The University spends about Rs 2.50 crore per annum for electricity and incurs substantial expenditure on the LPG cylinders used for cooking at its various hostels. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will supply 25 metric tonnes of organic waste every day, free of cost for 15 years. The Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Ltd, has offered to set up the plant for about Rs one crore, excluding cost on civil works and generators.
Although the university’s Academic Council which met on Monday approved the proposal, it stressed that proper studies on feasibility and viability be carried out. A few members were wary of the project and argued that methane and other poisonous gases might spread contagious diseases in the campus. A BBMP official, who gave a presentation on the matter, cleared their apprehension and said that the concerns were unfounded.
Examination adalat
In order to address students’ grievances on examination matters such as internal assessment marks, non-issue of marks cards, faulty marks cards, wrong names, non-declaration of results, etc, BU will hold an Examination Adalat for three months.
As many as 4,000 cases related to examination matters for the period 2001 to 2009 have been pending. The varsity introduced OMR sheets in December 2009. The rulings of the Adalat will be binding on the university, the students, the colleges, etc. BU proposes to appoint retired High Court judges - Justices Gururajan, M B Chinnappa, Venkatesh Murthy, and Jayaram Chouta - for the purpose.
The honorarium to the judges, their office accommodation, transport, and sumptuary (personal) expenses will be equal to those offered by similar Adalats.
Academic chairs
BU will establish six academic chairs for study in specific areas. These are – Jain Studies (Department of Kannada), Akka Mahadevi-Obavva-Attimabbe Studies (Centre for Women Studies), Buddha-Basava-Ambedkar Studies (Dr Ambedkar Study and Research Centre), Shankara-Ramanuja-Madhva Studies, (Veerashaiva Darshanika Adhyayana Peetha - both at Department of Sanskrit), and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and History of Bangalore Studies (Department of Political Studies).
The university will grant Rs 10 lakh to each chair until other agencies fund the project. Each chair will have a chair professor, two research assistants, one office staff and a peon.
Survey of colleges
Very soon, affiliated colleges of BU will be surveyed by external professional agencies such as MARG, IIM-B, etc. Not satisfied with the work of its Local Inspection Committees (LICs), the university has decided to rope in external agencies to collect basic information on the colleges. The exercise will not only give “reliable” data on the functioning of each college, but would also be handy in granting permanent affiliation to good institutes.
Besides, the university can grade the affiliated colleges accordingly.