24th October, 2002.
Vice-Chancellors of Universities,
Rectors of Campuses,
Directors of Institutes.
Restriction on using funds allocated for the rehabilitation and maintenance of capital assets for the Construction of Bui ldings
The demand for the infrastructure development, especially for the construction of buildings in the universities and other higher educational institutes is on the increase for sometime. In the mid 90's, priority was given to construct buildings for residential facilities for undergraduates. However, the insufficient building space for academic activities for almost all universities and institutes is a matter that has been discussed in every review meeting in the recent past. Due to acute shortage of space, the institutions have resorted to construct buildings utilizing funds allocated for the rehabilitation and maintenance of capital assets. In certain cases, it is not clear whether the services of Architects having experience in the planning of university buildings and the competent Structural Engineers for designing of such buildings have been obtained for the planning and designing of these buildings. The main reason for resorting to such adhoc construction is the lack of proper planning for infrastructure development in the university system. As the institutions are ready with the Corporate Plans for future development, the UGC is in a position to set guidelines for a long-term development plan and support the institutions to obtain approval and funds for the implementation of this plan.
Under these circumstances, the Commission at its 612th meeting held on 10th July 2002 decided to suspend the construction of buildings utilizing funds allocated for the rehabilitation and maintenance of capital assets with effect from 01-01-2004. The restrictions imposed on constructions of buildings cover the extensions to existing buldings as well.
With regard to the ongoing construction programmes using rehabilitation funds where funding is required for the year 2004, report to the Director, Infrastructure Development as early as possible to explore the possibility of regularizing the
construction work to allocate funds in the annual budget of 2004. Applications for such provision should be submitted with a detailed report of the project highlighting the following areas.
- Scope of the work
- Justification
- Total Estimated Cost - estimate should be certified by a competent person
- Cost of balance work
(Prof. B.R.R.N Mendis- Chairman)
Cc:
- Chairman/UGC
- Vice-Chairman/UGC
- Members of the UGC
- Secretary/UGC
- Deans of Fulculties
- Registrars of Universites
- financial Controller/UGC
- Bursars of Universities
- Librarians/SAL/AL of the Higher Educational Institutions/Institutes ;
- Snr.Asst.Registrars/Asst.Registrars of HEIs /Campuses
- Snr.Asst.Bursars/Asst.Bursars of HEI a/Campuses
- Chief Internal Audi tor/UGC
- Govt. Audit Superintendents of Universities
- Snr.Asst.Int. Auditors/Asst.Int.Auditors of HEIs
- Secretaries of Trade Unions
- Auditor-General
File No. UGC/IDD/GEN/16(04-10)
