Students staged a protest at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Girls’ Hostel on Friday over concerns related to unhygienic food, poor maintenance, and unsafe living conditions. Student organisation Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNS) issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the institute authorities to resolve the grievances
Following the protest, the COEP administration has reportedly constituted a committee to examine the complaints raised by the students.
Students alleged that the hostel mess, run under private catering supervision, has been serving unhygienic food. In the latest incident, cockroaches, flies, and even a stapler pin were reportedly found in meals. According to students, similar incidents had been reported before Diwali this year, but “the mess manager and warden ignored the complaints”.
Hostel students have complained about irregular water supply, poor sanitation, broken doors and windows, and mold-infested walls.
“Even mobile network signals are weak inside the building, affecting our online projects and studies,” a student complained.
DN Sonawane, registrar, COEP, said, “We have received the letter submitted by students and constituted a committee to examine the case. The committee will submit its report, and we will take action accordingly.”