The 89-year-old State-run Andhra University was among the worst hit by the severe cyclonic storm Hudhud that devastated the city on October 12 last year.
Almost all the administrative buildings, science and computer labs, 100-odd departments and colleges, hostels, guest houses, staff quarters and dining halls suffered extensive damage. The estimated loss was put at Rs. 233 crore and a proposal for aid was submitted both to the Central and the State governments. But it has been over a year, and the university has not received a single penny from the authorities concerned.
Though the university has been limping back to normal by channelising its own funds, it is still a long way to go, and it would be difficult for the cash-starved university to regain its lost glory without the assistance from the government.
The devastation was so heavy that the roof of all the 16 mess buildings, 60 staff quarters were blown away. All the 26 hostel buildings of the university suffered extensive damage. About 95 per cent of the glass panes, windows were shattered beyond repairs. Over 200 computers in various departments and computer labs were destroyed, 30 per cent of the books in the central library were blown away or reduced to paper pulp and 60 per cent of the furniture in all offices and colleges were damaged beyond repairs.
The worst to suffer was the research fraternity, said University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju. The research work and the efforts of the researchers suffered a setback by over a year and most of the samples or work done in the labs was destroyed, he said.
To keep the ball rolling, the university had pooled and pumped in about Rs. 20 crore, but that is meagre when compared to the extent of the damage.
All the 100 departments in the university were allocated a sum of Rs. 50,000 for immediate repairs. But still the departments are devoid of windows and are vulnerable to downpour and thefts.
Immediate attention was paid to the hostels, staff quarters and dinning halls to accommodate the employees and students, said Registrar V. Uma Maheshwara Rao.
Out of the Rs. 20 crore that was pumped in, about Rs. 2.7 crore were contributed by the employees, alumni and other universities such as Adikavi Nanaya University that had donated about Rs. 50 lakh.
Major devastation
But amidst the damages, it was the green cover that bore the brunt of the devastation. The university that was renowned for its green cover lost 80 per cent of it.
Thanks to the NSS and NCC cadets, staff members and other agencies such as NDRF, Police, GVMC and SBI, the debris was cleared, but the loss was priceless, laments the Vice-Chancellor.
The university has pooled and pumped in about Rs. 20 crore, but the amount is meagre when compared to the extent of the damage
