It can't get worst than this. The organizers of AR Rahman's mega concert have touched nadir by demolishing part of the wall constructed by Nagpur University for accommodating the huge stage, sources disclosed. This latest development adds to the slew of controversies in which the concert is mired. The wall was constructed using the university's general funds which is mostly made up of students fees. Sources claimed that the organizers did not seek consent of NU officials before demolishing the wall,
Ironically, registrar Mahesh Yenkie defended the organizers stating that they had promised to reconstruct the demolished portion after the programme is over. "There's nothing wrong in it," he asserted.
Sources stated that the wall was constructed to prevent encroachers from grabbing the land. Already, about 7.5 acres of NU prime land meant for educational purpose has been encroached upon. Illegal shanties that have sprung up on the land have become a haven of criminals and drunkards.
By demolishing the wall without NU officials' permission, the organizers have again flouted the rules, but NU bosses are not only turning a blind eye towards it but also are blatantly defending their illegal actions. Student community however are crying foul against NU top brass for ignoring development citing paucity of funds while losing out golden opportunity for making profit by renting its prime land for a pittance to commercial events like Oscar recipient's concert and career expo. They also slammed the NU officials for exorbitant hike in fees including that of examination and revaluation.
Arts graduate Mohit Gharpure stated that NU was not making profits from appropriate sources. "Rahman's show is purely a commercial programme. The highest price of a ticket is Rs 25,000 while NU is charging a paltry sum of Rs 50,000 for their ground. The ratio is completely unbalanced." He added that on one hand they're hiking fees citing shortage of funds while on other hand they have completely refrained from developing the infrastructure.
Some like the second year student Avanika Gupta believed that NU let loose the golden goose by not charging enough money from the concert organizers who are going to make huge profits. "Education is getting too expensive now and enormous fee-hike is proving to be a bane for us. In this era of commercialization, NU should also charge high rates from organizers of such programmes."
Another student Sachin Phadkar felt that NU was doing injustice to the students by not improving facilities at the hostel while providing its land for holding commercial events. Abhijeet Bose accused the NU officials of providing discounts to celebrities like Rahman while exploiting the students on other hand.
TOI had already ran a series as to how NU administration flouted rules by renting its 20-acre land for Rahman's extravaganza for just Rs 50,000, while it rented another piece of land in front of Subhedar hall for career expo for Rs 2 lakh. The newspapers also highlighted as to how Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) charges Rs 2 per square feet to stage religious and cultural programmes on its grounds while PWD levies Rs 1 per sq ft for the same. In the entire process NU is losing out a whopping amount of Rs 5.22 crore by providing its land for a pittance.
Ironically, registrar Mahesh Yenkie defended the organizers stating that they had promised to reconstruct the demolished portion after the programme is over. "There's nothing wrong in it," he asserted.
Sources stated that the wall was constructed to prevent encroachers from grabbing the land. Already, about 7.5 acres of NU prime land meant for educational purpose has been encroached upon. Illegal shanties that have sprung up on the land have become a haven of criminals and drunkards.
By demolishing the wall without NU officials' permission, the organizers have again flouted the rules, but NU bosses are not only turning a blind eye towards it but also are blatantly defending their illegal actions. Student community however are crying foul against NU top brass for ignoring development citing paucity of funds while losing out golden opportunity for making profit by renting its prime land for a pittance to commercial events like Oscar recipient's concert and career expo. They also slammed the NU officials for exorbitant hike in fees including that of examination and revaluation.
Arts graduate Mohit Gharpure stated that NU was not making profits from appropriate sources. "Rahman's show is purely a commercial programme. The highest price of a ticket is Rs 25,000 while NU is charging a paltry sum of Rs 50,000 for their ground. The ratio is completely unbalanced." He added that on one hand they're hiking fees citing shortage of funds while on other hand they have completely refrained from developing the infrastructure.
Some like the second year student Avanika Gupta believed that NU let loose the golden goose by not charging enough money from the concert organizers who are going to make huge profits. "Education is getting too expensive now and enormous fee-hike is proving to be a bane for us. In this era of commercialization, NU should also charge high rates from organizers of such programmes."
Another student Sachin Phadkar felt that NU was doing injustice to the students by not improving facilities at the hostel while providing its land for holding commercial events. Abhijeet Bose accused the NU officials of providing discounts to celebrities like Rahman while exploiting the students on other hand.
TOI had already ran a series as to how NU administration flouted rules by renting its 20-acre land for Rahman's extravaganza for just Rs 50,000, while it rented another piece of land in front of Subhedar hall for career expo for Rs 2 lakh. The newspapers also highlighted as to how Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) charges Rs 2 per square feet to stage religious and cultural programmes on its grounds while PWD levies Rs 1 per sq ft for the same. In the entire process NU is losing out a whopping amount of Rs 5.22 crore by providing its land for a pittance.
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