The district administration has started issuing notices to building owners - both completed and under-construction ones - that are above the permissible height of 11.5 metres. Meanwhile, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has allowed construction up to 14.5 metres. And caught between these two differing directives are the students of the Ramakrishna Siksha Parishad (RKSP) School, who do not when they will be able to learn sitting in proper classrooms.
At present, they are attending classes in temporary shades made of tin-sheets and plywood at Dhobi Talau, about 2-2.5km away from where the school stands near the Governor’s House. The old school building was demolished this March and the students were shifted to the present location at Dhobi Talau to make way for a Model School under a GTA initiative.
However, construction work stopped a month ago following a police notice stating that the school was posing as a security concern to the Governor’s House just on the opposite side of the road. The notice has also pointed out that the under-construction building exceeded the permissible height. The Sub-Divisional Office has also issued an order to the school’s authorities to stop work and asked for the permission letter and building plans issued by the municipality. Five other owners of buildings have also been issued similar orders.
Today, RKSP School assistant headmaster Naveen P Rai said, ‘We had to stop construction work following the notices issued by the police and the district administration a month ago, both citing security concerns to the Governor’s House and also stating that the upcoming building’s height violated the permissible limit. However, the old school building was three storeys high and the new structure will also be of the same height, which is permissible as per municipality rules and regulations.”
The Bengal Municipal Act allows construction of buildings in hilly areas to a maximum height of 11.5 metres, which can translate to a ground floor plus three storeys. Rai further said, “The students are facing huge problems in concentrating on their lessons in the makeshift classrooms at Dhobi Talau. It is monsoon time and the din of rain falling on the tin-roof makes it impossible to take classes. Also, sound from one classroom permeates into another.”
RKSP School was founded in 1944 by Swami Prabhudananda and offers classes till the higher secondary level. The student strength at present is 1,200 in the Arts, Commerce and Science streams. Darjeeling ASP Surya Pratap Yadav said, “I cannot comment much as I am not aware of the entire situation. I only know that construction work of the school has been stopped due to security related reasons.”
On the other hand, GTA Sabhasad Jyoti Kumar Rai said, “The GTA had sanctioned Rs6 crore for RKSP’s Model School project. All rules of the municipality building act are being adhered to in terms of construction. It is really surprising to know that a school, a place of education is causing security concerns.” The students have planned to stage demonstrations in the coming days to express their displeasure with the rigid stance being taken by the authorities.
Massive turn out of students protesting against the Bengal government order of demolishing parts of under construction RKSP School building, citing unfounded "security threat" to Raj Bhawan as a cause.
Students in different parts of Darjeeling organized silent protests over the Bengal government issuing diktat ordering the demolition of parts of RKSP school building.
Source: EOI
At present, they are attending classes in temporary shades made of tin-sheets and plywood at Dhobi Talau, about 2-2.5km away from where the school stands near the Governor’s House. The old school building was demolished this March and the students were shifted to the present location at Dhobi Talau to make way for a Model School under a GTA initiative.
However, construction work stopped a month ago following a police notice stating that the school was posing as a security concern to the Governor’s House just on the opposite side of the road. The notice has also pointed out that the under-construction building exceeded the permissible height. The Sub-Divisional Office has also issued an order to the school’s authorities to stop work and asked for the permission letter and building plans issued by the municipality. Five other owners of buildings have also been issued similar orders.
Today, RKSP School assistant headmaster Naveen P Rai said, ‘We had to stop construction work following the notices issued by the police and the district administration a month ago, both citing security concerns to the Governor’s House and also stating that the upcoming building’s height violated the permissible limit. However, the old school building was three storeys high and the new structure will also be of the same height, which is permissible as per municipality rules and regulations.”
The Bengal Municipal Act allows construction of buildings in hilly areas to a maximum height of 11.5 metres, which can translate to a ground floor plus three storeys. Rai further said, “The students are facing huge problems in concentrating on their lessons in the makeshift classrooms at Dhobi Talau. It is monsoon time and the din of rain falling on the tin-roof makes it impossible to take classes. Also, sound from one classroom permeates into another.”
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| Hill Students Against Demolition Order of RKSP School |
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| Students in different parts of Darjeeling organized silent protests over the Bengal government issuing diktat ordering the demolition of parts of RKSP school building. |
Massive turn out of students protesting against the Bengal government order of demolishing parts of under construction RKSP School building, citing unfounded "security threat" to Raj Bhawan as a cause.
Students in different parts of Darjeeling organized silent protests over the Bengal government issuing diktat ordering the demolition of parts of RKSP school building.
Source: EOI
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