The Cochin University of Science and Technology has placed the proposals for construction of four new hostels in fast-track mode.
The building committee is expected to approve the plan and the estimate cost for construction by next week. The varsity has plans to seek Central support for setting up two hostels while the State government is expected to support the remaining projects.
The move comes amidst the agitation by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) demanding hostel facilities for B. Tech students. It had turned violent on Thursday night after the agitators locked up Registrar S. David Peter and warden Job Thomas, demanding permanent hostel allotment for nine B. Tech girl students. The police had to forcibly open the door and disperse the students.
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“We had agreed to permanent allotment to six students and provisional allotment to the remaining three, but the agitators insisted on giving permanent allotment to all. A final decision could have been taken only after verifying the allotments done department-wise,” said Dr. Peter.
A meeting of the Heads of Departments held on Friday gave its nod for the varsity decision to suspend classes till August 4 in view of the protests. Classes for first-year B. Tech students will start on August 10 instead of the earlier schedule of August 3. There is no change in the schedule for orientation classes for first-year students.
Hostel inmates, except those from outside the State, have been asked to vacate it immediately. A decision on initiating disciplinary action against students involved in Thursday’s incidents will be taken based on the first information report filed by the police.
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Protests turned violent on Thursday night after agitators locked up Registrar and warden.