Proposed Gondwana University delayed; VC still not finalised

Nagpur, Feb 15 (PTI) The proposal to set up GondwanaUniversity in naxal-infested Gadchiroli district in easternVidarbha region is gathering dust and the project still seemsto be hanging in a limbo despite tall promises made by theMaharashtra government.

Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan on Saturday admittedthe delay in setting up the new varsity and had promised thatthe process for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor would beinitiated soon.

"Some proposals (for names of the VC) have beenreceived," he had said.

During the last assembly session in Nagpur, the stategovernment had assured to launch Maharashtra''s latestuniversity from Gadhchiroli from the coming academic session,by appointing a VC by the end of the winter session. However,even two months down the line, the government has failed toname a VC.

The government had also said that it will startoperations from Nagpur University''s sub centre at Gadchirolifrom academic session 2011-12, and that the file regarding thefirst VC was with the CM.

Talks with Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation(MIDC) to hand over excess land to the new university, whichwill have over 163 affiliated colleges from Gadchiroli andChandrapur, were also reported.

Sources close to Minister for Edcuation Rajesh Topesaid that probable names were finalised but Home MinisterR R Patil was of the opinion that the VC should be selectedafter conducting interviews, instead of a direct selection.

"It will be decided within a day or two," Tope assuredagain. .