Special Committee begins inquiry into Engg colleges

BHUBANESWAR: Following the suicidal death of a girl student of a city-based engineering college NMIET after she was mentally tortured over the collection of college fees, a special committee of the Employment and Technical Education and Training department began its inquiry from Wednesday regarding infrastructure and fee structure of the private engineering colleges in the State.

The committee on its first day of its inquiry started from a private engineering college at Tangi in Cuttack district. It investigates the required infrastructure, library and laboratory facilities and fee structure fixed by the State Government. “We would write letter to the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to take action against the colleges who violate the rule and regulations of the Government,” said E and TET secretary Dr CS Kumar.

Meanwhile, members of the Odisha Private Engineering Colleges Association (OPECA) said that they have applied before the State Government and Fee Regulatory Committee to hike fee of the engineering courses taught in 98 colleges in the State. “If the State Government does not increase the fee according to the Odisha Professional Educational Act 2007, the colleges would charge the hiked fee,” the members said.