Internal tussle in Environmental Sc dept affects research activities

For the past few days, several research fellows as well as their guides have no access to the labs.

A few members of the varsity alleged that tussle between chairperson and a few senior faculty members has taken a toll on the research output of the department. There are several research scholars in the department, who are working on numerous projects funded by Central agencies like Ministry of Environment and Forest, National Remote Sensing Centre Hyderabad, Department of Science and Technology, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre as well as the State Government.

“We have to submit annual as well as half-yearly reports to the agencies to apply for funding. If research students don't have access to the labs, how will we finish the projects within the stipulated period of three years,” asks Somashekhar RK, a senior faculty member of the department.

According to Somashekhar, who heads a team of 16 research scholars, students have already filed a complaint to the university but the officials have not yet taken action.

Researchers from neighbouring government colleges and State agencies like Pollution Control Board also use the facilities at the lab. However, the guides are not given the keys to access these labs, they allege.

Several PhD students like Ravi Kumar claim that storing samples has become a headache for many students like him.

“We have to travel frequently and collect water samples from Belgaum, Bagalkot and Udupi. How are we supposed to store the samples of heavy metal and water, which have to be stored under the specified conditions?,” notes the angry student.

When Deccan Herald  contacted Bangalore University Vice-chancellor, N Prabhu Dev told that he has not received any complaints.

He also noted that he would look in to the issue as soon as possible.