SRINAGAR, JUNE 20: Minister for Industries and
Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga Tuesday convened a meeting to discuss
issues regarding the opening of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
campus and the development of infrastructure for the institute’s
permanent campus in Srinagar.
Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shailendra Kumar,
Director/In-charge NIFT Srinagar, Dr. Vijaya Deshmukh, Managing Director SIDCO, Jasvinder
Dua, and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
The meeting discussed several issues, including those related to the
infrastructure and security at the proposed temporary campus at Rangreth
until the permanent campus of the institute comes up.
On the occasion, the Minister directed for the temporary campus of the
institute in Srinagar to be made functional from July 31 for the
current academic session. Pertinently, due to the law and order situation in Srinagar
last year, the courses for the J&K students were started from the Jodhpur
NIFT campus.
During the meeting, instructions were also issued to SIDCO, the
executing agency for the project, for expediting the ongoing work besides
completion of allotment of pending contracts for the permanent campus.
The meeting was informed that NIFT Srinagar has already been allotted
133 kanals of land at Industrial Estate Ompura in Budgam and that the work on
the project will start soon.
It was also given out that the state domicile candidates will get a 35%
reservation in the admissions.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the opening of a NIFT
campus in Srinagar will enhance the scope of textile and handicrafts sectors in
the State, adding that it will make them go at par with the rest of the country
besides boosting the entrepreneurship in fashion textile sector in the State.
Pertinently, the project, including the establishment of the permanent
campus and the running of the temporary campus, has been sanctioned at a
total cost of Rs. 325.36 crore, including Rs. 257.89 crore as central share and
Rs 67.47 crore as State share.