Gujarat is set to see the commencement of a new academic session on Thursday even as at least 240 schools continue to be sealed across the state amid the crackdown in the aftermath of the Rajkot game zone fire, which killed children among 27 people. There are around 9,900 government, grant-in-aid and private secondary and higher secondary schools in the state; in addition to around 9,500 self-financed primary schools and around 32,000 government primary schools. Last month, after a massive fire broke out at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkot on May 25, the state's Education Department on May 29 issued directives to all districts to ensure that all primary schools are following fire safety norms, along with other safety norms. All districts were asked to provide a list to the department by June 11. A similar directive was issued by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, which controls all private secondary schools, on May 31. More than 600 schools were subsequently sealed over non-compliance of fire no objection certificate (NOC) or building use certificate (BUC) or both or non-renewal of fire clearances, Gujarat Education Minister Praful Pansheriya confirmed to The Indian Express last week. A senior government official on Wednesday said that 240 schools continue to be sealed even as there have been protests against the strict action. The number is likely to go up as data from some districts is being received, he added. The sealed schools include primary, secondary and higher secondary government, grant-in-aid and private schools. These schools do not have fire NOCs, or BUC or both, or their fire clearances are not renewed, as per people in the know. “The academic session will commence tomorrow as per schedule. Schools have been asked to follow all the safety norms and permits and get the necessary licences. Those lacking these have already started the necessary procedure,” Education Secretary Vinod Rao told The Indian Express. On Wednesday, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) issued guidelines, stating that educational institutes and healthcare facilities will be allowed to break open seals of those premises which have fire NOC but no BUCs if they furnish an affidavit to the effect that they would obtain the permit in due time. As per the guidelines issued by the RMC, school, colleges, pre-primary schools and coaching classes having fire NOC but not BUCs, or lacking approvals of additional constructions, will be allowed to reopen after they furnish an affidavit that they will obtain the building use certificate or get additional construction regularised. The same provision will apply to hospitals, clinics and community halls. Educational institutes that have fire NOC, which has not been renewed, will also be allowed to reopen if they submit an affidavit assuring that they will get the fire NOC renewed within 15 days and submit it to authorities concerned. However, such premises will be sealed again if their owners fail to obtain and furnish a fire NOC within two weeks. However, the guidelines provide no relief to owners of other assembly buildings such as malls, shopping complexes, party lots, banquet halls, restaurants, theatres, multiplexes, and gyms. Owners of such premises will have to first obtain fire NOC, BUC and certificate of additional construction having been regularised. Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has not allowed any exception. "We have not allowed these buildings to reopen since the hearing is under process. No such decision has been taken for the sealed buildings in Ahmedabad,” Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner M Thennarasan told The Indian Express
