District Collector S. Sambasiva Rao has ordered that the buildings of 69 schools in the district that have been damaged in the floods be repaired on a war footing.
The order comes anticipating the weak state of the school buildings and the possibility of them collapsing later on endangering the students.
The Collector had earlier sought a report from the Executive Engineer of the Local Self-Government Department on the condition of the schools. Based on the report, the Collector on Wednesday asked the authorities in charge to finish the repair works within two days and get a fitness certificate before the schools reopen.
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The local bodies are in charge of the government school buildings and Anganwadis. The Deputy Director of Education should monitor the repair works in aided schools. Even buildings that may not have any visible problems need to be certified as they may develop issues later.
If the repair works of the schools are not completed in two days and report on the same submitted, action will be taken against the authorities in charge under the Section 56 of Disaster Management Act.
The Collector’s order has listed out the 69 schools, along with the problems in their buildings. The schools are located in Kozhikode Corporation, Kuruvattur, Olavanna, Kadalundi, Nanmanda, Thalakkulathur, Kakkur, Kayakkodi, Velam, Changaroth, Chorode, Atholi, Chemancheri, Chengottukavu, Thiruvallur, Karasseri, Mavoor, Koorachundu, Ullyeri, Balusseri, Vilyappalli, Edacheri, Naduvannur, Panangad, Omasseri, and Chakkittapara.
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Meanwhile, any tree or other objects that may pose danger to the schools should also be removed. If they belong to a private individual, said individual will be answerable. Such things should also be removed in two days, else action will be taken under Disaster Management Act. Twelve schools in the district were found to have trees in precarious conditions.