Post News Network
Sambalpur, May 19: Even as demand for establishing an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Sambalpur is growing and dispute between western Orissa and coastal Orissa is intensifying over the issue, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) to establish the premier institute at Sambalpur.
In the letter sent to Minister Smriti Jubin Irani, Patnaik justified his stand to establish the institution at Sambalpur. He wrote that being the premier city in western Orissa, Sambalpur is the best place to establish the institution. Lands measuring 231.2 acre and 247.63 acre have been identified at two different places for the purpose.
The letter sent by the CM further added that the city has all means of connectivity including air and rail. The nearest airstrip is at Jharsuguda. The Airport Authority of India has started work to make the airstrip functional and the work is in the full swing.
In the letter, the CM further requested the Centre to send a selection committee to the place to finalise the land identified for the purpose.
It may be mentioned here that a delegation of the People’s Forum for IIM in Sambalpur had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence April 29 and submitted him a memorandum demanding that the IIM be established at Sambalpur. Modi after discussing with the delegation had assured them of taking measures to fulfill their demand after a review is conducted over the issue.
The forum members who met the PM include Sambalpur MP Nagendra Pradhan, People’s Forum convener Sapan Mishra, Prof Adityaprasad Padhi and Prof Shankar Prasad Pati.
