23 March,2011 10:30 AM IST | | Alifiya Khan
Taking cognizance of a slew of graft allegations on University of Pune (UoP), the Directorate of Education has finally demanded an audit report on funds spent by the varsity on its Rs 2-crore triple connectivity project.
The ambitious project, which aims at establishing an interactive communication medium between the university and its affiliated colleges by means of video conferencing, online interfaces and Internet, has already overshot its February 2010 deadline.
Discrepancies
An RTI application filed by activists from Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) revealed "many discrepancies" in the project. "Proposals were received and companies were given work even without floating tenders, a must for the varsity before it zeroes in on a company a project," stated the RTI application.
Besides allocation of funds, the activists demanded, an inquiry against the companies for failing to keep their professional commitments.
Prashant Kanojia, president of MNS, said: "Many of promised facilities such as creation of web-based courses, lectures via video conferencing for students, students facilitation centre for online processing of forms are yet to be fulfilled," Kanojia has alleged in his letter to UoP vice-chancellor.
Protesters also sent a copy of the letter to R V Kirdak, director of higher education (Pune), asking him to look into the matter.
Taking cognizance, Kirdak wrote a letter to varsity asking them to submit an audit report explaining usage of funds and status of the project two days ago.
"The letter states that UoP immediately prepare a report and submit it to the directorate of higher education. It also seeks explanation from the UoP over graft allegations and what action has been taken if this is found to be true," said a source from the directorate of higher
education.
