The teachers of Jadavpur University have written to the vice-chancellor stating that several buildings on the campus are in “dangerous condition, completely unfit and risky for everyday use” and that “catastrophe may happen any day” if the university "does not take immediate steps for their repair".

“We demand that their conditions be immediately assessed by the experts, and based on their reports such buildings be vacated for repair,” the letter written by the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (Juta) on Thursday, stated.

The teachers said it was imperative to make immediate and long-term plans for saving these buildings.

A university official said fund constraints have come in the way of maintaining the buildings.

The teachers have proposed in their letter that buildings which are in dilapidated condition be evacuated on an emergency basis and subsequently, arrangements be made for alternative spaces.

The letter signed by Parthapratim Roy, the general secretary of the Juta, said: “Many of the buildings in the university are in dangerous condition, completely unfit and risky for everyday use. We demand that their conditions be immediately assessed...."

The teachers' association said repair work of all the buildings which are in a dangerous state must be completed within one year — phase-wise — depending on the severity of their condition.

“Some of our teachers from the civil engineering department and construction department have agreed to volunteer to carry out the inspection work which will reveal the extent of damage. Then the university should approach the state government for the necessary support,” Roy told Metro.

When this newspaper visited the campus on Friday, many of the buildings like the pharmacy building, chemical engineering building, Prayukti Bhavan, were found to be in a state of disrepair.

Chunks of concrete are coming off the façade of the buildings. The stairs of the buildings have developed cracks.

The university is currently undertaking some patchwork in the run-up to the visit by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

“But the buildings require more than a patchwork and painting. Some of the buildings have suffered structural damage. Therefore, major repair work has to be undertaken following a thorough inspection. Else the outcome could be catastrophic,” said Roy.

A university official said the condition of the buildings lays bare that the university does not have funds for maintenance.

“The university is encountering fund constraints owing to depletion in support from the state government and the central government. We are not in a position to even buy the departments new computers, or develop their laboratories. Many former students are stepping forward to help the departments. The deficit of funds has come in the way of maintaining the buildings also,” said the official.

This newspaper reported on June 16 last year that the deficit registered by JU under non-salary heads (like maintenance) for the 2022-23 fiscal was “more than the grant” it received from the state government.

Calls and text messages from this newspaper to VC Bhaskar Gupta did not yield any response.