GUNTUR: Lack of hostel facilities in the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Engineering College at Narasaraopet of the district has left its students in a fix.
The State government had allotted 85 acres at Kakani in Narasaraopet mandal for the construction of college campus. However, since the allotted land belonged to APIIC, the JNTU did not take up the construction works which, in turn, forced the students to stay in rented rooms.
Later, the government had allotted a site and also sanctioned Rs 3 crore for setting up of temporary sheds, but the JNTU refused to do so. With this, the faculty has been taking the classes for the past one year at AM Reddy Memorial College of Engineering and Technology in Uppalapadu for which the JNTU paid rent to the tune of Rs 40 lakh until now.
According to T Vamsi, a student, they are residing in the surroundings of Narasaraopet, due to lack of hostel facility, and are paying Rs 7,200 per head per annum towards transport.
Following the EAMCET notification issued last year, as many as 200 students joined the varsity. Now, the teaching faculty is worried over the plight of students if fresh EAMCET notification is issued.
Against this backdrop, the students are demanding that the government clear the hurdles in the construction of hostel buildings.
When contacted, JNTU-Narasaraopet principal KVS Murali Krishna said that district collector Kantilal Dande wrote a letter to Principal Secretary and Revenue Secretary seeking allotment of 85 acres immediately at another place. The construction works will begin as soon as the land is allocated, he added.