Slow site clearance stalls govt schools’ construction work

For some sites,there is no clarity on the ownership of plots. The process has been going on for more than six months and does not seem to be nearing completion.

Last year seven primary schools were transferred from the UT Administration to the Municipal Corporation (MC) under the 74th Amendment. These schools,located in diverse areas,lack basic facilities like adequate classrooms,furniture or even safe buildings.

While proposals have been doing the rounds for the construction of new schools to accommodate students,action seems to be taking place at a snail’s pace. For starting construction at school sites by the Municipal Corporation,clearances are required from the superintending engineer SE-construction circle,SE (electricity) and SE (public health) of the municipal corporation,the SE (public health) of the Administration and the telephone companies.

The clearances are essential to ensure that the site is free of any hindrances. Thereafter,the plans for the schools are passed by the UT Architecture Department that has sought the clearances.

For a school site in Sector 49,only the construction circle has given its remarks till now. It has been stated that there are tall bushes at the site,it is of low level and the area is water-logged.

The boundary too is required to be verified with Punjab. The observations from other departments are awaited.

Another school site has been proposed at Dhanas. While two departments have given clearances,it is awaited from the others.

Area Councillor Subhash Chawla said that there is not much clarity about the site where the school is to be built. “If the site is approved,the construction of the school would start,thereby benefiting the residents of the area,” he pointed out.

The ownership of the school site at Mauli Jagran is not clear.

The Public Health Department of the Municipal Corporation has stated that the area does not fall within its jurisdiction.

A high-tension line passes through the area. The remarks made about the site suggest that a report regarding the shifting of the the 66-KV line would have to be sought from BBMB,Sector 28.

Nominated Councillor Surinder Bahga said,“The funds allocated for primary schools are going waste while the sites are not getting clearances. To accommodate the increasing number of students,primary schools are required in different sectors. While 18 primary schools are proposed to be built,even those for which sites have been identified have not received clearance.”

An official of the Architecture Department said that building plans have been prepared for some of the schools. Once clearances come from the different departments,the sites would be approved for construction work to start.