Srinagar, May 08 (KNO): Failure of the authorities to earth-fill the premises of this school on Baramulla-Sopore highway always results in submergence of the institute every time it rains in the area. The premises of Government Primary School (GPS) Lalad in education zone Sopore remains submerged for almost half of the academic year, hampering the attendance of students in the school.
The school is located on the left side of Baramulla-Sopore highway but has remained out of sight of the authorities in the education department so far. The callous approach of the department for proper maintenance of the institution is playing a spoilsport for increasing the enrolment in the institution.
“Even if we carry an enrolment drive in the locality, we are bombarded with queries by parents about the maintenance of the school premises. This institution remains in the eyes of every passerby but department seems to be unmoved,” a teacher working in the school, told KNO.
Recently, the school was designated as a polling station for voters in the locality but the decision was changed at the last moment as the premise was submerged in water. “We had to shift the polling station to a nearby Panchayat Ghar as the school was submerged in stagnant water,” an official said.
An official of rural development department (RDD) confirmed to KNO that they denied doing earth filling of the school as it needed more than 200 trucks of soil for earth filling. “We submitted a report to district election authorities that the location was not feasible for setting a polling booth,” the official said.
The school is spread over five kanals and the land could have served as a play ground for the students. But the unlucky students don’t get any opportunity for their participation in any sports activities as it remains submerged in water.
Meanwhile, the residents rue that school has faced official neglect since its establishment as the authorities failed to increase the ground level of the premises to avoid stagnation of rain water in the premises of this institution. “The condition of the premise speaks volumes about the laxity of the department so we prefer to send our kids to private schools,” said Harooon, a local. Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla said the matter will be looked into. “I will direct the concerned zonal education Officer to depute a team to the spot and submit the report for actions,” he told KNO.(KNO)