LUCKNOW, Sept. 9 -- The state government is going to develop a new portal, which will connect private universities and colleges, UP higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyaya said in video statement on Monday at a time when the Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University case of Barabanki is in the news. There are 8000 private self-financing colleges and 49 private universities in the state. Once these private universities and colleges are linked with a dedicated portal, it will help the government check and prevent recurrence of SRMU-like episodes. The new portal will be just like the 'Samarth Portal' of the Central government that connects universities, Upadhyaya added. After the SRMU case, many irregularities came to light in private universities and colleges, regarding which the state government has taken a strict stand, the minister said. Meanwhile, principal secretary, higher education, MP Agrawal on Monday evening issued a letter addressed to all the divisional commissioners regarding intensive investigation of the recognition and admission process in all private universities, private and non-government aided colleges and higher educational institutions of the state. The circular reads that a special investigation committee is formed in each district under the chairmanship of the district magistrate. The details of the members included in the committee are: district magistrate, chairman, senior superintendent of police/superintendent of police (in case of the district being a Police Commissionerate, an officer not lower than the superintendent of police nominated by police commissioner) and an officer of the education department. The committee will obtain the list of all the courses being run and, along with them the details of recognition by University Grants Commission and other related statutory bodies like All India Council for Technical Education, Bar Council of India, Distance Education Council , Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, Medical Council of India, National Council for Teachers Education, Pharmacy Council of India along with the number of seats or the approval of the university/board/regulatory body will be mentioned....