AP, Telangana Engineering colleges on verge of closing

Fee reimbursement issue has not only put a question mark on the students’ lives but also the survival of most of just grooming engineering colleges in either state. According to Gadde Rajaling, senior member of Federation of Engineering Colleges in AP, the state government of Andhra Pradesh yet to pay about Rs. 1,300cr dues to various colleges in the 13 districts of AP alone.

The reimbursement of fees to various engineering colleges and other professional courses has been pending since June 2013. This has put many of the colleges in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the quay.

According to sources, as many as 80 colleges in Telangana and about 5 colleges in Andhra Pradesh are mulling over closure. Also, many colleges have not paid the salaries to their faculty since last three months.

According to sources, based on the estimate given by the Telangana government, it would have to shell down about Rs. 1,200cr for students from Andhra Pradesh who are studying in Telangana colleges, while on the other hand the estimate of AP government for Telangana students is about Rs. 150cr, and this seems to be the hold-up, added sources.

Sources added that in Andhra Pradesh, there are about 358 colleges and in Telangana 326, but many of the students from Andhra Pradesh are in their second, third and final year of study in colleges in Telangana, particularly in colleges located in and around Hyderabad.