Congress opposes OUAT bill

BHUBANESWAR: Opposing the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2011, in its present form, the  Opposition Congress on Saturday suggested the Government to either refer the Bill to a select committee or bring a full-fledged Bill in the next session of the Assembly. ‘’The Bill is inadequate and wanting in many respects,’’ Opposition Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan said. If the Bill to amend the Orissa University of Agriculture and technology (OUAT) Act, 1965, is passed in the present format there will be no effective control of the university on the private affiliated institutions. The Bill does not provide any regulatory authority to OUAT in the matter of administration of fixation of capitation fees, he said and cautioned that it may prove ultra vires in the eyes of law. While the Government has sought the approval of the House to amend the OUAT Act to enable the university to affiliate private institutions intending to impart education in the field of agriculture, veterinary, fisheries and allied sciences, the Opposition smelt a rat saying this is another attempt by the private investors to grab Government land like the one made by Vedanta University. Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh and party member Anup Sai sought to know if the Government will provide land free of cost to prospective private investors for establishment of professional and  technical institutions under OUAT. Allaying the fears of the Opposition members, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy promised that the Government would not provide land free of cost to any private institution. The investor will procure land and develop infrastructure at its own cost. Catching the Government on the wrong foot, Harichandan sought to know from the Minister if the Khurda district administration is in the process of acquiring 47.5 acres of Government land for Essar Educational Research Foundation under Jatni tehsil as per the May 4, 2007, direction of the Government. He further sought a clarification from the Minister about the decision of the OUAT academic council and July 23, 2007, resolution of the university’s board of management not to grant permission for opening any private institution or affiliate any private institution.   Asserting that none of the 38 agriculture universities in the country has given permission to any private organisation to set up college in agriculture, veterinary and allied sciences, he wanted to know as to why the State Government is so keen on allow entry of private sector in the State. Discussion on the Bill remained inconclusive.