aside disputed 15 acres. However, as of now the construction work has started only on 115.73 acres of the AMU campus land.
The Aligarh Muslim University Off-Campus at Ahiran, Murshidabad, West Bengal. Boundary walling in progress within 115.76 Acre only. Actually allocated 288 Acre for AMU campus for Murshidabad.
OSD of AMU campus of Murshidabad Dr Shah Alam told TCN that after talking with Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, the district administration is promptly helping us to make the boundary walls rapidly and very peacefully. He said District Magistrate of Murshidabad Rajib Kumar assured us to give all the protection in AMU campus. Similar assurance has come from Superintendent of Police Mr Humayun Kabir. After completion of fencing, a part of main building might be constructed successfully by January. Then the present temporary campus of AMU will shift there. To observe the progress of work, VC of AMU Lt. General (Retd.)Zameer Uddin Shah will visit the campus on 17th October. The VC will attend a program in memory of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in Kolkata on 16th October, called by AMU alumni association of Bengal. After the visit of the campus, VC may announce future plan for the main campus.
The way to Murshidabad campus of The Aligarh Muslim University at Ahiran, Murshidabad, West Bengal, from the National Highway-34.
TCN also visited the temporary AMU campus of Murshidabad running at village Mongaljan. The house owner is a local businessman and brother of local Congress MLA Imani Biswas. AMU is paying nearly Rs 6 lacs per month for the rented building including electricity charges. OSD of AMU, Murshidabad Dr Alam admitted it and said that due to high rental, AMU authorities want to shift to the main campus as soon as possible. Locals also told TCN that the rent is high compared to the present rent rate in this area.
Construction labors working for boundary walling for The Aligarh Muslim University Off-Campus at Ahiran, Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Besides OSD Dr Shah Alam, two assistant professors Dr Md Junaid and Dr Md Habib Subhan are also active for the campus and new construction works. Dr Junaid told TCN that, they are facing lots of problems in this area. But they are getting more help form the local residents. Now 273 students are studying in this temporary campus in MBA & BA LLB courses and they are form different states. Nearly 10 percent of them are from West Bengal, said Dr Alam. Mr Junaid and Mr Habib keep in good touch with local villagers and they are always helpful for this campus, Dr Alam said. They observed that, the area purely rural is not educated. Most of the residents are Muslims and they are living in a very poor condition. So, they hope, if AMU campus runs fully then Muslims of West Bengal besides other communities will be benefitted.
TCN also met some students at AMU campus. Mr Sartaj Khan comes from Uttar Pradesh and is studying in this campus in 3rd Year of MBA. Sartaj Khan told TCN that, he studied in AMU main campus in Aligarh for two years and shifted here for the 3rd year. He is happy with the faculty and administration. But he is not happy at the facilities at the temporary campus. The college and hostel are in the same building. So they are facing lack of adequate places. They urged the AMU officials to shift to the new campus as soon as possible. They are waiting for the new campus and in this regards they will talk to the VC whenever he visits the campus, Sartaj said.