Negligence galore in CAU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 15 2013 : The expectation that setting up of Central Agriculture University (CAU) at Iroisemba will spur agricultural development in the North East region, particularly Manipur, is turning out to be a misconception as the University is presently besieged with infrastructure inadequacies.

With administration repugnancy being the apparent cause for the University unable to live upto the high expectation in the State, whose negligible economy is specifically agriculture-based, the students too are deprived of academic benefits.

It may be noted that in 1992 the Parliament passed an Act for upgrading the then Manipur Agriculture College to CAU for accelerating agriculture-related development in the region, including Manipur.

The then Manipur Agriculture College was established in 1979 with the Chief Minister as the chairman of the erstwhile Agriculture College Society.

Despite existence of CAU for over two decades there is hardly any significant impact of the central university on the State's agronomy as incomplete infrastructure continues to dent the high expectation.

An unfinished structure at CAU

it came to light during a spot visit by a team of media persons that inordinate delay in infrastructure development is the main stumbling block in the University not making much headway.

Speaking on condition of anonymity some University officials disclosed that construction of academic block for the Post Graduate course in the varsity was initiated under the 9th as well as 10th plans but the structure is far from complete.

Moreover in the current fiscal a total of Rs 60 crore was sanctioned for building construction and infrastructure development but the same fund provision could not be utilised till date.

The incomplete structures include auditorium, farmers' hostel, gymnasium, gents/ladies hostels and hostels for post-graduate students thereby depriving the university students even the basic amenities.

While infrastructure underdevelopment is the hallmark of the Iroisemba facility, which ironically is the headquarters for the region, agricultural universities in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are said to be free from infrastructure-related problems thereby ensuring the students enjoy the academic facilities in these States.

With the exception of a medical unit building all other structures are either under development or remains incomplete, while the research farm and production farm components of the University are yet to take shape.

In what could be described as incompetency of CAU authorities a 279 acres land provided by the Government of Manipur to the University could not be utilised in a judicious manner till date.

The varsity officials were also of the opinion that the CAU Vice Chancellor Dr SN Puri not remaining static at the headquarters might be one of the factors for the university unable to effectively implement infrastructure development programmes.

Apart from lack of initiative by the Central Government and administration ineffectiveness they further speculated that non-rotatory system of deans in-charge might also be the other cause for the University falling short of the people's expectation.