Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (BATU) has failed to maintain the regularity in paying rent of the place given to it by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) in 2022. As per rough estimation now, BATU is supposed to pay over Rs 40 lakh to the new owner, Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU). In 2022, RTMNU had given its hall situated in the premises of its conducted college, Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) to BATU for running its sub-centre on rent. BATU was expected to pay Rs 2 lakh per month to RTMNU which it paid initially on a regular basis. Now LIT became University as LITU and the BATU sub-centre came under it. BATU was expected to pay the rent to LITU as per the agreement.

 

The LITU Finance section found that BATU has not paid a single penny from the last two years, with dues crossing Rs 40 lakh. LITU official told ‘The Hitavada’, “We have sent some reminders to BATU for the payment, but no step was taken. Being new, we too need finances on an urgent basis, so if we get such huge dues early, we can plan various projects.” Admitting the fact, Raju Pawde, the in-charge of the sub-centre of BATU, said, “We are Government Institutions, and the payment will be made in due course. Now BATU is increasing its reach in this region. The affiliation of technical institutions to our university in this region has already crossed 12 plus the pharmacy institute number reached 55. We are now trying to make the working at our sub-centre easy.” BATU’s sub-centre at Nagpur was inaugurated by the then Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant. The rate of BATU becoming a separate technological university is very slow as compared to Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) for medical courses.