Bhubaneswar: Three days after protests by the students of the Utkal University regarding bad infrastructure at the hostel premises and various departments of the varsity, the Higher education department minister Arun Kumar Sahoo paid a surprise visit to the University, Thursday, to review the premises. The Minister was accompanied by Bhubaneswar (North) MLA Susanta Rout also.
Sahoo also reviewed progress of other development works at the University, the sources added. During the visit the Minister expressed unhappiness over non-utilisation of funds meant for development works in the varsity. He ordered UU authorities to take action for immediate utilisation of the funds.
The students demanded installation of CCTV cameras at strategic spots, removal of slums from the campus area, a new entrance to the varsity near Raja Hotel and converting the present entrance into an exit, functioning of newly-constructed buildings, fixed time for examinations and results and proper hostel management.
Earlier, the Vice chancellor of the university had assured the students that infrastructure facilities will be developed during puja vacation. He also said, “We will write to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and will ask them to complete the pending tasks of water sanitation and security at hostels.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Higher Education department Saswat Mishra, Wednesday, had sent letter to vice chancellor of all state universities for timely repair of the existing residential and non-residential buildings of the universities (office building, department building class rooms, laboratories, auditorium, hostels, staff quarters).