KV Correspondent

Better late than never: DSEK starts construction of schools damaged during September 2014 deluge

Better late than never: DSEK starts construction of schools damaged during September 2014 deluge
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Srinagar: After four years of delay, the school education department has initiated the process for reconstruction of school buildings that were damaged during 2014 floods. The funds for the construction of the buildings will be released under various centrally sponsored schemes.
Officials in the planning section of the school education department have initiated the process for reconstruction of damaged school buildings under The Aggregate Macro Economics and Infrastructural Reconstruction (TAMEIR), a project fully funded by the Government of India.
The construction work on the buildings will be executed by the roads and building department, engineering wing of the erstwhile SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA), the housing board and police housing corporation.
An official of the school education department said that Rs 35 crore estimated to be incurred on the construction work will be released by the World Bank.
“A team from World Bank visited here and convened with education department wherein it agreed to provide financial assistance to reconstruct and repair these school buildings which were damaged during 2014 floods,” the official said.
As per official figures, about 97 school buildings— 37 in Srinagar, 4 in Budgam, 3 in Ganderbal, 10 in Anantnag, 5 in Kulgam, 13 in Pulwama, one in Shopian, 16 in Baramulla, 2 in Bandipora and 6 in Kupwara— were damaged in 2014 floods.
The officials said the World Bank agreed to provide funds on the basis of availability of land for the construction of the buildings.
The official said the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) had earlier submitted a detailed project report of Rs 40 crore to the state government for renovation and reconstruction of school buildings which were partially and fully damaged in floods.
“But the government didn’t provide the assistance and instead asked the directorate to curtail the amount to Rs 10 crore,” the official said, adding that the school buildings were later renovated by the school heads by utilising their local fund of the schools.
“But only minor repair work was carried out using the school heads while as most of these buildings are still unsafe,” the official said.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said the department has also provided funds to the schools from state budget besides taking assistance from World Bank.
“Some buildings were repaired but most of the schools are still unattended. But all these buildings will be repaired in next year,” he said.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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