The lack of planning and non-utilisation of funds for maintenance of buildings has resulted into termite infestation in Arts and technology faculty of M S University. MSU’s Arts faculty building is a heritage site with its dome second in size in comparison to the Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur and was built in Indo-Sarcenic style.

Worse is the state of Premanand Hall, commonly known as Central Hall, where once Aurobindo Ghosh used to teach in the Arts faculty. Though frescoes and wood work sculptures were restored post 2001 earthquake, the hall is in a shambles due to termite infestation.

Sources said despite numerous requests by department heads as well as the deans past many months, nothing has been done even as the trail of termite tunnels is evident in the classrooms, doors, passageways, ladders and lavatories of Arts and Technology faculty.

The Technology faculty, also known as Kala Bhavan, is one of the oldest faculties of the university; both the faculties were built nearly 100 years ago. The total number of students enrolled in Arts faculty is 5,185 in 2008-09, while in technology faculty, it is 3,267.

In the Faculty of Arts, the termite infestation is specifically found in classrooms number 15, 16, 17 and 18. The termites in both the faculties have despoiled the walls right from the base, which has weakened the foundation of the building.

Dean of Technology faculty Prof Bhuvan Parekh said, “My head of the department had asked for the anti-termite treatment nearly a year ago. However, since the university could not take up the work properly, we will take up the matter again. Anti-termite treatment is not a costly affair. It gets costly because the faculty is big as well as old. It needs continuous check-up.”

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