Stand-off over reimbursement of tution fees continues in AP

Hyderabad, Feb 12 (PTI) The stand-off between the AndhraPradesh government and the managements of private professionalcolleges over the issue of the government providing funds forreimbursement of tution fees for backward class studentscontinued today.

State ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha and others helddiscussions with the representatives of the managements of theprofessional colleges.

"They say that the government should release 50 per centof the funds. They conveyed their difficulties and we conveyedour position. We will meet again on February 16 and decide,"Rajanarasimha told reporters.

"Government sought time till February 16. We will meetagain. We have announced our decision to close the collegesfrom February 16. We can take a decision on that day," Ramesh,a representative of the managements, said.

The Government had yesterday expressed its readinessto release only Rs 600 crore while the amount to be paid wasover Rs 3,000 crore as fees reimbursement.

Insisting that the government release at least 50 percent of the total dues, the colleges have announced that theywould shut down the colleges from February 16.