Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday held a high-level meeting and discussed with senior on the infrastructure development of Dharanidhar University (DD University) in Keonjhar.
The university, which was upgraded from Dharanidhar College in February 2023, currently affiliates 38 colleges in the district.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to make the university self-sufficient within two years, allocating necessary funds from the funds of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) for renovation.
Majhi underlined the need for preserving the old building and creating a comprehensive master plan.
The CM stressed the need for six new six-storey hostels, as the existing ones are outdated and in deplorable condition. He also ordered quick steps for filling of key positions, including controller of examination, registrar, and controller of finance.
Majhi instructed the District Collector to evict illegal land encroachments, rehabilitate affected parties, and allocate additional land for the university’s future expansion.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Higher Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arvind Agarwal, Dharanidhar University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Pratap Kumar Mohanty, and Keonjhar District Collector Vishal Singh via video conference.
With a focus on transforming Dharanidhar University into a premier institution, Majhi’s directives aim to enhance infrastructure, resources, and academic excellence, benefiting students and the region.
