Inspect Salem govt arts college, guv tells collector

Salem: Governor R N Ravi, who is also the chancellor of Periyar University, has directed district collector S Karmegam to hold a joint inspection at the Salem government arts and science college and take stock of infrastructure deficiencies.
The move comes after activist M Buvaneshwari petitioned the governor, seeking his intervention to ensure basic amenities at the college.
Talking to TOI, the petitioner said the government college, which enjoys autonomous status, has a strength of 5,500 students, including more than 1,200 girls. “The college has just 12 toilets for them and most of them are unusable. None of the toilets have mugs and buckets. Doors can’t be locked from inside. There are no napkin dispensers or bins.”
Pointing out that the college lacks drainages and sewage water channels, Buvaneshwari said the pathways would be filled with water whenever it rained. “Most of the buildings are in a dilapidated condition and they may collapse any time, as they are completely soaked in the recent rain.”
When contacted, college principal S Kalaichelvan said they had informed the public works department to provide basic amenities. “The civil work started on April 22 and it would be completed on or before October 21. All the issues will be sorted out at the earliest.”
The district collector has, meanwhile, formed a team comprising relevant department officials for inspection.