Rs31-cr budget not used for varsity

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 1

The budget of around Rs 31 crore meant for the construction of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University at Anjanthali could not be utilised in the last financial year and was returned to the Finance Department. The university authorities have now sought permission from the Finance Department for the revalidation of the budget.

Sources said, “The authorities have failed to utilise the funds and the process of re-validation will further delay the construction work”.

“The construction agency was not finalised, and there was a shortage of staff due to the lockdown,” said Prof Samar Singh, Vice-Chancellor.

He said that a meeting of the board would be held on September 3, in which the construction agency would be finalised. The drawing of the project had been approved. “We are hopeful that the work will start in two months,” he added.

The project of the university has been hanging fire. In the name of construction, only the boundary wall and the entry gate have been constructed after the foundation stone was laid by former Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on April 6, 2016.

The VC said that the university would be constructed on 125 acres at a cost of Rs 486 crore, with three regional centres at Raiya in Jhajjar, Chandsoli in Ambala and Badhana in Jind. The government has sanctioned Rs 150 for the project, so far.