The Bihar Science and Technology department plans to set up a regional center of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for Bihar and Jharkhand. The state science and technology department is likely to take up the matter with Union Human Resources Development (HRD) in this regard.
State science and technology department Director, Shribhagwan Singh said, “There is definite understanding in the science and technology department that there should be a regional centre of AICTE, located at Patna, to address the needs of Bihar and Jharkhand. For, getting a letter of approval (LoA) from, or recognition of, AICTE for any new engineering college or a polytechnic centre in public sector gets delayed”.
In the circumstances, normatively, the state government would pursue the matter with Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, through letter or a formal meeting on the issue.
He said if the AICTE has its regional centre here, it would be “easier or slightly convenient” to pursue the matter with it, as the state government has willy-nilly made up its mind to give a substantial push to establishment of institutions like engineering colleges and polytechnic institutes in the state, both of which would require final AICTE approval before starting their academic session.
Incidentally, the state government has already decided to open four new polytechnic institutions next year, one each in Nalanda, Vaishali, Rohtas and Lakhisarai districts. Besides, eighth engineering college is in the process of coming up at Barauni in Begusarai district, and more such institutions are to follow.
“We would always look forward to having early clearance from the AICTE for them,” said an official of the department, adding, “If the AICTE decides to start its regional centre at Patna, things would become relatively easier, as its location in the state capital would provide easy proximity and access. Jharkhand, too, would benefit.”
