Osmania University tries to force out overstayers

Hyderabad: Osmania University has locked down boys hostels A, B and D while cutting down power and water supply to Hostel C occupied mostly by overstayers. In the women's hostel, power and water supply have been cut to three blocks. The administration has repeatedly requested the illegal hostellers to move out. It has served them notices and warnings. Students staying illegally in hostels said police officials arrived at the hostels on Wednesday and told them to vacate their rooms.

The principal of one of the colleges in Osmania University campus  said, “Over the last six months, at least 10 notices have been sent to the squatters in hostels to vacate their rooms. Each time, the last date for vacating the rooms was extended.” He said the teaching faculty and university security staff had counselled them to vacate their rooms. “With the squatters occupying rooms, it becomes difficult to accommodate freshers. Classes have started for this academic year but many students are not attending because they could not be allotted hostel room,” he said,

“We were forced to cut power and water supply to push out squatters who are now seen leaving. The hostel application forms of those who applied this year are under scrutiny. From Monday, hopefully, we will start allotting accommodation to them,” he said. A release from the university stated that the decision to sever water and power supply to the hostel was taken for upgrading the supply and providing the inmates with improved basic amenities such as RO purified water, hygienic food, neat dining halls and illuminated reading halls.

This was planned as part of the centenary year celebrations of OU in 2017. Those overstaying in hostels were being  counselled on leaving hostels. It did not say that the move was to evacuate squatters from hostels.