Separate university to be set up for Konkan region, says Maharashtra Higher Education Minister

The plan to set up a separate varsity for the Konkan region was long pending demand of the people there. Read to know more.

Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant has said that plan to set up a university in the Konkan region is underway. The plan to set up a separate varsity for the Konkan region was long pending demand of the people there.

Currently, the colleges in Konkan’s Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are affiliated to the Mumbai University. “For students studying in Sawantwadi in Konkan, Mumbai University is about 650 km away and it is difficult for them to travel far for any work,” said the Minister.

While addressing a press conference on Monday, Samant said that a committee has been set up for the purpose. He also said that while one segment was in favour of the decision while the other half was not. He further said that experts will be consulted by the government to move ahead.

The minister also said that a separate academy for professors will be set up in Pune. He said that the state government has also decided to lift a stay on giving approvals to new libraries in the state. He further said that since 2012, no permission for new libraries have been given as there was a cabinet decision. They will lift the stay and start giving permissions to new libraries. He also went on to add that “principally” everybody present in the government had the opinion that the previous government’s decision of student elections was not appropriate and should be changed.