College mgmts to close institutes if tuition fees not released

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (PTI) The managements of professionalcolleges in Andhra Pradesh today said they will shut down theinstitutes from February 24 demanding that the stategovernment release at least 50 per cent of the dues ofstudents'' tuition fees reimbursement scheme.

Though the government has agreed to release Rs 1,000 crtowards fees reimbursement, the managements stuck to theirdemand that at least 50 per cent of dues of Rs 3,500 cr bereleased.

"We will reconsider our stand if the government releases50 per cent of the funds," representatives of the collegemanagements told reporters here after a meeting.

The managements are likely to meet Chief Minister NKiran Kumar Reddy over the issue soon.

Fees reimbursement has become a hot political issue inthe state with all opposition parties taking up agitationsover it.

While Telugu Desam, BJP, Left parties have beenorganising agitations on the issue, former Congress MP Y SJagan Mohan Reddy is currently on a week-long fast demandingthat the government release funds for the scheme immediately.