A 10-foot wall between Anna University’s Alagappa College of Technology and the University of Madras’ science block has raised the students’ hackles.
On Monday, scores of postgraduate and research students of Madras University demanded that the iron rods separating the two institutions be removed. The students said they had been protesting since Sunday when work to complete the wall began.
“The wall will prevent us from accessing facilities like the ATMs, health centre and bank, all of which are on Anna University campus,” said a student. Another student said due to the wall, water did not drain from the campus during the monsoon season. “We are marooned in chest-deep water,” said a research scholar. Students recalled that when a girl was bitten by a snake they had to carry her out of the building as the ambulance could not enter. Last year, computers were gutted in a fire in the theoretical physics department.
A few of the students lost two years of their research work. “The fire engine could not come in because of the wall. They had to go around the building and then reach the spot. By then the fire had destroyed much of the laboratory,” said a student who lost two years’ of research work.
Anna University’s registrar J. Kumar said the issue had been simmering for over 30 years. The science departments in both institutions had been stressing precious resources like electricity and water.
According to him the wall was necessitated after complaints from students of both universities and the confusion over paying electricity and water bills by the various departments.
As for the complaint that the wall would prevent the movement of deer, the official said they were fewer in number as compared to the past and rarely strayed into the university from the staff quarters across Kotturpuram High Road.
In 2006, the Vice Chancellors of both universities arrived at an agreement and Madras University constructed a building for its science departments. Twelve years later some departments were yet to vacate Anna University, Mr. Kumar said.
After the police intervened on Monday, the students suspended their protest till the V-Cs of Madras University and Anna University meet and offer a solution.
