Where will the 7,000 new students sit?

Delhi University has increased reservations for OBC students to 18 per cent. But the infrastructure of its colleges may not be enough to support the extra load

The good news first; Delhi University (DU) has created 7,000 more seats at the undergraduate level for the new academic session starting this July.

But the bad news is that the new students may be disappointed as the colleges of the university are not yet ready to bear the extra load.

If sufficient number of students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) turns up this year, the colleges may not be able to cater to their needs.

According to college authorities, the expansion plans are ready but they can't be carried out as the construction of more classrooms and laboratories require the nod of regulatory bodies like the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Accepting that the infrastructure may fail to accommodate new students, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental said, "Grants were sanctioned in 2008 but the regulatory authorities are taking time to complete the process."

He said that new teachers will also have to be appointed. However, as the process of recruitment of teachers is yet to begin so freshers will have to manage with the current strength.

"Our expansion plan is ready. But we will have to wait for clearance from the government to start the actual construction work.
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We have to take care of many other factors like electricity and water supply, which too will take some time.
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The new infrastructure won't be ready by the start of the next session. So, there will be tremendous pressure on the existing facilities," said Dr Inderjit Singh Bakshi, Principal, Dayal Singh College.

Agreed Bhim Sen, Principal of Kirori Mal College. "We have asked the MCD to grant us permission to build more classrooms. But it may take at least two to three months," said Sen.

However, a few colleges have acted on time and have the infrastructure ready.

Hans Raj College and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) are among the few colleges that have already renovated their buildings. "Our infrastructure is ready to accommodate more students this year," said P C Jain, principal, SRCC.

Delhi University on Friday announced 18 per cent reservation, an increase of nine per cent, for students of OBCs from the next academic session.
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This has been done to implement the second phase of the three-year hike in reservation for OBC students.

General category students too will benefit from the move, as the vacant seats in the reserved category will be filled by others.