PSTU filling up lake ignoring master plan

Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) authorities have started filling up an artificial lake on the campus to construct two academic buildings, ignoring the master plan of PSTU.
Work for filling the lake with sand has continued for the last 3/4 days as plan has been taken to construct the buildings of Business and Administration Management (BAM) and Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) departments.
According to the university's master plan, the proposed academic buildings are to be built on its farmland, which is only about a quarter kilometre away from the main campus.
The university started its academic activities from 2002-2003 academic year.
Students said the campus will lose its beauty if the lake, created as per the master plan, is filled up.
While visiting the campus on Saturday, this correspondent saw day labourers bringing sand from outside by trucks and leaving it on the lake site to fill it up.
Library building, mosque, health centre and combined academic building are around the lake.
The university authorities selected the sites, as students of BAM and CSE departments have been demanding for long to set up their own academic buildings, campus sources said.
"The campus will lose its beauty if buildings replace the lake. The generator house is also located near the site of the proposed buildings. Sound problem will disturb students if the generator is run during class hours to supply electricity on the campus," said Sadia Afrin, a student of BAM department.
"We have taken a plan to construct the two buildings there to save money as construction of the buildings on farmland as per the master plan would make the cost double. On completion of work of the buildings, students of both the departments will get good environment for study and research," said Prof Sakhawat Hussain, vice-chancellor of the university.
When contacted, PSTU Executive Engineer Abdul Motaleb Khan said, "The new plan has been taken for greater interest of the institution. We will shift the generator if it hampers educational environment."