After the collapse of a residential building in Naupada, the next could be civic schools in Thane city, as more than 30% school authorities and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) are not aware if the structures have occupancy certificates (OCs), reply to an RTI application has revealed.
After the collapse of a residential building in Naupada, the next could be civic schools in Thane city, as more than 30% school authorities and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) are not aware if the structures have occupancy certificates (OCs), reply to an RTI application has revealed.
Besides the 2,566 shaky structures in city, the TMC should also worry about 480 civic schools as it's unclear whether they are legal or not.
RTI activist Sanjiv Datta, who had filed the application, said, "The civic schools don't have OCs, not to mention that the principals don't even know what an OC is and why it is required. If any untoward incident happens in these schools, the education department will safely get away by saying it doesn't have information about the schools. Lives of many students are at risk; the TMC should take prompt action to avoid incidents like the Krishna Niwas collapse."
Datta also alleged that condition of TMC schools is not very good and structural audits too are not being done seriously. Every year, the structural audit conducted by the TMC is an eyewash as no preventive measures are taken, he claimed.
"For e-learning and TMC's bag-free initiative a good amount of money is being put in, but when it comes to safety and security of students, the civic body turns a blind eye."
Action against only a few dilapidated school structures has been taken, said Datta, adding that there are some which are running despite lacking basic facilities, while some are running in repaired dangerous structures.
He has demanded that the civic commissioner initiate a high-level inquiry into the matter. A fresh survey and structural audit of all schools should be done on a priority basis and appropriate safety measures should be taken, Datta added.
TMC PRO Sandeep Malvi said, "We will take up the issue with the additional municipal commissioner and the civic chief. We will set up a panel and discuss the problem with the schools concerned and take measures."
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