University suffers extensive damage

The damage to infrastructure caused by Cyclone Gaja in Bharathidasan University’s main campus has been assessed at Rs. 1.68 crore.

The university has submitted a report detailing the damage to the government. Vice-Chancellor P. Manisankar handed over a copy of the report to the Principal Secretary of Higher Education Mangat Ram Sharma when the latter visited the university earlier this month.

More than 400 trees and 30 electric poles were uprooted during the cyclone and extensive damage was caused to a few buildings that had corrugated roofing. The roofs were blown away by the intensity of the wind. In one of the building, the false ceiling suffered damage completely.

The university replanted trunks of about 200 fallen trees but was waiting for funds to take up the work to rectify damaged buildings, it is learnt. The Public Works Department is in the process of preparing an estimate of loss caused to buildings of the university’s constituent colleges in Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, Thiruthuraipoondi and Aranthangi. Indications are that the university will have to bear the cost of setting right buildings of constituent colleges as well. Though the government had announced takeover of constituent colleges, maintenance continues to be carried out by the university as the government is yet to issue an order to that effect.

The delay in issue of the order has caused consternation among faculties. The university will be left with no money for research and extension purpose if huge amount is spent for infrastructure upkeep, a senior professor said.

Source