Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: Minister of State for I&C and Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, today visited Kishtwar Campus of Jammu University (JU) and took stock of various ongoing works at the site. Rs. 20 crore have already been released to fast-track the construction work of the Campus, which will go a long way in providing succour to the youth of the far-flung district in their pursuit for higher studies.
Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Saleem and Director, JU Kishtwar Campus, Dr. Shohab Inayat Malik, besides several other Sectoral Officers, accompanied the Minister on the occasion.
Exhorting the executing agency to complete the project by June next year, the Minister said that once the Campus becomes fully functional, the higher education network will get a major fillip and improve educational competitiveness in the district. “The Campus will have state-of-the-art infrastructure. We will also ensure that competent teaching staff is posted so that the Campus emerges as a seat of great learning,” he said,
The Minister went around various under-construction blocks of the Campus and issued directions for expediting work so that it is completed well within the stipulated timeframe. The on-site engineers briefed the Minister about the details of the project and assured that timelines for completion of the project would be adhered to.
While work on Phase I is currently on, additional land has also been acquired to commence work on Phase II of the project for which funds for land acquisition have to be made available, the Minister was informed.
On this occasion, the Minister announced Rs. 50,000 out of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for purchase of books for the Campus Library.
Later, while making a detailed presentation, Director JU Kishtwar Campus, Dr. Malik highlighted the issue of shortage of teaching and support staff at the Campus.