Varsities’ request for funds put on back burner

​Hyderabad: With only two months left for the end of the current financial year, the State universities are finding it hard to make rounds to the officials for the release of the funds.

According to sources, the Osmania University is waiting for the release of funds from the State government to the tune of about Rs 200 crore for the current fiscal. The university had pegged an expenditure of Rs 686.77 crore against an income of Rs 623.59 crore for the current financial year. 

The university had chalked out developing several infrastructural facilities during the year, anticipating funds, both from the University Grants Commission (UGC) finance commission funds as well as the budgetary allocations made by the State government.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the university said, “about 20 per cent of the expenditure, i.e., around Rs 135 crore had been earmarked for the infrastructure facilities. They include construction of centenary buildings and other related works.”

Further, the university had also sought for the release of additional grants from the State government as the block grants allocated to it for the year were not sufficient. The university had planned to construct new academic blocks with an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore.

Besides, new residential buildings for the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, new buildings for UFRO, Model High School, and the Nizam Observatory at Japal Rangpur Observatory at an estimated cost of Rs 30.50 crore. 

That apart, restoration and renovation and maintenance of old buildings in Arts College and Science College were on the list of University's expenditure in the current fiscal with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore.

“The university is yet to realise its plan of action in the current budget year due to the paucity of the funds,” sources said. Similarly, the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTU-H) is waiting for the release of funds for two months.

When contacted a senior official from the State Higher Education Department (SHED) said, “there was some delay, in the intervening period, as the State had gone for elections. Besides, the department has only an In-charge secretary sitting at the helm of the affairs. That apart, there is also lack of initiative from some vice-chancellors not following up for the release of funds from time to time,” he said.

Also, in some cases, “the universities are not able to spend even the funds released to them by the State government. The department had to call up several VCs at the eleventh hour to send their proposals during a recent visit of the 15th Finance Commission to the State,” he added.