University of Kashmir faced an awkward and humiliating moment when 15 bicycles from 100 donated for its ‘Go Green’ initiative went missing at the launch.
The bicycles were donated by chairman of J&K Bank Chairman to the university on Monday under its Go Green initiative for students and staff to move around on the campus and help reduce vehicular movement.
An official said the bicycles went missing as the University invited the bank’s chairman inside an auditorium to preside over a function, leaving the authorities faced with an awkward situation.
“These cycles were taken by some people, may be students or employees, and they did not return them,” the official said wishing anonymity, adding the bicycles went missing soon after the function was over.
Apart from the 100 bicycles, the J&K Bank donated one critical care ambulance, 50 garden benches and a battery operated vehicle to the university under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Chief Proctor, Prof Naseer Iqbal confirmed some cycles were missing but were later recovered, saying some of the bicycles were mistakenly taken away by some people.
“After these bicycles were dedicated to the University, the students and some employees took a ride on them and they were mistaken that it is for them free of cost. They kept these cycles with them but returned after we conveyed them about it,” Prof Iqbal said, adding four bicycles were yet to be recovered.
“But we are hopeful that they will be in campus and will be recovered,” he said without mentioning the exact number of bicycles which went missing.
However, university sources said 15 bicycles had gone missing on the day they were gifted to KU by J&K Bank Chairman.
Prof. Iqbal said the University was trying to reduce vehicular movement inside the campus.
“These bicycles will be kept available at the University gate for students. They can use these bicycles whenever they will be in a hurry to reach their department,” he said, adding a mechanism would be evolved to regulate the usage of these bicycles.