The Postgraduate Centre of Bangalore University in Kolar is yet to get a fully equipped campus, though it was shifted to its new premises at Mangasandra about one-and-a-half years ago.
Started in 1995, the centre was being run on the premises of the Government College for Boys.
That building, which housed a jail during the British period, was not fit for students.
After agitations by student organisations, the centre was sanctioned a campus on a 30-acre land on the outskirts of the town.
However, the new campus still lacks infrastructure.
The centre was shifted in August 2012 even as construction work was going on. Only the administrative block was ready and classes are being conducted in rooms available in the block.
Work on the classroom building has been stalled due to the alleged apathy of the university authorities. Concrete pillars of the unfinished classroom block stand testimony to the apathy of the authorities.
Payment pendingUnder a Rs. 10.5-crore plan, work worth Rs. 4 crore has been completed. However, the contractor is yet to receive payment of Rs. 1.1 crore for the completed work.
“While bills have been submitted for Rs. 70 lakh, another bill for Rs. 40 lakh is yet to be submitted,” contractor S. Shivaraj told The Hindu .
“Though I am ready to continue work, the university authorities have not evinced any interest in it. There was no proper guidance or supervision from the authorities concerned,” Mr. Shivaraj said. There has been no reply at all to the letter written to the authorities, he said.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s assurances in connection with payment of arrears and continuation of work have not materialised,” he added.
Due to inordinate delay, rates have gone up abnormally and the cost needs to be revised before work is resumed, he said.
Around 400 regular students from four departments, 55 Ph.D. students and teaching faculty are suffering due to lack of facilities such as drinking water and canteen.
“Water supplied to toilets is also used for drinking purposes. It is contaminated with fluoride and is not potable,” said Muralidhara M., a second year M.Com. student. “Though a filter is available on the premises, it is yet to be installed to ensure safe drinking water,” he said. The lack of a compound wall on the campus is posing security risk to students, he added.
The students, who came together under the banner of Students Federation of India, boycotted classes recently demanding early completion of construction work and also provision for basic amenities.
