HCU campus unaware of breaches in their wall

 

The height of the compound wall does not go beyond five feet anywhere and stands at just three feet at some portions. The wall does not even have electric fencing or broken glass chips to prevent jumping over the wall. 

 

However, main entry and exit points in the university are well guarded by security officials. Damages at over 50 per cent of the 15 kms long compound wall, weakens the purpose of protection. 

Apart from the portion of the compound wall which was constructed decades ago, even the newly constructed walls are weak and not of the required height. 

 

Jillapalli Ravi, a research scholar and wildlife enthusiast at UoH says, “The newly constructed compound wall is of poor quality as in some portions the wall has already collapsed. There have been many instances of antisocial elements trespassing into the university from the financial district or Aparna Sarovar side and consuming liquor on the campus. I have myself at times caught hold of outsiders lurking in the university campus and handed them to the security staff.”

 

Vincent Benny, president of the students’ union in UoH says, “The plight is such that students are told by security officials not to venture into some parts of the university as it might put their safety under risk due to the presence of antisocial elements.”

 

There also have been a few instances of outsiders getting into the campus trying to sneak into the ladies’ hostel after which a decision to install solar fencing around the hostel was taken, which is yet to take place.

 

According to a university official, it is the university’s engineering department authorities who are in a tussle over the issue. A senior university official said, “The engineering departments functioning are very bureaucratic in nature which does not ensure smooth functioning of construction of a strong compound wall as soon as possible.”