Kochi: Despite allocation of funds months ago, the Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to start renovation of old buildings on the Maharaja’s College campus which the authorities fear would have an adverse impact when the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will hold assessment early next year.
The issue was brought to the notice of Higher Education Minister K. T. Jaleel by college principal K. N. Krishna Kumar during a function held here to inaugurate the new building for BA Economics (Honours) course.
The NAAC accreditation (given for standards of excellence across its operations) period for the college got over by March last.
“We’ve started the re-accreditation process. However, a major obstacle is the old building which needs renovation at the earliest. The government allotted Rs 2.5 crore for the same months ago, however, the PWD is yet to start the work,” he said.
Similarly the department is also going slow on construction of a new Boy’s hostel at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. “We’ve got Rs 1.3 crore from the government for this project. The PWD is yet to start the work. When contacted, they informed that the tendering process for the same got over and the work will be awarded soon,” said P. K. Raveendran, college governing council chairman.
Meanwhile, a demand to enable the public, especially students from outside, to visit the zoology museum, founded in 1974 but now remain shut, and the history artefacts in the possession of the college has been raised.
The college authorities also requested the state government to regularise two self-financing courses – BSc Physics Instrumentation and BSc Environmental Chemistry, being offered by the college.
Currently, there are 20 degree courses, 21 post graduate courses and 15 research programme being offered in the government college. Meanwhile, over half the work on the new three-storey library building on the campus has been finished. The foundation for a new academic block, estimated to cost '10 crore, was also laid.
