HYDERABAD: The inability of Osmania University authorities, coupled with government’s apathy, is leading to encroachment of precious land belonging to the varsity.
The university which was initially started on around 1,721 acres, according to official statistics, is today left with 1,470 acres now after leasing and selling parts of lands.
While about 185 acres have been leased to various public and private institutes like National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Institute of Public Enterprises (IPE), among others, about 66 acres have been either sold or gifted.
Even on the 1,470 acres, which OU authorities show as in their active possession, there are encroachments to the extent of about 50 acres. Quite shockingly, there are about nine slums in the heart of the varsity. The slums, all illegal, house people who reportedly have political patronage.
“In the past, lower level staff of OU were provided with some place to live. As their number rose, they were rehabilitated to Manikeshwar Nagar by allotting 35 acres. However, they sold their plots there and continued to live in the slums on OU lands. Over the years, these slums became permanent settlements in OU. Even many politicians support them seeing them as vote bank. We repeatedly gave reports to government to remove these slums, but received no reply. Without government’s support, we cannot do much in protecting the varsity lands,” said a senior official from the Estate Cell, OU.
“Though officials say that OU has around 1,721 acres of lands, actually the university was started on 2,300 acres in 1918. Residential areas which sprang up around campus like Ravindranagar, encroached into OU. Barring student organisations, no one speaks about the issue. Officials stealthily support encroachers. Unless a fresh survey is conducted and a wall is constructed around borders, OU lands will always face the danger of encroachments,” opined Kadiyam Raju, member of ABVP’s OU unit.
A senior official of OU seeking anonymity, said that soon a RDO)level officer will be posted at OU Estate Cell to conduct a fresh survey of lands and construct a wall around borders.
