The successive governments in J&K state have spent hugeamounts for construction of five school buildings in Kupwara district, only toleave them abandoned. These five schools were fully damaged on October 08 of2005 when massive quake jolted Kashmir.
Karnah area in Kupwara district was the worst hit wherescores of school buildings collapsed rendering students without accommodations.
“The school buildings were completely damaged followingwhich the department started the construction of new buildings in the villagesbut the work was stopped mid-way,” an official said.
He said the five school buildings- two in zone Chamkoot andthree buildings in Tanghdar zone – were damaged in the area.
“The construction of the school buildings was started underearth quake scheme and state government designated R&B department asexecuting agency but the buildings are still incomplete,” the official said.
The move has flattened the tall claims of successive regimesof J&K state over up gradation of infrastructure in education sector.
As per the official figures, around 40 school buildings weredamaged in various areas of Karnah. “Most of these buildings were completelydamaged and were auctioned by the department. Some new buildings were completedin some zones but other buildings are awaiting completion,” an official said.
The official dealing with the execution work said theconstruction of some buildings was left midway, leaving these structuresabandoned.
“The execution agency stopped the work midway and the issuehas taken a back seat in department,” the official said, adding that the workon some buildings has been completed up to plinth level while as in otherbuildings work has been halted at linter and slab level.
Government Middle School (GMS) Nachina is one such buildingwhich has been left abandoned as the work was stopped on it some eight yearsago. “It is a six-roomed building and the construction has been competed up toslab level. Bu the building is now abandoned,” the official said.
He said these buildings have got deteriorated as it sans anywatch and ward from the department.
Boys MS Jabri, GMS Teethwaal, MS Byaari, GMS Heepkot areother such buildings which have been left abandoned due to incompleteconstruction work.
Chief education officer (CEO) Kupwara Muhammad Shafi Warsaid the construction work of quake-affected was schools was done by publicworks department (PWD), however the work has been halted due tonon-availability of funds.
“Funds were stopped by the government due to which the workon these buildings was not completed and are now abandoned,” CEO Kupwara said.