Students at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have reported that the water filters in the boys' hostel have been non-functional for over a month, causing significant inconvenience. Similarly, the girls' hostel has also faced ongoing issues with the frequent breakdown of water filters. “There are six boys' hostels on my campus, and 20-25 water filters are installed, but only five are functional. This problem has been there for a month, since before Diwali. I am staying in the G-8 hostel, and there is no water here at all. I have to cross two buildings to get water. It is difficult to go there at night due to the fear of snakes, etc. This is a big issue,” said Dattatreya Patil, a student in the political science department. A student from the technology department, on the condition of anonymity, described similar struggles with water filters at the girls' hostel. She said, “The filters keep breaking down and are not repaired for as long as a month. We need to go to other floors or even other buildings to get water. The filter on our floor has been repaired in the last few days after a month, but I’m sure it will break down again soon.” Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members on Saturday conducted a symbolic funeral for the university administration by pasting a ‘Bhavpurna Shradhanjali’ poster on a filter and placing flowers on it. “At Savitribai Phule Pune University, which considers itself the Oxford of the East, students struggle to drink water. Even though the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has been issuing statements for over a month, the sleeping university administration has not taken steps to make drinking water available,” said Aditya Patil Dumbre, President of ABVP at Pune University. “As a result, the ABVP today conducted a funeral for the hostel administration and their mismanagement in a representative form. If the administration does not provide drinking water to the students within the next 24 hours, the hostel administration of the university will face the wrath of the students and the ABVP. We will protest in a fierce manner,” he added. Speaking to The Indian Express, the rector of the boy's hostel, Sanjaykumar Kamble, said, “I have taken note of the issues presented by the students. These issues are also the responsibility of the estate department, but sometimes, the department says that it lacks funds. However, I believe the issues, such as water and snakes, raised by the students are serious and should be solved. I checked four water filters and they were fixed then and there. The students should not face trouble and have to protest; their time should be spent studying. I have sent a message to the estate department to take note of the students' issues.”
