VNSGU yet to have drainage system on campus after 50 years

SURAT: Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) will be celebrating its golden jubilee next year, but its Udhna Magdalla Road campus is yet to have a proper drainage system. Many areas on the campus turn filthy during monsoon as sewage tanks overflow.
The VNSGU still depends on pits for its sewage waste disposal. The waste is shifted out of the campus through tankers.The number of students and faculty living on the campus earlier was limited so it was not a problem. However, now this number was 2,500 and 5,000 more will get added to it next year with the completion of new hostel blocks. Further, 4,000 students visit the campus daily.
"The university campus was not within Surat Municipal Corporation's limit until 2006. Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA) failed to provide the drainage facility to the university when the campus fell within its jurisdiction. The approval for a drainage network has been given by VNSGU's authorized bodies, but due to some technical reasons the network is yet to be developed," said K K Surti, in-charge estate engineer.
"The surrounding areas of the hostel and staff quarters start stinking due to the sewage pits. The university administration needs to find solution to this problem," said a VNSGU faculty.
"The hostels are a risky place to live during monsoon as mosquitoes begin to breed and the entire surroundings stink," said a student, who lives in VNSGU hostel.
A VNSGU official said the work to lay a drainage line began in 2005-06 but it was left incomplete.
"We are working on to develop the drainage network and also improve the overall infrastructure on the campus. We will have to take SMC's assistance to complete the drainage network work. It will be completed soon," said Dakshesh Thakar, vice-chancellor, VNSGU.