Bhubaneswar, Oct. 12: Utkal University has apparently turned into a forest with its campus blighted by overgrown grass and unsightly weeds. Added to this, inadequate street lighting makes it dark and deserted. As a result, students dread to move on the campus after sunset.

Wild, dense bushes covered several parts of the university campus that had become home to poisonous insects and reptiles, said one of the students.

“We have often spotted snakes and monitor lizards. It’s scary! Authorities must clear the bushes,” said Amiya Parida, a final-year student of geology, adding that the hostels or staff quarters were also not free from danger.

Moreover, the unclean campus has turned into a mosquito-breeding zone. The areas in and around the postgraduation departments are covered with climbers and wild vegetation, which have grown taller after the rains. “Now, that the rainy season is over, the plants must be cut down. It is difficult to concentrate in class when mosquitoes keep biting you. You can’t help but keep slapping your face or scratching your hands or feet. Some of us have started burning mosquito-repellent coils or applying repellent cream before entering class,” said Girija Shankar Jena, a commerce student.

The lights on almost every lane on the campus have turned defunct. The area plunges into darkness after dusk. This has contributed to the increase in illegal activities. Last month, a few students were spotted involved in a scuffle with an outsider on the campus during late evening.

The post of executive engineer for electrical division at the university has been lying vacant for the last one year. Tanmay Swain, president of the students’ union, said authorities must take immediate steps to ensure a clean and safe campus. “This is affecting our students. Once the university reopens on Thursday, we would definitely bring this matter to the notice of the authorities,” he said.

On the other hand, R.N. Mishra, development officer of the university, said urgent steps would be taken soon to make the campus clean. “The vice-chancellor has taken special interest to ensure a clean and lighted campus. We are hopeful that the matter would be resolved soon,” he said.

Vice-chancellor P.K. Sahoo said he had approached authorities of the State Bank Of India branch on the university campus to pursue the issue of campus cleaning and street lighting as part of corporate social responsibility. “The work would begin soon,” he said.