The state government has sanctioned ₹1.57 crore for the renovation of Jadavpur University’s mechanical engineering department building.

The grant was approved days after JU teachers wrote to the vice-chancellor stating that buildings on the campus were in a “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”.

The higher education department had on July 8 informed the JU registrar that the funds had been sanctioned for the renovation of the facade of the mechanical
engineering building.

On July 5, the teachers wrote to the VC stressing the need for immediate and long-term plans to save the buildings.

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

The university is carrying out some patchwork repairs in the run-up to the visit by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

“But the buildings require thorough repairs and a coat of paint. The government needs to sanction funds for the university to carry out major renovation work,” a JU official said.

Registrar Snehamanju Basu told The Telegraph: “The state government will transfer the funds to the PWD, which will carry out the renovation.”

This newspaper visited the campus on Saturday and found the chemical engineering, pharmacy and Prayukti Bhavan buildings are among the ones that are in a state of disrepair.

In the chemical engineering department, the university has put up two signage warning passers-by about the dangerous portions.

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

JU interim VC Bhaskar Gupta said: “As the university does not have adequate funds, we sought the state government’s support. Now that the funds for the renovation of the mechanical engineering building have been sanctioned, we will appeal for money for the repair of the other buildings.”

This newspaper reported on July 17 that JU’s finance committee had stated in a report that the university had a “net deficit” of ₹22 crore in 2022-23 and ₹19 crore in 2023-24.

Registrar Basu said she would approach the higher education department next week for the renovation of the pharmacy building. The PWD, she said, will start next week the repair of the JU Main Hostel, for which ₹5.05 crore was sanctioned earlier.