Guwahati: Gauhati University (GU) has faced criticism for allegedly planning to spend nearly Rs 2 crore on renovating its “VIP guest house” and dining hall despite facing a financial crisis. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) objected to the proposed expenditure.AASU president Utpal Sarma questioned the university’s priorities amid “mounting financial distress”. The university, however, defended the move, saying the dining hall in the university guest house required an upgrade and that constructing a new kitchen has become necessary.Sources said around Rs 1.77 crore has been allocated for upgrading of dining hall, construction of kitchen, and staff accommodation facility at the university guest house.In a social media post, Sarma said the reported Rs 2 crore contract for a “VIP dining hall” suggested the university had overcome its crisis. He added that the administration could next consider facilities such as a swimming pool, VIP lounge and VIP parking.The GU administration on Wednesday said the university guest house hosts a wide range of visitors, including members of selection committees, external examiners, viva voce experts, visiting faculty, resource persons, alumni, parents, students, delegates, and guests attending academic, administrative and cultural programmes.“With the steady expansion of the university’s academic and administrative activities, the existing dining hall has become inadequate to cater to the growing number of guests. In addition, the guest house kitchen, store and staff accommodation have deteriorated over the years and require urgent upgradation,” office of the GU registrar said in a clarification. Accordingly, it said GU construction panel approved the construction of a new dining hall, and a new kitchen, store and staff accommodation at the guest house.“During the preparation of the tender documents, the expression “VIP Dining Hall” was inadvertently used… The term was merely an unofficial internal reference historically used for guests such as visiting professors, experts and dignitaries staying at the guest house, and did not reflect the scope or purpose of the project,” it said.
