The Academic Council of Mangalore University approved Rs 3.52 crore deficit budget for the year 2008-09 on Tuesday, which did not emphasise on any new schemes, but gave a list of a few projects which has been repeating in the budget for the past few years.

In the fourth general meeting of the Academic Council held at the New Senate Hall in Mangalagangothri, Varsity Finance Officer Prof P S Yadapadithaya presented the budget proposing Rs 53.70 crore income and Rs 57.22 crore expenditure, thus indicating a deficit of Rs 3.52 crore. However, the deficit is less compared to that of the previous budget. It was Rs 6.81 lakh in 2007-08.

Old plans
From building an outdoor stadium with 400 mts track to laying a steel pipe line from Munnur to campus, almost all projects listed in the budget were the same ones appeared in the previous budget. May it be laying a new road connecting library and Yakshagana Kalamandir, separate hostel for foreign students, ‘D’ model hostels in varsity campus and Madikeri, changing the route of Kotekar-Pathur road that crosses university campus or construction of a new examination building, it is just a repetition of the old story.

Even the list of projects “on progress” does not make any appearance: buildings for departments of Electronics, Yogic Science, Pathology Lab for health centre, museum in Applied Zoology department, cafeteria on the campus... and so on.

UGC Sanction
Prof Yadapadithaya said the UGC had sanctioned Rs 84 lakh for building a women’s hostel under its 11th plan, but the rest of the amount should be pooled by the university. The actual fund required is Rs 1,35,98,750.
“We  have made it clear to the government that Mangalore University’s requirements are special compared to that of the other old varsities in the State.

The necessities are being fulfiled with the participation of international organisations, donors and alumni association,” he added.

As per the budget, the estimated income of the university comprises grant from State and other sources (38%), fee from students (19%), employees sources (4%), examination fees (7%), development (22%) and UGC grant (5%), exam and distance education (7%) and miscellaneous (5%). Similarly, the proposed expenditure has been distributed for salary (38%), administrative expenses (13%), pension (2%), examinations and distance education (7%), colleges (2%), PG departments (1%), development (24%) and UGC expenses (7%) and miscellaneous (6%).

Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa presided. Registrar Dr K Sundar Naik was present.