Government must set its own house in order

While the government is planning to act tough against property owners for not vacating or demolishing dilapidated buildings, it has failed to look into its own backyard.

Many offices and educational institutions are still run from dilapidated premises in the south of the city. Worse, despite representations from the public and officials little has been done to redress the issue.

Take the case of the Government Junior College, Falaknuma. Constructed in 1970, along with the Government Junior College at Chanchalguda, the college functions from a dilapidated set of buildings.

Come rains and the college remains deserted.

“Students do not want to take a risk. They simply bunk college,” a faculty member says.

There is a strong reason for them to be afraid. In the last few months, small pieces of plaster have fallen down in the classrooms and verandah.

At a few places, one can find small shrubs protruding out from the walls.

“Luckily no one was injured in the mishap. How do you expect us to sit amidst lurking danger?” asks a student.

About 1,000 students, including 50 girls, study at this college. Ironically, the college lacks proper toilets and drinking water facility. Absence of electric supply to a few classrooms is another major drawback, students complain.

The South Zone Women’s Police Station at Ghansi Bazaar is no exception. After having served as a traffic police station and a police outpost, the structure was converted into the WPS nearly a decade ago.

A leaky roof is one of the major problems at the police station.

“We cannot sit inside during rain. We are also worried about the official files getting lost,” a police official complained.

More of the same

It is more or less the same situation at the Chatrinaka police outpost and Basanthinaka police outpost. Things are no better at the GHMC 18-A Ward Office at Falaknuma. As dangers lay in wait, it looks like the authorities have no plans to set its own house in order.