The Odisha government has started scouting for 200 acres of land near four cities – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Berhampur – for establishment of Indian Institute of Management.

The NDA government in its maiden budget this year sanctioned one IIM for Odisha. In July, the Centre asked to suggest two to three locations for the premier educational institute.

“We have asked Collectors of four districts – Khurda, Ganjam, Cuttack and Sambalpur – to identify a compact land patch of 200 acres near Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur and Sambalpur cities. Identification of government land has to be completed before September 10,” said Vishal Dev, Chairman and Managing Director of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha, here on Tuesday.

“After identification of land, the Centre would be intimated. Subsequently, a Central team will visit all four places and take a decision,” said Mr. Dev.

The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development stated that the locations, which should be free of all encumbrances, should be made available free of cost. It emphasised that the locations identified should have necessary physical and social infrastructure, including good road, rail and air connectivity.

In the last couple of months, people’s representatives from different districts had been lobbying to locate the proposed IIM in their region. Leaders have alleged that the State government was making lopsided development by selecting Bhubaneswar for all prestigious institutes, such as AIIMS, IIT and National Institute for Science Education Research.

Only Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have good air, rail and road connectivity. Berhampur and Sambalpur also have lesser social infrastructure.

Sources said Cuttack might not have 200 acres of compact land patch around the city. The Khurda district administration might not have difficulty in finding 200 acres around the State Capital.

Source : The Hindu...