IUST hostel boys face hardships

: Hundreds of inmates at Boys hostel of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora are facing hardships caused due to acute shortage of electricity and water supply. A delegation of students told Greater Kashmir that they have been sufferings for the entire week without electricity and water. “The hostel warden is dragging its feet on ensuring daily water supply in adequate measure. The problem was more due to mismanagement accentuated by overcrowding in the hostels than non-availability of water,” they said. “As per rules the hostels should be provided with uninterrupted power and water supply but we are being denied that,” the students said. As a consequence, most of the students face the predicament of attending classes without their morning bath, or even ablution, on most days. The situation persists despite the university raising the hotel fee at periodic intervals and earmarking substantial money for the purpose of hostel maintenance. According to university professors, who admit that the hostel situation negatively impacts the classroom situation, the issue needs to be handled reasonably. They see a permanent solution to the problem by providing back-up generator sets to the hostel to facilitate academic activities during night hours, and filling the water tank at different times of the day, to ensure that no student is deprived of water for basic needs. The students urged the Vice-Chancellor to intervene in the matter.