In an early morning swoop, the Revenue Department demolished part of the campus belonging to GITAM deemed to be university, here on Saturday.
According to Revenue officials, about 40 acres of government land had been occupied by the educational institution and the management was informed about it.
Speaking to the media at the demolished site, RDO Kishore Kumar said about 40 acres belonging to the government had been under occupation by the private university since many years and this was informed to them.
According to him, the land was occupied both by GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and GITAM deemed to be University. He pointed out that at about 18 acres had been occupied under various survey numbers of Yendada and 20 acres under Rushikonda.
“We have today demolished the compound wall on the Rushikonda side and also on the Yendada side and reclaimed the occupied land that is vacant inside the campus, which includes roads, gardens, playgrounds and other vacant sites. We have also done the markings,” Mr. Kumar said.
According to him, permanent structures had also been surveyed and the marking had been done and it had been informed to the management. “Once we reclaim the vacant occupied land, we will then deal with the permanent structures in the next phase,” he said.
The RDO informed that the private university had earlier sought for alienation of 71 acres of land at market value, but it was not accepted by the government.
On whether notices were served, he did not give a clear answer, but said that the management was informed in advance.
‘No notices served’
The spokesperson of the private university claimed no notices were served and the demolition of an educational institute in such a manner was unlawful.
A huge contingent of police force accompanied the demolition squad and cordoned off both the roads leading to the university on the Yendada and Rushikonda side, in the early hours around 3 a.m. Without any notice, the demolition began at around 4 a.m., said the spokesperson.
Speaking to The Hindu, GITAM president, M. Sribharat said the demolition was gross violation of basic rules, as it was done in the early hours and on a holiday.
GITAM was started by former TDP MP MVVS Murthi in 1980 and was the first private engineering college in this part of the State. It later turned autonomous and became a deemed university in 2007. It also started a medical college and is one among the designated COVID hospitals in the district. The campus stands on around 125 acres, with over 25,000 students.