Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Due to lack of funds and engineers, the repair of dilapidated school buildings in Bhopal district is yet to begin despite an order issued by the District Collector to this effect.
Following the recent collapse of a school building in Sagar earlier this month, Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh issued urgent instructions to the District Project Coordinator (DPC) to identify similar vulnerable buildings and start construction work immediately. The Bhopal DPC acted on these instructions and identified 181 school buildings in dilapidated condition. However, despite inspections by the DPC and his team, construction work has not yet started due to shortage of engineers and funds.
The Revenue Officer then transferred the responsibility of the construction work to the regional SDMs, which include Berasia, Phanda Gramin and Old Bhopal.
But even after this reassignment, no significant progress has been made. Officials have only carried out building inspections but have not taken any further steps to start work. In some schools, the buildings are already beginning to crumble, forcing children to find alternative seating.
Bhopal deputy commissioner Omprakash Sharma told Free Press, “We have inspected these schools earlier. Construction work has started in some school buildings. We have submitted the letters to the tax collector, mining officials and other officials concerned,” he added.
