Funding approved to restore 106 damaged schools in DK

Mangaluru: The state govt has finally responded to the persistent appeals for financial assistance to restore damaged schools in Dakshina Kannada due to heavy rains. Funds have been allocated recently for the repair of 106 schools. Rs 1.9 crore has been sanctioned, according to officials.
As per the data available with TOI, this academic year starting from June to date, a total of 227 schools have been affected due to rain.In two of these schools, the situation was deemed unsafe, prompting the relocation of students to more secure facilities. The release of funds by the state govt is expected to facilitate the necessary repairs and ensure a safer learning environment for the affected students. Last academic year, a total of 250 plus schools were damaged; however, no funds were allocated.
An official giving out the reports shared that out of 227, the highest damaged schools are situated in Belthangady (68) and Bantwal (51) BEO limits, which receive the highest rainfall every year. There are also schools damaged in Puttur. “The common damage is to roofs, walls, and others. The walls outside the school building are also damaged. In some schools, one of the portions is damaged. Except for two schools, there was no report of shifting of students to nearby schools or buildings due to safety. The incident in Kadaba where four students were injured while repair work was on is unfortunate,” said the official, adding that the estimated damage cost is nearly Rs 6 crore for this academic year alone.
Exercise caution while conducting repairs: ZP CEO
Zilla panchayat CEO Anandh K stressed that after the Kadaba incident, DDPI, BEOs, and engineers taking up the repair work have been instructed to undertake work with safety.
“The officials and school development and monitoring committee (SDMC) presented the data that schools were damaged. Hence, it is understandable that the building is unfit to conduct classes and therefore the safety of the children is to be looked at. The repair works must be taken only after children are moved to safer places,” said Anandh.