University of Hyderabad is in the news for all the all wrong reasons over the past few days. A recent shocker was in store when it was revealed how the university splurged behemothic sums of money from its funds only to renovate the bungalow of the Vice-Chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy. The entire incident has been unanimously greeted with shock and awe throughout the nook and crannies of the university campus.
It has been estimated that the amounted lavished on the renovation procedure is up to the tune of Rs 3.01 crore which is colossal compared to what the government allotments for such purposes are in reality. In fact even the Chief Justice of India himself is not entitled to such a whopping monetary allocation for any such procedures. The money spent in this case is actually manifolds of what the CJI is officially entitled to.
Documents reveal that the original estimated cost for renovation was pegged at Rs 18 lakh way back in the year 2011. The university records themselves revealed this startling fact. Questions are naturally arising as to how did the actual cost eventually shoot up so high that it turned out to be manifolds of what was estimated two years back?
Ironically the escalation is not a mere coincidence but actually a bare truth that was waiting to be revealed. It is never possible to contain the entire renovation work within the estimated budget of Rs 18 lakhs when a single boundary wall is constructed at an expense of Rs 48 lakhs.
Moreover, costs are expectedly set to soar to astronomic heights when the residence is redesigned to house an entire swimming pool, a sprawling tennis court, a private bar and lounge, dais for speakers, leisure areas for seating and an elevator. These all are basic features from the blueprint of the renovation design sent by the designer to the university’s administrative authorities for approval.
The huge bills drawn by the University of Hyderabad has not gone down too well with the Union HRD ministry who wants an immediate explanation to the state of affairs regarding the said controversy. The university stakeholders too want a justification to the demure event in a state where student amenities are gradually degrading by each passing say.
“The university has withdrawn its scholarship facility for students and also stopped construction work on college buildings including a hostel due to lack of funds. What is happening currently is totally unfortunate to say the least,” said a senior faculty member.
Reportedly bills for aesthetic and decorative items like wooden storages, shelves, paintings, craftworks, murals and others are alone pegged at more than Rs 3 lakh where Chief Justice of India gets a total of Rs 2 lakh for furnishing his entire residence. Ramaswamy defended the act by saying, “The motive is to ensure that the building has the best amenities which can even be used effectively by the future VC’s in office. A large chunk of the amount has gone to the development of the VVIP guesthouse which is stuffed with plush facilities for the visitors.”
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