An unclean and lackadaisical environment welcomed Higher Education Minister C T Ravi, Law, Parliamentary Affairs, BWSSB and Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar and Higher Education Secretary Siddaiah to Bangalore University (BU).
On Monday, they paid a visit to the university and were rather shocked to see the state-of-affairs on the Jnanabharathi campus.
“There is no one in the university to take responsibility of it,” said Suresh Kumar, while Ravi added there was nothing to be proud about their visit. They inspected the academic sections, women’s hostels, PG and PhD boys hostels and Pareeksha Bhavan (examination section). They were accompanied by Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev, Registrar (Administration) Dr B C Mylarappa and other officials.
Irked with the dilapidated hostels, they slammed the University Engineer N Puttaswamy. He claimed that they were awaiting clearances from higher authorities and hence, the delay in the repair works.
“Aren’t you ashamed? Students might be choking in the toilets and unhygienic hostel kitchens,” Suresh Kumar told the engineer.
Chandrakanthi, warden of the PG women’s hostel, was also questioned. She said, “The women’s hostel has a capacity of around 200 students, but currently, 550 students are occupying the rooms. We have written to the engineers regarding the need for repair and construction works.”
Siddaiah directed her to produce all the letters she has written to the BU engineering division.
The toilet at the boys hostel was no different. Stagnant water had accumulated the area.
Enraged with this, Siddaiah said, “This is irresponsible. The chances of health hazards here are severe and nothing has been done towards this. There is not even a septic tank.”
‘Dvpt a Challenge’
Speaking to reporters later, Ravi said development of BU was a challenge that needed ‘joint efforts’.
He said, “This is my 23rd day as the higher education minister. Let alone hygiene, even basic facilities provided here are disappointing. Construction works have stopped and students have told us their problems. We will take this up with the Chief Minister and Governor (Chancellor).”
He added that it would take time to come up with concrete steps towards solving the problems in BU, which he termed “an old disease.”
Mysterious Bone
The kitchen in the hostel for boys, cramped for space as they are, bore a weary look. The ministers vainly questioned the workers about hygiene.
They were shocked to find a mysterious bone in the kitchen and ordered its confiscation for testing.
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