PTU’s campus for border students at Bhikhiwind on verge of closure
Varsity stops admissions for new session, exregistrar says decision taken due to dip in number of students against allotted seats, students told to shift to Kapurthala or Amritsar centres
TARNTARAN: Inder Kumar Gujral Punjab Technical University’s Bhikhiwind campus is on the verge of closure as the varsity has stopped new admissions from this year.
The campus, constructed at the cost of ₹6.8 crore in Bhikhiwind town, is close to the India-Pakistan border and 40 km from the district headquarter. The then chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal, had inaugurated the campus in October, 2012.
Around 40 students — 24 in computer engineering and 16 in mechanical engineering — are studying on campus. As per information, there are only three assistant professors for computer engineering but no teacher is available for mechanical engineering. PTU vice-chancellor, Dr Ajay Sharma, said, “The campus has witnessed a drop in the number of admissions.”
Former registrar, Chandar Shekar Sharma said, due to lack of admissions against the allotted seats, the campus has been declared as a ‘no admission zone.’ Posts of director, dean and registrar have also been lying vacant since last few months. Assistant professor, Dr Rakesh Kumar, said, “There are only three teachers, including me, in the campus.”
“No new admission were made this year,” Kumar said.
Punjab technical minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, said, “I was unaware of the matter. I will look into it at the earliest.”
BEING FORCED TO SHIFT : STUDENTS
Students are alleging that the teachers have been forcing them to shift to the university’s Amritsar or Kapurthala main campus. “It is not possible for us to go to Amritsar or Kapurthala. It takes two hours to reach Amritsar and three hours to reach Kapurthala.The border area lacks good transportation facilities,” said mechanical engineering student Gursharan Singh.
The students are being asked to shift to other campuses due to staff crunch , said the vice-chancellor.
“Last year, there were eight teachers, four for mechanical engineering and four for computer engineering. However, these teachers were recruited on a contract basis and they left after their contract was over,” he said.Another student Joga Singh said, “This is the only government technical educational institute in Tarn Taran’s border area.”
“The state government should take immediate steps to stop the campus from closing,” he said.
The campus, spread across 10 acres, comprises two libraries, eight classrooms, three mechanical labs, two computer labs, seven administrative rooms and a kitchen.
Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA, Virsa Singh Valtoha, said, “The Bhikhiwind campus was set up near border area to provide an opportunity to the students belonging to minorities and lower income group. Owing to the state government’s apathy, the campus is shutting down.”
“Other government institutions like Guru Nanak Dev University College, Chung, Government Adarsh School in Balehar village and Government Model School in Valtoha, opened during the tenure of SAD government are also on the verge of closure due to the government’s ignorance,” he said.