3 yrs on,only boundary wall in place

Senate members alleged due to MU lethargy,funds sanctioned for the campus on seven acres provided by Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had lapsed.

During 2011-2012,MU set aside Rs 3 crore for the sub-campus. The budget was revised to Rs 5 crore during 2012-2013 and the varsity provided Rs 65 crore this academic year.

“At the time of getting the land,MU announced an administrative building so that Thane students do not have to travel to Kalina. During a recent visit,we noticed that apart from the boundary wall no major development work has taken place at the sub-campus,” said senate member Mahadeo Jagtap,part of a three-member committee in-charge of the Thane campus development.

MU pro-vice-chancellor Naresh Chandra and Vijay Joshi are the other two members of the committee.

Chandra said,“The development work has been held up due to delay in approvals for plans from TMC. Now the plan for the administrative building and other construction has been approved and the campus development work will start soon. In fact,the building will be ready before the next academic year and we are planning to start integrated programmes in management at the sub-campus.”

The land was allotted by TMC in 2006. MU initially claimed the sub-campus would be fully functional by June 2012. The bhoomipujan was performed about three years ago,yet the land remains untouched. There is only a boundary wall to prevent encroachment.

Management council member and senior senator Dilip Karande also accused the university of wasting funds. “The university is wasting student money. A penalty should be levied on the authorities for delay and they must be held accountable for all the time and money wasted,” he said.