A'duar varsity VC joins work

SNS,  ALIPURDUAR, 28 DECEMBER 20 : Amid controversy, Dr Mahendra Nath Roy, the former professor of Chemistry at the the North Bengal University, today took up his new assignment as the Vice- Chancellor of the newly-formed Alipurduar University.

It is learnt that while Dr Roy took charge of the university 'online' earlier, he joined his office here today.

The university started its journey temporarily in the Alipurduar College building on 1 October, 2018.

"I will work towards making the university gain worldwide fame. The university will take up an important role in research and development work on tea, tourism, physical education and folk culture," Dr Roy said.

It maybe mentioned here that Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had recently announced appointment of Dr Shanti Chettry, the Principal of the Jalpaiguri PD Women's College, as the first VC of the Alipurduar University.

However, later the state government replaced him with Dr Roy. The state government's Higher Education department cited "unwillingness" on the part of Dr Chettry to take up the new assignment.

It is learnt that Rs 25 crore has been sanctioned for the university building, along with two more buildings- one six-storey and another 4- storey will also be constructed.

Sources said that the university will hold classes in the Alipurduar College building as a temporary measure, while the same will be shifted to the new buildings after they are constructed.

Jaydeep Roy, the Principal of Alipurduar College, has been given charge as the Registrar of the university.

The chairman of the Rajbangshi Development Board, Bangshibadan Barman, Alipurduar MLA Sourav Chakraborty, the chairman of the state advisory board of the land and land reforms department Mridul Goswami and other dignitaries were present at the university office in Alipurduar Town today when Dr Roy joined duties.

"This is for the first time that a Rajbangshi man has taken charge as the Vice Chancellor of a university in West Bengal. We are very much delighted and we would like to thank Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her move to respect the Rajbangshi community," said Mr Barman.