Delhi's school infrastructure is under fresh scrutiny after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered a safety review that has flagged 108 government and government-aided school buildings across the capital as unsafe and hazardous. A large share of these buildings turned out to be so dilapidated that authorities have already begun the process of tearing them down.
54 buildings severely dilapidated, 7 to be demolished within months
The review found that 54 of the 108 flagged school buildings are in an extremely dilapidated state. Continuing classes in these structures was considered too risky, so the legal process to demolish them has already been set in motion. Of these, 7 school buildings could be pulled down within the next few months, meaning students currently studying in these 7 buildings may soon need alternative arrangements.
PWD handed responsibility, every building to get a digital profile
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta did not stop at the 108 flagged buildings. She has directed a structural audit of all old school buildings in Delhi. The Public Works Department, or PWD, has been tasked with inspecting the safety of existing structures and estimating the cost of repairs or reconstruction. Proposals for structural audits of 14 more school buildings have also been sent out. The education department will now carry out digital profiling of every school building, assessing structural strength, fire safety arrangements and other safety standards, giving the government an accurate, building-by-building picture of where repairs or rebuilding are needed most.
Dilapidated buildings to make way for earthquake-resistant G+4 schools
The government plans to replace the buildings marked for demolition with modern, earthquake-resistant G+4, that is four-storey, school buildings. Alongside this, Delhi has 27 vacant government plots, and plans are already underway to build new, permanent schools on these sites. Officials have said the entire exercise will be carried out in a phased manner so that students' education is not disrupted, allowing classes from buildings under construction to be shifted to other safe premises in the meantime.
CM had earlier issued a strict warning to private schools
This is not the first time Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken a firm stand on schools. She had earlier warned private schools in clear terms that any school found forcing parents to buy books or uniforms from a specific shop would not be tolerated. She also said she could turn up for a surprise inspection at any private school, at any time, without prior notice. The Chief Minister had made it mandatory for schools to clearly state on their websites and notice boards that parents are free to buy uniforms, books and stationery from anywhere of their choice. She said that if any school was found pressuring parents to buy only from one particular vendor, it would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
