Srinagar, Dec 13: With the University of Kashmir remaining in the eye of the storm for the past three weeks over the fiscal shortfall of Rs 3.2 crore per month to meet salary of its employees, the Varsity administration is contemplating to auction the “extra” vehicles to fill its dry coffers.
 According to highly placed sources, the vehicles which were recently taken back from University officials would be put to auction to overcome the financial crisis. The administration is planning to auction at least 25 vehicles, the sources said. “The reason to put to auction these vehicles is that there are 100 plus of them in the pool, most of which are without any use,” the sources said. “The administration has decided that the vehicles which are unused are no more needed and are severely affecting the exchequer.”
 The University in turn would purchase buses, the sources said, to offer vehicular service to students hailing from hinterlands of the Valley. “The idea to purchase new buses is to provide service to students rather than giving unnecessary comfort to the officials who were enjoying the official vehicle for no tangible purpose,” the sources said.
 The light motor vehicles which the University had provided to officials were purchased from the payment seat funds of various departments, the sources said.
 In view of the financial crisis, the Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA) had also recently called on Vice Chancellor of the Varsity, insisting him to either sell the vehicles or handover them to the State Motor Garages, the sources said. “The decision of the Varsity to take back the vehicles from the officials was endorsed by KUTA and a delegation of the association met the Vice-Chancellor recently where-in it stressed that vehicles were a burden on the varsity exchequer.”
 Sources said in the wake of news reports regarding the varsity’s financial deficit, Raj Bhavan expressed dismay over the functioning of the administration. “The Chancellor (Governor) has expressed displeasure over the financial deficit, asking the administration to plug the loopholes,” the sources said.
 Registrar Kashmir University Prof Zaffar Ahmad Reshi said the administration was working on cost benefit analysis but “no such decision has been taken as of now.” “As on date, no such decision has been taken. We are trying things wherein the University would benefit. As far as auctioning the vehicles is concerned we will look at it in detail,” he said, adding “may be in due course of time such a decision is taken for the betterment of the University.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST