Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19:
Following the detection of lack of quality control in the construction work of the school buildings being taken under funding of the Additional Central Assistance as part of infrastructure development programme of education in the State, Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has imposed restriction on further construction of the buildings which do not maintain quality control.
On the other hand, the student body has issued a strong warning of pulling down the school buildings which have already been inaugurated without any quality control if necessary corrective measures are not taken up along with re-construction of the said buildings within a month's time.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection today, education secretary of DESAM A Thoithoi informed that during the course of its continued survey DESAM today detected that there is no quality control in the buildings of the academic block and boys' hostel of Bishnupur Higher Secondary School and the boys's hostel of Moirang College which are currently under construction.
The poor quality of the work being executed is such that the concrete walls of the buildings gave way even on a slight push with the hands, Thoithoi said.
At Moirang College, accompanied by its Principal Dr AK Sunderkumar, the student body conducted the inspection of the construction work being taken up at the administrative block, multipurpose hall, library and boys' hostel, and found out that no quality have been maintained in the execution of the work.
Although the preparations have been made to inaugurate the administrative block of the college being constructed by Manipur Development Society (MDS) as the work agency since 2005 during the current month, the leakages on the roof, walls and cracks on the ceiling have been detected.
Moreover, the plaster of the multipurpose hall being constructed peeled off when touched by bare hands due to lack of quality maintenance.
A sum of over Rs 69 lakhs had been reportedly provided for construction of both the administrative block and the multipurpose hall of the college.
As lack of quality control in the construction of the only boys' hostel of the college at an estimated cost of Rs 48 lakhs have also been detected, the student body has imposed restriction on further construction work of the building.
The Principal of the college expressed gratitude to the student body for the timely detection of lack of quality control in the construction of the buildings of the college.
Talking to mediapersons after the inspection at the common room of the college in the presence of representatives of DESAM, the Principal of the college assured that he would take up the responsibility of reconstructing the library building of the college being constructed under UGC funding by the College Building Construction Committee.
The library building is being constructed under the joint funding pattern of UGC and the State Government with the State Government providing Rs 1.5 lakhs.
During the course of survey, the student body also inspected the condition of the newly constructed buildings of the Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School and Bishnupur Higher Secondary School.
Though the buildings of the administrative block, science block and library of the Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School were inaugurated by Education Minister on August 7, it as found out that as the foundation of the buildings are took low and the flooring of the buildings already started breaking up at various places.
As of the Bishnupur Higher Secondary School, even if the exterior look of the academic block under construction is captivating, the flooring, walls and staircase of the building are found not only shaky but crumble down when kicked by foot.
Taking serious note of the matter, Thoithoi demanded that all these buildings which have been constructed without any quality control should be re-constructed within a month's time, otherwise, the same would be pulled down.
The student leader also appealed to all concerned to stop percentage deduction from the fund for infrastructural development of the school buildings.