Nagpur: The “generous gesture” of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to allot its 75 acre land situated at Mouza Wathoda to Pune-based Symbiosis International University at nominal rate seems to have ruffled the feathers of Aam Admi Party’s cap. The land, worth around Rs 200 crore, is being given to the Symbiosis University on lease at a nominal rate of Re 1 per sq ft/annum. The “gesture” of NMC is shocking at a time when the civic body itself is facing financial crisis. The decision is also violation of Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act,” the AAP leader Jammu Anand said.
Notably, the Urban Development Department of State Government recently accorded its nod NMC to allot its 75-acre land Symbiosis University for construction of off-campus centre for skill development.
“The University is a private and professional university in its own which recovers fees in lakhs from students for different courses. It is very shameful that NMC itself has closed down its 50 schools owing top financial constraints. The civic body is running four junior colleges with lot of difficulties. In such a situation allotting the 75-acre land to an international level private and professional University is beyond understanding. The market value of the land is around Rs 200 crore. That the NMC has done the agreement for higher education and better opportunities in city and Vidarbha is nothing but misleading the people,” the party charged.
“There is no educational goal behind allotment of such a huge land to the University. On the other hand, it is aimed at extending undue financial gains to the institute. Publicity is being made that 25 per cent seats will be reserved for Nagpur-domiciled residents along with 15 per cent concession in academic fees. The reality is that the University will offer courses in Management (BBA-MBA), Law (BALLB and BBA LLB), Design (fashion & textile), etc etc. The students will have to cough up fat fees for the courses,” Anand stated in a press release.
According to the agreement, 25 per cent seats will be reserved for Nagpur-domiciled residents along with 15 per cent concession in academic fees. But the fees are still in lakhs. Only a few students from ‘crorepati’ families will be able to take admissions. For these few students the land worth crores is being given to the private and professional institute. An RTI activist Ankita Shah had already protested against this NMC’s ‘deal. The activist lodged a complaint with the State Government in against the NMC, questioning the intentions of the civic body. But still the State Government permitted NMC to allot the land to Symbiosis University, the AAP pointed out.
