An inordinate delay in release of government grant-in-aid and non-payment of development fee by affiliated colleges for three years seems to have hit Telangana University (TU) hard.
Around 110 affiliated colleges spread over the erstwhile undivided district owes an amount of ₹6 crore to the university. Among them are 12 government colleges, 78 UG colleges, three exclusive PG colleges, 11 for B.Ed, 13 for UG-PG combined and the rest for MBA (three) and MCA (one).
Eight colleges still have to clear dues to the varsity since the 2014-15 session while 80% of the colleges owe development fee since 2015-16. In the following year, no college cleared the dues despite receiving fee reimbursement from the government till 2016-17, said TU Registrar K. Shivashankar.
The TU management launched the construction of eight buildings with an estimated cost of ₹30 crore at the main campus at Dichpally and south campus at Biknoor expecting early release of government grant and payment of dues by affiliated colleges. The colleges were warned about penalty for failing to pay dues till March 24, but they are yet to respond.
Construction of buildings, including VC Lodge, canteen, guest house and health centre at the main campus and administrative building; chemistry and physics and geo-informatics buildings at south campus are at different stages. The university released ₹12 crore from its internal resources for the infrastructure development, but is still awaiting the grant. The government had announced ₹30 crore as development grant for TU, but did not release a single penny during 2017-18.
Meanwhile, student unions like PDSU, SFI, AISF, AIFDS and TGVP staged protests before the administrative building at the main campus demanding action against affiliated colleges as students pursuing studies there would forfeit eligibility to appear for exams if they did not pay varsity development fee.
PDSU leader Soundarya said students would have to let go of their convocations also. She alleged that managements of affiliated colleges were “exerting pressure on the TU administration by approaching ruling party leaders” to escape paying the fee even though they have received the amount from the government.
