Urban News

Contrary to the Municipal School Board Chairman's opinion that the building of Kankariya Urdu School number 2 and 5 should be closed immediately, as it was "in a dilapidated and dangerous condition", deputy municipal commissioner S K Langa has said the school building could be used after repair work.

Langa who visited the school on Tuesday came down heavily on the Board for taking unilateral decisions without intimating the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Langa said it was “a sorry state of affairs and an awkward decision” taken without any written order or technical procedure.

"The Board must be careful before taking such a drastic step, as this would affect the education of so many students," he said.

He said Administrative Officer L D Desai agreed over the inappropriateness of issuing oral orders. Desai, according to Langa, said care would be taken in future.

The visit was result of a noisy protest by parents at the school board office on Monday. AMC Standing Committee Chairman Asit Vora, School Board Chairman Manubhai Raval and other senior officials accompanied Langa on the visit to the school in Shah Alam.

But the visit did not inspire confidence among parents and students, as the school remained closed for the third consecutive day.

A school board official said the team made a close examination of the school building and observed that after some repair work, it would be fit for use. 

But the repair work can be carried out only if landlord S A Ghori gives permission.

Representative of the landlord said the School Board was not willing to vacate the premises or pay dues like property tax and power bills. Power supply to the school was snapped long ago.

Ghori wants the Board to first clear all pending taxes and power bills before taking up any repairs. The team, meanwhile, also went to a nearby piece of municipal land, where the school could be shifted, as earlier proposed by Langa. Even if repaired, the present building cannot accommodate all students.