Digitalization project in limbo!

Karmaveer bin Chandra Bordoloi Library

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 16: The move to digitalize Karmaveer bin Chandra Bordoloi Library in the city lies in limbo. The committee that was formed in 2015 for the purpose split down the middle in its opinion on the project.

Professor Alaka Burhagohain, a retired professor of Library and Information Science Department of Gauhati University, who is a member of the committee, said: “The committee was formed with members from the State Cultural Affairs Department, some government members and some non-government ones. The committee was unimous to uplift the infrastructure of the library by digitalizing it. The GMDA members were of the view that the project could be done with Rs 2 crore from the GMDA. In the requirement of more funds, the committee could move the government. However, they wanted to dismantle the existing building of the library to build infrastructure that suits a digital library. All the GMDA members of the committee, including then GMDA chairman Dhiren Baruah and engineer Amitabh Barthakur, were in favour of dismantling the present building so as to make space for new buildings befitting a digital library. However, a section of members of the committee, including me, were not in favour of dismantling the existing historic building. We want the development of digital infrastructure in the existing building itself. Thus our opinion split down the middle.”

Now the project is lying in limbo. “In 2016 the GMDA members of the committee said that GMDA had no fund to go ahead with the project. Without any fund now the project lies in limbo,” Burhagohain said, and added: “We’re going to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) of the project so as to submit it to the government for funding.”