Defunct fountains reducing beauty quotient at Osmania University campus

Hyderabad: The fountain in Osmania University is as important as the Arts College itself, for it has been a rendezvous for many. It was also used as a backdrop in the iconic movie, Nikaah, starring Salma Agha and Raj Babbar. For students who studied here in the past, studying at present and to thousands who throng the university in the mornings and evenings for a stroll, the fountains in the university add beauty to the environment.

Sadly, the fountains are a pale shadow of their former selves, as the university officials say that the lack of water is the reason that the fountains are not being used.

Speaking to The Hans India, R Chandru, director for Gardens and Green Belt Department at OU, said "All the water fountains are in working condition and some don't have water connections, and we will start the water fountains from the next month."

There are six big water fountains in the 1,200 acres of Osmania University campus, and these fountains were repaired just before the centenary celebrations of the university two years ago.

Huge and well-designed water fountains, set up in front of Registrar office building, Arts College, Varsity Library, Engineering College and Chemistry department building in the campus, are now not in use.

All the fountains were installed in the campus to enhance the beauty with the help of sanctioned amount in the varsity budget a few years ago, but all the fountains become dry and are filled with mud due to water scarcity in summer season.

Even though there is not much water required for the water fountains, as water gets recycled and the water needs to changed only once in a 15 days, the varsity officials said that water is not sufficient for the hostel inmates and for 27 acres of garden area during summers.

The water fountains, which are located in front of the Arts College and Engineering College, come under the authorities of the respective colleges and the remaining water fountains come under the Director of Gardens and Green Belt wing of the OU.

Old water fountains have been removed and are replaced with new ones and new marbles were put in them. They were started just before the centenary celebrations of the varsity, but again they have been stopped working since summer. Till now, the fountains are not in the working condition, the varsity officials told the The Hans India.

Around 250 people are needed to maintain the huge garden area and the fountains in varsity campus, but now only around 30 people are working, and it's very difficult to maintain the huge garden area and the water fountains with less staff, said the varsity officials. Officials have asked the higher authorities to recruit some more staff for the maintenance of the garden, but they have not done anything yet, the official said.

Other varsities allocate more funds in their budgets for the gardening to enhance the beauty of the varsity campus, but OU has kept very less budget for the gardening, said an official on anonymity.