Nalgonda University: Limping along

NALGONDA: Construction of buildings on the Mahathma Gandhi University campus in Anneparty village is likely to be stalled due to a shortage of funds. The government had sanctioned 240 acres of land in September 2007 for the university on the Addanki-Narketpally highway, of which 50 acres is government land. Since then, construction has been progressing rapidly. But this is likely to stall now because the sanctioned funds have been exhausted. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) account which makes payments to contractors shows nil balance. The construction could be completed in about two months if funds were provided on time.For 2011, Rs 2.5 crore have been sanctioned. In the last four years, the government has sanctioned Rs 45 crore, of which Rs 43 crore were spent on acquiring land and on construction. The remaining Rs 2 crore was spent on salaries, contingencies, furniture and other equipment. A 4.5 km compound wall, the science and arts blocks and women’s hostel have been constructed. As many as 1200 students study in the university. Classes are held in congested classrooms. The boys and girls hostels and laboratories are run in private buildings rented for Rs 34,000 monthly.“The shift system is making our study hours erratic. We are forced to stay till late in the night,” said R Nagamani, a student pursuing M.Sc. chemistry. A student of M.Sc physics, P Rajavardhan Reddy said he was sceptical of ever seeing a spacious classroom before graduation.