Ganderbal: The first meeting of the Technical Committee constituted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for providing technical expertise and guiding the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) for the ongoing constructions at the designated campus in Tulmulla, was held with Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir in chair, here on Saturday.
The Committee constituted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, comprised Prof. K S Rao, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi, Prof. N K Samadhiya, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Rorkee, Prof. A K Shrivastava, Department of Civil Engineering, DTU Delhi, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Mir, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, and Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Registrar CUK. The Committee held a threadbare discussion with the functionaries of the university including Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, Registrar, Finance Officer, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, Director, Tulmulla Campus, Prof. Shahid Rasool, at the campus site about the ongoing construction works and discussed the contours and terms and reference of the committee, which includes to work out the scope of the investigations required and also help in finding the agency to do the work. Further, the Committee will supervise and examine the work of the agency and submit a comprehensive report for design of suitable foundation system and ground improvement for the construction of campus buildings.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, apprised the members about the universities’ journey from the rented accommodations in Srinagar district to Ganderbal, stating that at present the varsity is functioning from four different campuses in Ganderbal district, including at its designated campus at Tulmulla. He said the varsity has faced several difficulties in constructing its own campus at Tulmulla due to varied reasons, adding the executing agencies of the projects including the NBCC have failed to adhere to the timeline set up the varsity to complete the projects. Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir further said the university’s engineering wing has constructed some structures at the designated campus, wherefrom six departments are currently functioning. “The university is marching ahead on academics and research front when compared with the institutions established with it, but hasn’t done much on infrastructure front,” Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir said, adding that successive governments and the district administration has always extended all possible support for the establishment of the permanent campus of the university. He assured the committee of full support for devising the mechanisms to ensure construction on the allocated site starting with Phase-I buildings. The Vice Chancellor also mentioned about the additional land provided by the Government at Watlar for the construction of university township.
Addressing the participants, Prof. K S Rao, Committee Chairman, expressed that a comprehensive technical support would be provided by all the members for setting up the permanent campus of the university at its designated site. The Committee discussed the various contours of the designated site and proposed various means to verify the nature of the land so that appropriate methodology would be adopted for the vertical construction on the land.
Earlier, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar gave a detailed presentation on campus development report including the present status, impediments, challenges and opportunities available on ground. He underscored the importance of the Committee for finding out the most appropriate design suitable for implementing the approved masterplan of the university on the ground.
The meeting besides above was also attended by SE CPWD and his team, Muneer Khan, former chief architect of J&K and member of the University Building Committee and officers of the engineering, campus development and other sections of the university.
Finance Officer, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka, proposed the vote of thanks.

KR Desk