Shimla, Nov 18,
Students at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) are grappling with severe cold while preparing for their semester exams in the Central Library’s reading rooms, as the central heating system remains non-operational.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), HPU unit, met the Deputy Librarian on Saturday and handed over a memorandum demanding swift action on the issue.
The central heating system, for which a grant of ₹6.21 lakh was sanctioned in 2021, remains incomplete. While the boiler room was finished months ago, the installation has been stalled, leaving students to endure the biting cold.
With semester exams scheduled for late November, the delay has intensified the problem, especially as the library sees increased footfall from students across the state.
SFI also highlighted poor sanitation in the library’s toilets and the inadequate maintenance of drinking water facilities.
These issues have been longstanding, with SFI earlier protesting in July by removing a water purifier when all units in the library were non-functional. The administration had acted only after mounting pressure.
The memorandum also demanded that the general section of the library remain open 24 hours to accommodate the growing number of students preparing late at night. SFI stressed that this measure would help students utilize the library effectively ahead of exams.
Warning against further delays, SFI stated that if the administration fails to address these issues promptly, they will mobilize public support and launch protests against what they termed an “indifferent attitude.”
The students’ union emphasized the need to prioritize basic facilities in the library, calling for adherence to the British manual-style efficiency and management standards.
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