After nine years, the Central University of Gujarat located in Gandhinagar has got land for its permanent campus outside of the state capital. While the decision of land allotment for the permanent campus has brought smiles to the CUG community, the area of the land has upset many. As against the requirement of nearly 300 acres, the state government has allotted only 100 acres to CUG. Earlier this month, the state government allotted 100 acres of land to the Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar (started in 2009) at Kundhela Village, in Vadodara. The allotment order was handed over in presence of revenue minister Kaushikbhai Patel and Vadodara Collector. Speaking about the same, SA Bari, Vice-Chancellor, CUG, said, "It was a long due as we do not have any place of ours. While any central university requires 200-500 acres as per central government rules, the committee looking into the land allotment recommended 226 acres for the university. However, the state government has allotted 100 acres. We have requested the state government to allot us the rest as well. As of now, to begin with, we are happy with 100 acres." "We shall soon initiate processes for plans, construction approvals and in next three years, we hope to move. We will, however, take a call how many departments and centres will move first," he added. The land is 12 kilometres from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Expressway near Vadodara. Vijay Mishra, ex-president, ABVP, said, "We are happy that finally, we have got land for the permanent campus, however, the area of the land allotted is quite less looking at our operations. We have drawn the vice chancellors attention to the land area issue and he said that the state will likely allot more land in future. As of now, work will start on 100 acres and there is the probability of adding 113 acres of land later on." Terming the decision as sad, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi, said, "The state government's decision of allotting land outside state capital early shows the intention of the government of not taking central university seriously. They have enough land to allot to businesses or other people but not a university of this repute. This will be first such university to have a permanent campus outside of the state capital." He further said, "Not just the land location, the area of the land allotted is quite less. Firstly the university did not get land for nine years and when they got, it was only 100 acres. They need at least 300 acres of land." GIVE AND TAKE

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