GUWAHATI: The Cotton University has retracted its notification to lease out its land to private players for revenue generation.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, the University stated that the decision was taken with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor.
Earlier, the University had asserted that their previous notification regarding the alleged plan to lease out land had been “misreported”, and all related news is “false and baseless”.
“It is unfortunate that a recent notification issued by the authorities of Cotton University has sparked controversy and concern regarding proposed modes of facilitation and services for the student community,” the statement read.
“The institution and its stakeholders reiterate that they have no intention of causing confusion or any form of alarm regarding the integrity and well-being of Cotton University,” it continued.
The decision on Wednesday comes shortly after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed staunch disapproval of the University’s plan to lease out its land to private entities.
Cotton College University carries the rich legacy of Cotton College. The Assam Government will not allow outsourcing its properties to any private individuals or organizations. The University authority must stop any such exercise immediately.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) May 15, 2024
In a social media post, CM Sarma stated that the government would not permit such a move.
The decision to lease out the land within the varsity was made on March 8, 2024, during the 34th Executive Council Meeting, where a Standing Committee was formed to oversee space allocation on university premises to external parties for revenue generation.
Cotton College became a constituent college of Gauhati University in 1948 and then of Cotton College State University when it was established in 2011 by an Act (Act XIX of 2011) of the Assam Government.
