UT ‘resolves’ parking problem for schools

There has,however,been a lot of resentment against the proposed project,which was mooted four years ago. The former finance secretary,former chief architect,the Estate office as well as the Municipal Corporation had raised objections against the proposal that has now been approved by Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

Also,the site is earmarked as commercial in the zoning plan of Sector 26.

In an application to the former finance secretary S K Sandhu in 2006,St Kabir School and Strawberry Fields School had suggested creation of a parking area since both schools ‘are bereft of adequate parking’ and it creates chaos when parents came to pick and drop their wards.

The request was turned down and the school authorities were asked to provide the facility of parking within the school. The office of the UT Inspector General of Police was also intimated on August 8,2008,that the site cannot be used for parking.

It is mandatory for schools to have adequate parking facilities within the premises.

A year later,the two schools along with the Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School made similar appeal to the present Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar. The letters,written by the schools separately between April 27 and May 5,2009,said ‘there was a fear of an untoward incident occurring any time’.

In a meeting called by Kumar last June,which was attended by the chief architect and representatives of the Estate office,state transport authority and Municipal Corporation,it was decided that ‘the site was not suitable for commercial purposes,but could be converted into a temporary parking slot for the schools.

The proposal was then sent to the Municipal Corporation and the civic body was asked to construct the parking lot.

The project was rejected in the House meeting on September 29,2009. The councillors questioned the purpose behind spending Rs 50 lakh for construction of a parking lot when the land did not belong to the Corporation.

The Administration,however,decided to go ahead with the construction. Designs for the project have been prepared,the estimate has been approved and tenders have been invited.

Objections raised against construction of parking lot

Letter by Chief Architect to Finance Secretary on April 21,2006: It is mandatory to provide 20 per cent area under parking of the total site as per the zoning plan of these sites. Area proposed for parking across the road is meant for commercial facilities,as per the zoning plan of Sector 26.

Letter by Finance Secretary S K Sandhu to Estate Office on June 26,2006: It has been decided that the school authorities may be asked to provide facility of parking within their own premises to facilitate parents while dropping and fetching their children from schools.

Memo from office of Chief Architect to IGP on August 8,2008: According to the zoning plans of these schools,adequate parking facilities should be provided within the site of the school. Total area of such parking lot shall not be less than 20 per cent of the area of the site. According to the zoning plan,the type of building permissible in the area are commercial buildings as per Architectural Control Sheets

MC House meet on September 29,2009: Proposal to construct the temporary parking lot was rejected on the ground that the civic body would not spend Rs 50 lakh on a parking lot when the land did not belong to it. The councillors further stated that it was a commercial plot.

Finance secretary clarifies:

Sanjay Kumar said,“Representations came from various schools,which highlighted the fact that traffic in the area gets choked when parents pick and drop their children. The Butterfly Park has created more demand for parking space. The parking area within schools is essentially for school buses and vehicles of staff. There are other instances in the city where zoning plans have been changed after representations were received from residents. It is not for the first time that this has been done.”