Land dispute stalls construction of Ravenshaw second campus

Following protests from local residents, construction of the boundary wall of Ravenshaw University's second campus here at Brajabiharipur of the satellite city of Markat Nagar came to a halt today.
Claiming that the land allotted to the University by the state government belongs to them, hundreds of villagers halted the construction of the boundary wall and asked the workers to refrain from constructing any permanent structure on the disputed land.
"We have obtained a decree from the court to stop any construction on the disputed land," the villagers said adding the matter was earlier discussed with the University authorities and the Public Works Department (PWD) was asked to stop work.

"The PWD has been asked to construct the boundary wall in the undisputed areas," said University Vice Chancellor Dr P K Saranagi.
He said the land was allotted to them by the state government and the government should negotiate with the local residents.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in June 2015 had laid the foundation stone of the second campus, which is to come up over a sprawling area of 120 acres to ease the pressure on its first campus, which was set up in 1868 as a collegiate.
While attending the annual function of the University Students' Union function in 2015, Patnaik had announced a grant of Rs 30 crore for the new campus.