SRINAGAR: Sub-standard material has been used in construction of a school building in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, residents have alleged.
According to them the Government Girls Middle School (GGMS), Muran, which is being reconstructed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme, has developed cracks even before its completion.
A local news agency, CNS, reports that the earlier school building was gutted in a fire two years ago and the government Rs 9 lakh for its reconstruction.
Now, locals fear the new building would be a threat to students’ lives as sub-standard material was being used in its construction.
“We approached Chief Education Officer in this regard, however he showed no interest and shelved the matter. Even we approached other officials of Education Department who apart from lip service did nothing to probe the matter,” one of the local residents told the news agency.
Another resident said that under the SSA scheme it is mandatory that the Village Education Committee (VEC) took all the decisions about construction of new school buildings.
However, he said, the rules are not being followed in Pulwama.
“The construction work is being allotted to contractors who are mostly connected with politicians and officers of education department. The VEC is not being consulted,” he said.
