GU ceiling collapses, professor hurt
For Dr Nisha Shah, a professor in the chemistry department of Gujarat University, it was a bitter experience when the roof of her official residence collapsed on Wednesday. She sustained head injuries and needed four stitches to stem the bleeding.

The delay in renovating the university buildings and staff quarters damaged in 2001 earthquake has put Gujarat University staffers on edge.

Despite lapse of over two years after the earthquake and subsequent grants by the University Grants Commission for the renovation of the quake-hit buildings, Gujarat University is yet to refurbish the buildings that are now in dilapidated condition.

It may be noted that as a result of the damage to the buildings after the earthquake almost each and every building of the university developed cracks and are facing seepage problem and at places even the plasters have peeled off.

Even as the university received UGC grant of Rs 14.15 crores for renovation of 59 quake-hit buildings, the funds are yet to be utilised.

Although massive reconstruction exercise was undertaken across the state, the university with sufficient resources has not even completed one third of the work. So far in the first phase of renovation comprising 18 buildings mainly of staff quarters, Rs 5.56 crores have been expended. Dr Shah has been staying at the university staff quarters for the past 15 years. "Renovation work has not been carried out at the premises after the earthquake," she lamented. Vice chancellor A.U. Patel said, "The renovation of the damaged buildings will be taken up immediately."

Republished from The Asian Age