But then, it would be unfair to imagine that the special building-maintenance team -- even if it is headed by none other than university Pro-Vice-Chancellor Deepak Kumar De, can conjure funds out of the thin air. And funds are the one major problem impeding the upkeep of the campus treasures.

While admitting that neither the University Grants Commission nor the State government could provide the funds necessary to restore the crumbling buildings to their former glory, De says that there was no possibility of their grants being increased. The Rs 30 lakhs that the university receives as maintenance funds is eaten up by the minor repairs necessitated in other buildings, say officials.

The only option, it appears, is private funds. Says De, ``We have approached private parties for the necessary funds.'' But the response is lukewarm at best. Adds the PVC, ``After the initial talks during which we promise to put up a board acknowledging their contribution no one has evinced interest in taking up the work on the Fine Arts building''.

If sourcing funds is one worry, their management has not been too inspiring. According to a section of officials, even the annual maintenance grant of Rs 30 lakhs can be better spent. Complains a post-graduate student of the Faculty of Science, ``Our chemistry laboratory has been in the same dilapidated condition for the past five years. Adds J C Rathod, former dean of the Law faculty, ``I have informed the authorities in writing about the poor condition of my room''.

``The rooms of the dean of the Faculty of Science also need to be repaired. The state of the room is pathetic, especially during the monsoons'', says faculty vice-dean S R Pandya.

To a large extent, however, the deans and heads of departments are responsible for the particularly poor condition of some of the rooms and buildings. According to an official of the engineering department, their demands for repairs are supposed to reach them before the beginning of the academic year, but very few deans and faculty heads bother to honor the time-limit.

``Most of them send their complaints after the session has begun. That complicates matters, though we do take them into consideration while charting our priorities'', said the official.

While admitting that the faculty and department heads were often lethargic about submitting complaints, Pandya points out that they are loaded with work at the beginning of the academic term. ``But we do try to refer the places whose disrepair may affect the students'', he adds.