Problem of plenty at GU

NRI girls’ hostel, examination centre, guesthouse and computers worth crores lie unused at university; Vice Chancellor sets up committee to figure out how to utilise infrastructure

Yogesh Avasthi

Posted On Thursday, November 01, 2012 ( http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012110120121101025134804b52c2c4/Problem-of-plenty-at-GU.html)

Gujarat University is plagued by the problem of abundance. The university spent crores to construct buildings and buy computers. And now, it is looking at ways to utilise the infrastructure. The problem is so grave that the university has set up a committee to contact experts in the respective fields for suggestions. GU built a new hostel block ‘Aatrayee’ for female NRI students close to Gujarat University Police Station. The 14-room hostel was built at a cost of Rs 70 lakh. It was ready a year ago. Finally, it was inaugurated by Governor Kamla in March.
Admissions were over by July but no rooms were allotted. The building does not have basic facilities like beds, furniture and lighting. “This year, around 10 girls, mostly from Afghanistan, have come here to study. They are all staying as paying guests. Meanwhile, NRI boys, who are more in number, have no place to stay,” said sources.

CONFUSION REIGNS
The guesthouse of the academic staff college was built at a cost of Rs 1.2 crore. “Fund from University Grants Commission (UGC) was used to construct it. But it was not built as per UGC norms. No one at the university tried to find out the criteria and stick to it. It will take at least another year to solve this problem while the building stands vacant.” The examination hall behind GU’s information centre was lying vacant for two years till it was also inaugurated in March.
The idea was to conduct examinations of all departments here to maintain confidentiality and eliminate cheating. Built at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore, the hall does not have chairs, benches or water facility. “Also, there are two laboratories each with 700 computers. Since no one other than examinees and examiners are authorised to enter the building, one wonders how students will be allowed to use the computers. Even as these computers lie unused, there are over 250 computers lying unpacked in the hall,” said sources, adding, “There are four such labs on campus.”

COMMITTEE FORMED
Incharge registrar Arvind Bhandari admitted that buildings have been erected but no facilities have been provided. About the NRI hostel, he said, “The biggest problem is that there is no mess. A hostel has been made specially for them but their needs have not been taken into account. We are trying to find a way to utilise the place.” Vice-Chancellor Adesh Pal said, “We are trying to figure out how to use the buildings as well as the computers. We have formed a committee to contact experts who can tell us how to use the infrastructure. We need to maintain the confidentiality of exam hall even while putting the labs to use.”
Former Syndicate member Manish Doshi said, “The buildings have been constructed at random. Instead of minimum infrastructure, maximum usage, there is maximum infrastructure and minimum usage. Student funds have been misused during former VC Parimal Trivedi’s time. He was unusually interested in erecting buildings. This money should have been used to improve existing hostels.” Syndicate member Narhari Amin, who has been on several building committees, said, “The VC and officials draw up plans according to the needs of the varsity and forward it to the UGC seeking funds. Once funds are in, construction of the building is sanctioned. A building committee usually comprising three persons is set up. They look into the plans and approve the expenses. Many buildings were inaugurated when Trivedi’s term was ending. Now, it is up to the new VC to ensure these buildings are put to good use.”