Chunks of plaster hang precariously from the ceiling of a classroom
Berhampur: A two-storeyed building of a 58-year-old govt-run high school in Old Berhampur area is in a dilapidated condition, exposing students and teachers to life-threatening conditions.The concrete ceiling of the Municipal High School building is crumbling, with chunks frequently falling off and exposing rusted iron rods. Despite complaints about its dilapidated condition to concerned authorities, it was not repaired, parents alleged.Around 500 students, from Shishu Vatika (pre-schooling) to Class X, are reading in the school, which has two buildings. While primary classes are held in the building with better condition, the VI to X classes are held in the dilapidated building, sources said.“The condition of the building has been in a dilapidated shape for the past year-and-a-half,” said Pramila Patnaik, headmistress of the school. She said they have complained to the higher authorities about the building condition.Expressing concern, Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy has written a letter to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi calling for urgent repairs considering safety of students and teachers.“During my visit to the school on Sept 17 last year, several parents had complained about the condition of the building. Since it was not repaired, I request you to take immediate steps to rebuild it for safety of students before any untoward incident occurs,” he said.He said during monsoon, rainwater is likely to stagnate on the roof and leak into the classroom ceilings, thereby weakening the walls. Officials of the district administration, district education officer and engineers of Berhampur Municipal Corporation should visit the school and conduct its safety audit and take steps to rebuild it before monsoon sets in,” he added.Ganjam district education officer (DEO) Ajay Kumar Patra said they have taken up the matter seriously. He said the classes are not being held in the rooms of the first floor of the building presently. “We will take up the matter with appropriate authorities such as the works department to declare it unsafe and to rebuild the building,” he added.
