Saroori expresses concern over delay in completion of school buildings

Work on schools of Doda undertaken: Dr. Manohar

Jammu, March 01: - Congress MLA Inderwal, G M Saroori today expressed concern over the non-serious approach of the School Education Department towards the completion of under-construction school buildings in Inderwal constituency.

Minister of State for Fisheries and Cooperative, Dr. Manohar Sharma on behalf of Minister for School Education, Mr. Tara Chand was replying to a Calling Attention Notice by MLA Inderwal Mr. G.M. Saroori in the Legislative Assembly today.

“Funds should not become hurdle in the completion of school buildings”, he remarked when Minister of State for Fisheries and Cooperative, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, on behalf of Minister for School Education, informed the House that construction work of GHS Kenchas, HS Tanta, HS Batri and HS Drought has been completed up to the plinth level and an expenditure to the tune of Rs. 1.11 lakh for each school has been incurred. The concerned Chief Education Officer has approached the District Development Commissioner Doda for providing of additional funds under District Plan for the completion of these works.

He further said that an amount of Rs. 160.36 lakh have been required to complete the work.

He said that the construction of six rooms with varanda in each floor at HSS Sarthal with theestimated cost of Rs. 34.64 lakh has been re-tendered and will be started subject to the availability of funds under District plan. He said the funds for the construction of GHS Sarthal and HSS Malanoo are being regularly released to the executing agency under State Plan.

During the current financial year 2013-14 an amount of Rs. 2.25 lakh have been released for GHS Sarthal and an amount of Rs. 7 lakh has been released for construction of HSS Malanoo, he said and added that the construction of MS Patnazi is in progress at an estimated cost of Rs. 49.17 lakh against which there is an expenditure of Rs. 29.50 lakh.

Mr. Saroori lodged protest over the paucity of funds especially for the schools that too at a time when Government has flagged education as priority sector.