Over 300 computers lying unutilized at SPA

New Delhi: Over 300 computers and system software have been found
lying unutilized for the past one year in the store room of the School
of Planning and Architecture (SPA). The reason being stated for the
computers lying unused is inadequate infrastructure to put them to
use.

According to sources, the computers and software had been purchased by
the SPA in March, 2010 at a cost of Rs.4 crore. The funds which were
used to buy the systems had been sanctioned by the Central government
to the institute after the OBC quota had been implemented as it had
led to an increase in the number of seats at the college.

Although an SPA official said that the institute had enough computers
to cater to around 800 students, SPA Dean K. Kapadia has expressed his
ignorance regarding the issue.

The architecture department of the institute is now planning to create
the infrastructure that would help in putting the unutilized computers
to use. A professor from the department, Nirza Tikku said that they
are trying to put the computers in the upcoming studios and libraries
at the institute.

Another official from the institute has said that the designs for the
new infrastructure had been approved and were going to be installed by
May 2011. But the computer have been lying still packed in the store
room as the process of developing the infrastructure was delayed.

The matter had been discussed recently at a faculty meeting of the
institute and a senior member of the executive council had emphasized
on the need to put the computers to use at the earliest.