Land row on Maharajas campus resolved

KOCHI: The Maharaja’s College issue regarding the handing over of land to the Brahamana Sabha has been resolved.    District Collector Sheik Pareeth told City Express that as no ‘puramboke’ was found on the campus there is no question of handing over of the land to the Sabha. “I will meet the college authorities on Tuesday,” he said.  “We are happy with the decision. The voice of the college and the public has been heard and now we can plan more development activities,” said Rasheed, district general secretary, Government College Teachers Association.  “Our efforts have paid off. We were planning to organise meetings and human chains to fight the forces who were trying to take over the college land in the name of development,” said SFI district general secretary Antony John.  But other issues hamper the development activities of the college. The office of the Deputy Director of Education, KWA’s pumping station and Kerala History Association office at Maharaja’s College mar the campus and its  ambience.   The college which has NAAC’s A plus status wants to better its infrastructure but it is running short of space. “The place where the Revenue Tower stands belongs to the college. A heritage building stood there. It was the principal’s quarters. Since the principals belonged to local areas, the place was turned into the Chief Justice’s quarters. The new quarters came up 15 to 20 years ago,” said some old students of the college.  "Many rooms in the Revenue Tower are vacant and the government can shift the offices on the campus to the Revenue Tower and the space can be utilised for educational purpose," said Rasheed.    The plans of the KSEB to build a mini power station on the ground is another issue.  Besides, another portion of the ground will be taken by the Metro Rail for a station is being planned there,” said a few teachers of the college.  “This is a very old landmark and has to be conserved. The DD office, the KWA room and other occupations should be shifted from the campus,” said Sebastian Paul MP and chairman, Maharaja's College Land Protection Committe.  The Collector said: “I will discuss the matter with the college authorities on Tuesday.”