KV Correspondent

After World Bank’s help, damaged schools to witness reconstruction

After World Bank’s help, damaged schools to witness reconstruction
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Srinagar: After four years of delay, the school education department has finally initiated the process for reconstruction of school buildings that were damaged during 2014 floods.
The funds for the construction of the buildings, according to officials will be provided by the World Bank.
“We have identified the flood-affected buildings which need to be reconstructed or require repairs, to the World Bank team which visited the Valley last year,” an official of the education department said.
The official said the construction work on the buildings will be executed by the roads and building department which has been designated as nodal agency for the purpose.
“We have submitted the list of buildings to R&B department for further execution of the process,” he said.
He said process for reconstruction of damaged school buildings will be undertaken under the Aggregate Macro Economics and Infrastructural Reconstruction (TAMEIR), a project fully funded by the Government of India.
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 during the 2014 floods.
“The World Bank agreed to provide funds on the basis of availability of land for the construction of these buildings,” he said. He said an amount of Rs 15 Crore has been approved for Kashmir division for restoration of these buildings.
The official however, said the flood-damaged schools were made functional by the department after making some repairs on these buildings but have been projected for reconstruction.
“Because once the building is damaged in flood it loses it life span and turns unsafe. Keeping it in mind we have proposed new construction of around 50 buildings,” he said.
He however, said the R&B department has made the detailed project reports of these buildings but was awaiting the release of funds from the World Bank.
Besides, the education department has also got approval for restoration of 32 buildings which were gutted during 2016-summer unrest.
“These buildings will be restored under central government assistance as MHRD has agreed to provide additional funding for the purpose,” he added.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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