Mysuru: There appears to be no end in sight to the problem of Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University's search for a permanent campus. After the land allotted by the state government for the varsity at Varuna was claimed by the forest department, the parcel at Dharmapura that it was subsequently granted at Dharmapura has now encroached.The music varsity is currently operating out of a building that earlier served as a primary school in Lakshmipuram. The 65-acre parcel of land that the state government allotted the varsity at Dharmapura on the Mysuru-Madikeri highway, around 48km from the city, at Bilikere hobli in Hunsur taluk was handed over to the university on April 9, 2012.Owing to the shortage of funds, the varsity administration contemplated refurbishing its existing campus at Lakshmipuram in lieu of shifting en masse to Dharmapura. However, when vice-chancellor of the varsity Sarvamangala Shankar visited the property, she found it to be ideal for the purpose.The land parcel in adjacent to the Morarji Desai Residential School and the department of sericulture. Sarvamangala told TOI that she had paid multiple visits to the property to develop a plan to build a 'Gurukula'. "When I went there, I found it to be very peaceful, far from the bustle of the city - an ideal place to learn music. But I also realised that the land was encroached. A burial ground had come up next to our land, and there were other encroachments," she said.She brought these violations to the attention of the tahsildar and deputy commissioner, and asked them to address the problem.Meanwhile, a survey carried out through the CADD station in Mysuru on 20 September, 2016 found that of the 65 acres, 12 acres and 33.5 guntas had been encroached upon, leaving around 52 acres and six guntas for the university. They subsequently informed the tahsildar and DC about the encroachments and asked them to ensure the university got 65 acres of land so that construction should begin.Sarvamangala said, "It will be a residential school where Bharatanatyam, Carnatic and Hindustani music will be taught along with instruments such as Veena, Tabala, Sitar, Mrudanga, Naadaswara, etc. There will be one teacher for around six to eight students."At a recent syndicate meeting of the university, members took a decision to fence the entire property. While a compound wall is estimated to cost Rs 24 lakh, a reinforced concrete wall could approximately cost Rs 38 lakh. The university has demanded Rs 9 crore from the government for starting construction."Once the construction of the Gurukula is completed, we have plans to develop a museum and musical fountain at the campus," said Sarvamangala.DC D Randeep told TOI, "We will identify encroachments, and action will be taken to rid the music varsity property of them once the authorities send an official request to the district administration."The varsity administration wants to retain its present facoility at Lakshmipuram, while developing a Gurukula at Dharmapura.

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