Udupi: (The Hindu)The issue of alleged misuse of land and construction of buildings on the land by Manipal University figured in the general body meeting of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) here on Tuesday. Manipal University has already denied the charges of land misuse and said that it has taken all required permissions.

Raising the issue, Prashanth Amin, councillor, demanded to know if all the buildings constructed by the University in Manipal were legal. He also demanded to know the extent to which the land had been used by the University, for purposes other than that for which it was granted. He wanted to know if the large number of shops functioning within the University campus had municipal licences.

Intervening, CMC president P. Yuvaraj said that the district administration had already slapped a fine of Rs. 1,123 crore to Manipal University for the alleged misuse of land. There was no clarity on the issue. Hence, the CMC would form a Task Force to look into the status of land and the buildings in the university campus. “If there is any government land in Manipal, we want it for developmental purposes,” he said.

Mr. Yuvaraj took the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) officials to task for providing electricity supply to the NRI Hostel of the University. He said that the CMC had not given No Objection Certificate, Occupancy Certificate or Door Number for the building.

The official from MESCOM informed the meeting that the University had got a Stay Order from the court to maintain status on power connection till July 15. Mr. Yuavaraj said that the CMC would seek vacation of stay order from the court.

Photo credit: The Hindu