Lucknow, 05 August: After Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s strict warning, the Basic Education Department has started taking decisive steps against dilapidated buildings located in council school premises in Uttar Pradesh.
Keeping in view the safety of children and teachers, the department has directed all the districts to immediately mark the dilapidated structures and give top priority to the process of verification, evaluation and demolition. Basic Education Officer and Block Education Officer in the districts have started inspecting schools.
This decision has been taken recently after the condition of dilapidated buildings in some school premises came to light, which has affected both the lives of children and the image of the department. Now the focus of the department is, ‘safety, accountability and quick action.’
In this regard, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh says that no compromise will be made on the issue of children’s safety. If there is any information about the collapse of a dilapidated building or any kind of accident, then the concerned officer will be considered directly responsible and strict departmental action will be taken against him.
On the basis of information received from various districts, looking at the condition of dilapidated buildings, dilapidated structures in each district will be immediately marked and the list will be handed over to the technical committee for verification and evaluation. It will be the responsibility of the concerned officers to ensure timely completion of this work. Necessary guidelines have also been issued for quick verification and reporting of previously marked structures.
No educational activities of any kind will be conducted in the buildings declared dilapidated by the technical committee. It has been made mandatory to make proper arrangements for the studies of students in other safe rooms, school buildings, panchayat buildings or village secretariats etc.
If for any reason the dilapidated structures cannot be demolished immediately, then it has been made mandatory to write ‘unusable’ or ‘no entry’ on all four walls of such buildings. Along with this, instructions have also been given to seal them completely by masonry so that students cannot reach that place.
The problem of dampness arises due to waterlogging, leaves and garbage on the roofs of school buildings. Buildings can get damaged due to this. In such a situation, regular cleaning of roofs and drainage system will also be ensured through Nagar Panchayat/Gram Panchayat.