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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Two people killed as poultry vehicle rams into parked truck in Belagavi
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Two people were killed, and another was severely injured after a goods vehicle transporting poultry birds allegedly rammed into a stationary truck on a national highway in Belagavi in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.
The deceased have been identified as Wasim (28) and Mubarak (22), both natives of Shivamogga district, they said.
The driver of the vehicle, Basavaraj Eerappa Hanchinamani (37), suffered critical injuries and has been admitted to a hospital, police said.
According to police, the accident occurred when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, allegedly due to drowsiness, and crashed into a truck parked along the highway.
The goods vehicle was en route from Kolhapur to Sorab in Shivamogga district, carrying poultry. Several chickens were also killed in the impact, a senior police officer said.
Police personnel from the Hirebagewadi Police Station visited the spot and conducted an inspection.
Injured people and the bodies of the deceased were shifted to a hospital, police added.
