Mangalore University admits to misuse of Rs 7 crore RUSA funds: Report
Mangaluru: The Mangalore University has reportedly admitted to the misuse of funds amounting to Rs 7 crore released by the Central government under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA-I) for the construction of boys’ and girls’ hostels.
According to a report in Deccan Herald on Wednesday, the university, in a reply to the Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), stated that the utilisation certificate submitted earlier to the government was false.
As per the university’s institutional development plan, Rs 7 crore had been released for constructing separate hostels for boys and girls. However, during an inspection by an expert committee constituted by the KSHEC, it was found that no construction work had taken place. The funds were disbursed between 2013 and 2017 under RUSA-I. The University, in total, had received Rs 20 crore for the project.
Committee members were reportedly shocked to find no hostel buildings on the campus. When asked to produce relevant documents, university authorities allegedly attempted to mislead the team by claiming that the funds had been diverted for the construction of an international hostel instead.
Interestingly, the utilisation certificate submitted to the Higher Education Department, cited by DH, had claimed that both boys’ and girls’ hostels had been constructed.
The issue was subsequently placed before the State Project Director (SPD) meeting, chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department. Following deliberations, a show-cause notice was issued to the university authorities.
The Higher Education Council also recommended recovery of the funds misused by the university and also to impose penalties.
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UAE condemns 'terrorist' attack on Indian-flagged vessel off Oman coast
Dubai (PTI): The UAE has condemned a strike on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman, calling it a "terrorist attack" and a "dangerous escalation" that threatens the stability of critical waterways.
The commercial vessel, which was sailing from Somalia, came under attack on Wednesday, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs.
All 14 crew members were rescued by Omani authorities, but it was not immediately known who carried out the strike, it said.
"The UAE strongly condemns terrorist attack on Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman," the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement issued on Thursday. "This attack constitutes a grave threat to the security of international navigation and represents a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the stability of critical waterways."
The incident took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
It has been severely disrupted by the conflict in West Asia that started on February 28, with the US and Israel launching joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
The MoFA further said that the attack on the India-flagged vessel on Wednesday was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirms the importance of freedom of navigation and rejects the targeting of commercial vessels or the obstruction of international maritime routes.
It emphasised that "targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represent acts of piracy and constitute a direct threat to the stability of the region, its peoples, and global energy security".
The UAE expressed solidarity with India and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the security and safety of its vessels and interests, the statement said.
Earlier, India had described the attack as "unacceptable".
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict broke out.
