The Central government has sanctioned funds to the tune of ₹ 20 crore to Andhra University under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for taking up developmental activity in the university. But though the first instalment of ₹ 5 crore has already been released by the Centre to the State government, the fund is yet to reach the cash-strapped 90-year-old university.
The university officials have already submitted a detailed project report (DPR) on the utilisation of the funds to the authorities concerned in the State government, but the fund is yet to be released.
The DPR has been submitted for the full grant of ₹ 20 crore. Initially, Rs. 5 crore has been released by the Centre and the remaining will be released once the first instalment is utilised. But the machinery in the State is taking its own time to release the first instalment, said a senior professor in the university.
However, Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao told The Hindu that the DPR has been accepted and the fund may be credited to the university’s account by the month-end. According to Prof. Nageswara Rao, the fund is to be spent in 35:35:30 ratio.
Giving details, Prof. Nageswara Rao said 35 % of the fund is to be utilised for new infrastructure development, 35 % is allocated for renovation of the existing infrastructure and the remaining 30 % is earmarked for purchase of equipment.
Talking about new infrastructure, Prof. Nageswara Rao said about 7 to 8 crore will be spent on constructing hostel for women’s engineering college, new building for department of computer science in engineering college and a modern canteen in the engineering college. “There are also plans to build a hospital and modern state-of-the-art gymnasium. Existing playground will be converte into a multi-purpose stadium. We have already started construction of the hospital with internal funds,” he said.
Prof. Nageswara Rao said all old hostels and buildings in the university have leaking roofs. “We want to first address this issue. This part, all washrooms will be renovated and new ones will be added and most importantly all hostels and departments will have RO plants to serve the drinking water needs,” he said.
He said 30 % of the RUSA funds will be spent on purchasing equipment, especially those that are required for research.
“AU had a good track record for research, but of late it has slumped a bit. The idea is to strengthen the labs so that researchers can take up good research. The focus is on research, project consultancy and patenting and the equipment will be purchased to suit the needs,” he said.
