The SVM College alumni, former Principals, former students union leaders, educationists, social activists, lawyers, students, leaders from different political parties and civilians on Friday converged at the college gate and vehemently opposed the district administration's different projects in Government land already under possession of the college since years.

The protest was led by former-Principal Lingaraj Behera, lawyer Basudev, former student leader Biplab Choudhury, Arupananda Khanduala, Devi Prasad Choudhury, Natabar Barik, Pratap Mishra among others.  

The SVM College was established in the year 1963 on the bank of the dead Alaka River over 26 acres of land. About 10 acres of Government land has been encroached by the college authority for the enhancement of the campus. In a significant decision in November last, the State Government had decided that the encroached land under possession of institution would be transferred to the name of the Higher Education Department and the land would be utilized for the institution.

However, flouting the Government decision, the Jagatsinghpur district administration has started a process to establish an indoor stadium, medical staff quarters and roads connecting to the stadium in the 10 acres encroached land.

Meanwhile, the land demarcation which had been launched by the Revenue Department was put on hold after it was strongly opposed by the college authority and college governing body on Thursday.

The college governing body has apprised the State Government that for skill development and opening of a few professional courses in the college, the encroached 10 acres of land will be used. So the land should not be transferred for other purposes, it said.

The protestors took out a rally from the college and marched to the Collector's office here and submitted a memorandum to the Collector requesting not to hand over the college-occupied land for any other purpose.