KOCHI: The state Higher Education Department is exploring all options to build a new college in place of the Munnar Government Arts and Science College which was devastated in the August floods and landslides and is no more now.
The Geology Department has advised against undertaking any restoration work on the college building that was devastated as the area has been found to be prone to landslides. Hence the state government has asked the district collector of Idukki to find a suitable area to establish a new Government Arts and Science College.
Currently the students of the college are attending classes in the buildings of the Government College of Engineering Munnar. Both UG and PG students were studying in the ruined college. The district collector is scouting for suitable five acres of land under the local area development schemes of MLAs as well, to build the new college.
“We had got Rs 2 crore from Union HRD Ministry to expand facilities at the now defunct college but the tender proceedings only were underway when the floods occurred. So the money was not spent and hence it could be saved,” said a state Higher Education Department official.
He said that Union HRD Ministry Higher Education Secretary R. Subramaniam has informed the state officials that the new Munnar college will be considered in the scheme for new model degree colleges under RUSA project for which the Centre will grant Rs 12 crore. “This money is sufficient to build a good college and we are looking for that money to build our college,” said the official. The Higher Education Department is also expecting funds from the CM’s Disaster Relief Fund since the college was devastated in the August flood and landslide.
