Syndicate refuses to accept XEN reply over poor construction

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, September 23 

The Panjab University (PU) Syndicate on Sunday refused to accept the reply of Executive Engineer of PU RK Rai over poor construction highlighted by Chandigarh Tribune in its edition dated July 2, 'PU committee finds lapses, calls for action'. 

Earlier,  Chandigarh Tribune  had reported that a PU panel had expressed serious concern over the poor quality of construction at the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences (UIAMS), International Hostel, Dr HS Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Bio Medical Sciences Block I and Block II - all located on the south campus in Sector 25 - and Rajiv Gandhi College Bhawan and Guru Teg Bahadur Hall, both located on the Sector 14 campus.

In a meeting held on June 18, the panel had concluded that the quality of construction at two science blocks Bio-Medical Sciences (BMS) I and BMS II on the south campus was "extremely bad". "There is perpetual seepage and cracks across both buildings. 

At Rajiv Gandhi College Bhawan, the committee had found that there was seepage in most of the washrooms. The floor tiles had broken at many places. Regarding Guru Teg Bahadur Hall, the report said that there were "minor seepages", which required attention. At dental institute, UIAMS and International Hostel, it was pointed out that there was a huge problem of leakage in all three buildings.

Executive Engineer had stated that most of the issues were not concerned with quality of construction but were routine maintenance issues which were being sorted out. 

He said the biomedical sciences blocks had been provided with Dholpur stone cladding which had some problem with the expansion and contraction of building. He added their office did not have any solution to falling stones. He said UIAMS building was built on huge pit which was being used for waste disposal by an erstwhile slum colony there. The cracks appeared in building were not dangerous. 

During the discussion on Sunday, Prof Navdeep Goyal, a Syndicate member, said why such shortcomings had not been noticed in the science block of PU where buildings were now close to 60-year-old. 

The issue would be discussed in the Syndicate again. 

Harassment plaints against ex-VC

• In the case of a woman professor alleging sexual harassment by former VC Prof Arun Grover, a committee comprising Senator Ashok Goyal and SVC Muneeshwar Joshi has been formed to gather all relevant documents and bring them before the Syndicate again. 
• In another case of harassment complaint against Prof Grover, filed by a PhD student, the Syndicate decided to refer back the matter to Chancellor M Venkaiah Naidu, for forming an Internal Complaint Committee to investigate the matter. 
• The Syndicate did not accept the request of sociology department faculty for reconducting PhD viva of research scholar Atinder Pal Kaur. Earlier, the entire faculty had boycotted her viva as the former VC had rescheduled it.

5% GST on cooked food items

• The Syndicate approved levying of GST on all food items cooked at PU messes and canteens. 
• The GST will be levied at 5 % at all messes and canteens as they are being run by contractors. 
• Had the varsity allowed cooperative messes, which are managed by students, there was no need to pay GST. 

No extension for teachers 

The agenda item of extending re-employment scheme for teachers to 70 years of age was withdrawn and no discussion took place on the issue. It was also decided that Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) should complete the inquiry into PU Construction office purchases and it was reiterated that the role of Executive Engineer RK Rai should be looked into.