Inordinate delays in completion of key infrastructure projects, largely owing to a shortage of funds, has hampered course expansion initiatives of the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University (TNDALU).
New courses at the School of Excellence in Law that could have increased student numbers remain on paper as the varsity faces an acute shortage of space to accommodate students. Highly-placed sources told City Express that a new 15-acre campus for the University in Taramani was envisaged as early as 2008 and land was subsequently allotted. Linked to this new campus initiative was the launch of a new five-year course - B Com BL (Hons). Approval for the new course allowed the admission of 120 students in two sections, which meant 600 additional students would make it to the university during the total duration of the course. However, the initiative has been derailed due to a lack of funds to complete the campus construction. Officials said that while the total cost of the new campus was estimated at Rs 60 crore, no funds were released between 2008 and 2011 by the previous DMK regime.
Assistance from the University Grants Commission (UGC) was a bigger letdown, as the varsity was not able to procure even 10 per cent of its 11th plan proposal of Rs 130 crore, with the central governing body releasing just about Rs 12 crore out of which Rs 2.5 crore alone was earmarked for infrastructure development. “About Rs 2 crore given by the UGC had been spent on works such as levelling the land identified and building compound walls,” said a senior official.
In 2011-2012, officials said funds to the tune of Rs 1.71 crore were deposited with the Public Works Department (PWD) to begin construction, which is now underway. These were separate funds and not part of the Rs 60 crore estimate that was approved for the campus.
Apart from the new course that has been put on hold, the lack of infrastructure had also adversely affected existing courses. “In the BA BL (Hons) course, we are admitting only 120 students though we have permission for intake of another 60. This is because there is absolutely no space for the increased strength,” an official admitted.
TNDALU is now pinning hopes on the 12th Plan and State funds worth Rs 67 crore have been announced for the university. “Unless we get a substantial amount quickly, the building will take much more time than the target of 18 months that has now been set to complete,” officials added.
