Tekkali: The Government Polytechnic College at Turakalakota, Nandigama mandal in Tekkali, is in a sad state of neglect and repair. Located in the constituency represented by AP Minister for Labour, Employment & Factories- Atchannaidu, the College was shifted two years ago to a building which was bought for more than rupees 9.80 crore.

The building, which was once an old engineering college, is located in between hillocks and forests which makes it very difficult to reach and is completely lacking in basic amenities. Security is another major issue as the college has no outer walls.With no hostel buildings students have to make their own arrangements to stay in the neighbouring areas for rent. Students group together and take rooms for rent and cook their own meals before heading to college.

The college has very basic lab facilities and equipment and the ones is use once belonged to the old engineering college. Even the faculty have not been appointed on a regular basis. There are only two branches EEE and Civil Engineering which are functioning with one OSD ( officer on Special Duty), two lecturers for both the branches, 6 lecturers on contract basis and 2 guest lecturers are working as faculty members there.

Parents of the students are upset that their children have to go through such difficulties and with 193 students in both the branches, the college doesn't have basic amenities like proper toilets. With such facilities in that location, the number of students joining the college have dropped drastically. This year only 34 students joined the EEE branch, while 19 sought admission in the Civil engineering branch. The 5th semester students are yet to take the lab exams owing to lack of basic lab equipment.

The locals are upset that despite the college being located in the AP Minister for Labour & Employment Atchannaidu's constituency of Tekkali, the TDP leader has failed to take any action despite repeated requests to improve the basic infrastructure and appoint regular faculty in the college which is functioning in the same state since a year. The Government has failed to release any funds after the Polytechnic college was shifted to the existing premises and with the elections coming soon neither has the minister Atchannaidu nor the Education department officials paid any heed to the request of the students studying there.

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