Srinagar: The Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry has identified land for the two universities in Kashmir and Jammu regions. According to the sources, the land for the central University of Jammu has been identified in Samba district while that of Kashmir has been identified in the Tulamulla area of Ganderbal district, near here.

The sources further added that a formal nod to the identification of the universities is still awaited. A final decision is expected within a week's time.

The decision came into place due to a high-level team of experts of the union government visiting the two regions recently.

"Wakoora-Khurhama villages near Tulamulla in Ganderabl district although serves the purpose of the requisite area of 5000 kanals but an additional land of 1700 kanals is also being acquired," the sources said.

Dr Abdul Ghani, OSD, administration, of the central university of Kashmir, which is functioning as a temporary office in Srinagar, declared that the university will be flagging off its six academic programmes in July this year.

These programmes include three masters degree courses and three research programmes in information technology, business administration and English language and literature.

"There would be three masters degree programmes, M.Sc in information technology, MBA and MA in English and integrated M.Phil and PhD programmes in the three streams, the admission dates for which would be advertised soon," said Ghani.

The administrative posts of the University of Kashmir are yet to be filled although Dr Abdul Wahid Qureshi has filled the top post of the VC after taking over as the VC of the Central University of Jammu and Kashmir.

These include the appointments of Registrar and Finance Officer, for which interviews are to be held on March 18 and 19, respectively.

Various other important decisions would be taken by the Executive Council in its first meeting scheduled on April 3.

With the demand for setting up a central university in Jammu, the identification of land, admission and recruitment process got delayed after the Central University of Jammu and Kashmir was sanctioned among 15 such universities in the country in January last year.