Indian colleges flay poor management of architecture meet

Structural flaws emerged at the convention of the National Association of Students of Architecture (Nasa) held at the GMDC ground on Sunday. Students and faculties who had come from various parts of the country complained about the poor sanitation condition and food being provided during the convention. Students at the venue claimed some five students had suffered food poisoning too. The 108 service said they were called to the venue after a student complained of severe headache but the case did not require hospitalisation. They said no case of food poisoning was reported to them.

A student of Savera College of Architecture, Gurgaon, said the sanitation conditions were pathetic. "There is no running water. We have to carry the water from drums. Despite having paid Rs3500 per student for the event, we were not provided any facilities," said the student.

"Look at the toilets. The students were complaining that when the toilet was flushed, the water and dirt rushes into another toilet. Even the food is bad as it is prepared and served in the open. The only good thing is there has been no lapse in security," said a faculty member from the Andhra University.

He said the faculties were accommodated in hotels. "But several students have now arranged for their own accommodation. Some have checked into hotels, which in turn have jacked up prices," said the faculty. He said the students have ended up paying an additional Rs700 to Rs2,000 per day for hotel rooms.

A faculty member from BNCA, Pune, called it "the worst sort of management ever possible". “Even the spot events have been cancelled. What is the point in coming when the events were to be cancelled? There are no volunteers to listen to us. The executive committee members are not reachable," said the faculty.