BU students call registrar’s order to fix hostel issues a formality

Bhopal: Realising poor condition at Barkatullah University hostels, campus registrar has directed the engineers to address the issue within a week. However, students called the directive a mere formality and questioned how the authorities will be able to fix issues in a week, which are left unaddressed since years. Students claim that despite several complaints, no action was taken by the authorities.

Issuing the circular to the wardens, registrar Ajit Shrivastava said concerned engineers must inspect the hostels to take a stock of problems. “Submit the report of all work done in a week to me,” Shrivastava wrote in the circular.

Meanwhile, RTI activist and former student of BU, Dharmendra Singh Gour has filed complaint to Raj Bhawan on Saturday for such substandard condition of the hostel. “I was also a hosteller in the past. I had never seen such poor situation during my stay in the hostel. I hope higher authorities will look into the matter,” he said.

BU campus accomodates three boys’ hostels —Sanjay Gandhi, Munshi Premchand and Jawaharlal Nehru — each with a capacity for 100 students. Of these, Sanjay Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are the worst-fraught with problems.

“Not sure if it is correct to call these hostels? These are hell. But we have to live here because there is no other option,” says a student without quoting his name.

Students have been drinking water from an overhead water tank which has not been cleaned for years. “Several times water is not available. And the water we get here is unfit for use,” said a student without quoting his name.

“Toilets stink. Drainages are choked. Windows have no panes. Doors are broken. Floors are hardly cleaned. Streets have no lights. Not sure if students deserve this? This is worse than even basic living conditions,” said another student.

The common areas are the worst place at the hostels, claim students. “It resembles a haunted place from some old Bollywood movie. Few days ago, a snake was found inside one of the rooms. Snakes can be seen even in the toilets and corridors. Wardens hardly pay heed. We are told that crores of rupees are allotted for maintenance and upkeep of the hostels every year. They should come and spend a day here and see for themselves where the money goes,” the student said.

Missing doors and window panes are an open invitation for thefts, complain students living in hostel.