MU in dire straits -Part 6
Fund sanctioned for construction of Hostel for OBCs at Manipur University diverted
Source: IT News

Imphal, January 30 2020: It again happened when Professor AP Pandey, who is now under suspension, was acting as the full time Vice Chancellor of Manipur University.

No doubt he is still enjoying the designation 'Vice Chancellor' and has been enjoying all benefit entitled to government employees who are under suspension.

It was during his time that fund sanctioned for construction of two hostels for OBC boys and OBC girls have been diverted and constructed hostel for accommodation of delegates participating MU calendar programme Youth Festival.

October 26, 2016 Prof.AP Pandey took charge as the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University.

Imphal Times Special Investigation Team managed to procure a highly classified official documents which reveals mass irregularities being practiced in the Manipur University.

As per Imphal Times Special Team Investigation, about a month after Prof AP Pandey assumed charged as Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, i.e., on November 15, 2016 a firm identified as M/S M G Construction has been awarded work order for construction of two dormitory hostels for boys and girls.

The report said that separate work orders were issued to the firm and the negotiated tender value for each work orders were Rs 1,03,12,654/- .

Construction of the Boys Hostel started on October 16, 2017 and completed on May 5, 2018 at the cost of Rs 1,36,80,599/- .

And the dormitory girl hostel which also started construction on the same day was completed on October 8, 2018 at the cost of Rs 1,28,62,124/- .

What is interesting is that the fund utilized for construction of the dormitory hostels for girls and boys was sanctioned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India under the central sponsored scheme for construction of hostels for OBC Boys and Girls on September 4, 2012, for providing hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward students especially from rural areas.

For the Central Universities 90% of constructing such hostels are borne by Government of India and 10% is left for the Central University.

Manipur University applied to availed the facilities on September 9, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 3,50,00,000/- .

That means estimate of each hostel is Rs 1,75,00,000/- .

The Ministry approved and released an amount of Rs 2,80,00,000/- on September 4,2012 for construction of both the hostel.

Why the then Vice Chancellor (Prof) HNK Sharma failed to start construction of both the hostels under 90% centrally sponsored scheme for the poor and needy OBC students is a matter yet to be enquired.

However during AP Pandey's era a sum of Rs 2,65,42,723 have been diverted from the amount of Rs 2,80,00,000/- sanctioned under central scheme which was allotted for promotion of poor and marginalized OBC students.

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