RTI shows encroachments on the land allotted to Rajasthan University
26 Dec, 2013
An application was filed with the Rajasthan University under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details about the alleged encroachment of land allotted to the University.
The reply to the application states that the size of the university premises has shrunk from 364 acres to 344 acres due to encroachment. The data provided in the reply shows that in 1962 Rajasthan College and Commerce College were spread in 65 acres and 30 acres respectively but the current sizes of the colleges are 57 acres and 21.70 acres of land respectively. A committee under the chairmanship of the former vice chancellor of the university found that various portions of possessed land were not in university records. It found that the encroachment of the varsity land started in 1962 when an additional 157 acres of land was allotted for expansion.
The total land of the university was divided into three blocks-A, B and C. Towards block A, no expansion ever took place. Later on Rajasthan Housing Board built houses on nine acres of university land. However, it was found that even after around 20 years, no compensation has been paid to the university.
In blocks B and C, Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) had allotted land to run a private institution but later cancelled it accepting it to be a mistake. More so, the university management has also awarded land to private parties. Land was given to build Indira Gandhi statue, Pandit Badri Prasad Sanskrit Sansthan and also to private parties.