| UGC blocks funds to JU, thanks to admn | | Future of 7 offsite campuses in jeopardy | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 22: Future of seven offsite campuses of the Jammu University is in jeopardy, as the University Grants Commission has blocked funds due to poor planning of the administration.
Sources told Early Times that five out of the seven offsite campuses were running from temporary accommodations though the UGC had released funds to tune of Rs 117 crore in 2012 to create infrastructure.
But after mismanagement of the varsity administration, the funds have been blocked, said sources.
The seven campuses-Kathua, Udhampur, Ramnagar, Reasi, Poonch, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar-were established in 2006. Except for Bhaderwah and Udhampur, rest of the campuses are operating from Degree Colleges and ITIs. The UGC had released funds for creating infrastructure for these campuses.
"After spending around Rs 59 crore for infrastructure creation for the offsite campuses, the administration remained inactive, and funds utilisation report was not sent to UGC," said sources, adding that owing to irregularities and delay in submission of the funds utilization report, the entire scheme was withdrawn by the UGC.
Sources said the UGC might ask the university to return the utilized amount as well. "Since the scheme has been withdrawn by the UGC, JU may have to return the utilized amount of Rs 59 crore as well," said the sources.
They said that engineers, who had been called on deputation for creation of infrastructure, have gone back to their parent departments.
"Since the project involved more than Rs 100 crore, the State Government had deputed engineering staff for satisfactory completion of the work. But the staff has left for their original place of posting," they added.
Sources said that Vice Chancellor, Dr R D Sharma, instead of approaching the UGC for utilization of the funds, issued a circular on March 31, 2015, directing all Directors of offsite campuses to stop ongoing works.
"It is sheer mismanagement on the part of JU administration including Vice Chancellor, former Registrar Prof Manoj Dhar and Directors of all these campuses that the prestigious scheme has been withdrawn by the UGC," sources said. |
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