Devanand Konwar, Sudipto Adhikari and Nitish Kumar

Patna, July 14: The standoff between Governor Devanand Konwar, the chancellor of the state universities, and the state government has adversely affected the progress of various projects in the varsities, and Patna University (PU) is one of the worst-hit. For, the acting PU vice-chancellor (VC) Sudipto Adhikari has no financial powers.

Sources said as a result of the limited powers of the acting VC, a large number of projects have been stalled. A senior teacher, on condition of anonymity, said a few months ago, the university administration had decided to undertake construction and modernisation work on the campus.

“Cubicles and chambers for employees and officers of the accounts and examination departments were supposed to be constructed. There was also a plan for computerisation of all departments on the main campus,” said the teacher.

According to the project, a canteen was also supposed to be constructed on the varsity campus. However, all these projects are yet to see the light of the day. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, the development officer at Patna University, said: “Paper work for all these projects has been completed. However, the construction for none of these projects has started.”

The construction of the proposed quarters for non-teaching employees of the university at Saidpur is still stuck in the pipeline. The varsity is yet to float tenders for the project. Sources claimed that the estimated cost of the quarters was between Rs 65 lakh and Rs 70 lakh.

Sources added that the pace of the development works in the university had decelerated since December last year, as months before the retirement of former VC Shyam Lal, his financial power too had been curtailed. When Adhikari succeeded him, according to the rules, his powers were also limited.

Jagjivan Ram chair

There is, however, some good news for PU. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has accepted a proposal of the varsity to have a Jagjivan Ram Chair of Social Justice and Human Rights.

UGC has granted Rs 1 crore for five years so that scholars would be able to undertake studies on issues related to the exploited and weaker sections of society and tribal development.

Sinha said Hindi and sociology postgraduate departments could be selected by the UGC as special assistance programme. Under the programme, the departments would get between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 70 lakh for infrastructure development.

The geography and geology departments of the university have already been selected under the special assistance programme.