Trash, booze bottles in learning hub!

When the campus of a prestigious university, once associated with luminaries like Sir CV Raman and C. Rajagopalachari, becomes a centre for shady activities, there’s nothing more shameful. The Jnana Bharathi campus of Bengaluru University where thousands of bright minds shape their careers, is being misused by those who have nothing to do with education and the blame should be put at the doorstep of varsity officials and local cops. Y. Maheswara Reddy examines the state of the campus.

Every educational hub including the Jnana Bharathi Campus of Bengaluru University is supposed to be a temple of knowledge but the campus is instead on the verge of becoming a dumpyard for empty beer bottles and garbage. It is not clear if the varsity has any workers to clear the mess or norms prohibiting the sprawling campus from being used for illegal activity.

It’s nothing less than shocking to see the authorities at Jnanabharathi remaining mute spectators to the shady acts. As for cleanliness around the students’ hostels, the less said the better. People who visit the campus, especially the students’ hostels, can see heaps of garbage and empty liquor and beer bottles littered everywhere.

“We brought up this issue during the Syndicate meeting. We have advised the Vice Chancellor to take measures to keep the campus clean. We have also advised the V-C to prevent outsiders from misusing the campus but nothing has been done to keep it clean,’’ said Dr Sudhakar H, a Syndicate Member of Bangalore University.

He said that he happened to come across empty beer bottles at the students’ hostels during a surprise inspection. “Syndicate Members have already advised the wardens of hostels to keep the premises clean. I think some outsiders are also dumping garbage, including chicken waste, on the campus. We have convened a campus development committee meeting next week to discuss cleanliness at the campus,’’ he said, adding that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has refused to remove garbage claiming that Jnanabharathi Campus does not come under their jurisdiction.

When informed about this, Siddappa, Director of Students Welfare, said the university authorities had held a meeting with BBMP health department officials to fix the garbage issue at the campus. “I have brought the garbage mess to the notice of higher authorities. I have advised students to keep the campus clean,’’ he said.

A student, pleading anonymity, said the BU authorities seldom engage workers to clear garbage. “We are definitely against some students misusing the campus but we are helples when they dump empty liquor bottles. Lack of sufficient security guards and the absence of police vigil are the other reasons for misuse of the campus,’’ said the student.

Meanwhile, Venkatesh HM, a social activist from Judicial Layout, lamented the lack of cleanliness at Jnanabharathi. “It is a temple of knowledge but is being misused by miscreants and irresponsible students. The campus may lose its sanctity if the authorities concerned fail to take preventive measures to avoid misuse,’’ said Venkatesh. He demanded that the jurisdictional police intensify vigil at the campus to prevent it from becoming a destination for criminal activities. “If the police become apathetic, Jnanabharathi Campus will be misused by anti-social elements. Who will be responsible if miscreants in an inebriated condition commit crime on the campus? Let the police authorities wind up the police station and transfer the cops to nearby police stations if Jnanabharathi police cannot curb criminal activities at the campus,’’ he quipped.