GBU hikes house rent by 5 times for cops on campus

GREATER NOIDA: A section of officers in the Noida police commissionerate has voiced discontent after the management of Gautam Buddha University (GBU), which has been housing the policemen on its campus, increased the house rent by more than five times.
In January this year, 38 new posts were created in the Noida police commissionerate and 26 senior-level and 1,400 junior-level officers inducted into the force.
The police had then asked the Noida and Greater Noida authorities to ensure housing for these personnel. Since a permanent housing complex was yet to be finalised, a section of the new officers was lodged on the GBU campus.
So far, GBU had been deducting Rs 2,400 as house rent allowance every month. However, in June, the university raised the monthly charge to Rs 15,000.
The officers were told they would be required to pay the revised rent from September.
With at least five DCP and ACP-level officers staying in these type IV houses with two bedrooms, a drawing room and a kitchen, the cops have asked for the decision to be reversed.
"We have to pay Rs 6,000-7,000 a month as electricity bill. Now, if the house rent is increased to Rs 15,000, we would have to shell out Rs 21,000-22,000 every month. This is one-third of our entire salary," an officer said. An officer is entitled to a house rent allowance of Rs 4,000 in rural areas and Rs 10,000 for urban. GBU falls in a rural area.
A group of police officers had met GBU vice-chancellor BP Sharma in July and demanded that the decision be withdrawn. "We were assured of action. But nothing has been done so far," an officer said.
Sharma said, "I have directed the registrar to work on this."
Registrar SN Tewari said the rent had been raised for all "outsiders".