272 school buildings to be demolished in Kerala; LSG department prepares list

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LSG department has started the inventory of school buildings in Kerala that need to be demolished due to dilapidation. There are 272 buildings in this group according to the inventory received from various districts till 5 pm on Monday. Of these, 95 buildings were issued unfit certificates by engineers of local bodies two years ago. The remaining ones were found to be unfit before last June. Further action will be taken after the inventory is completed.

The inventory is being conducted in the backdrop of the incident in which a student died of electrocution at the Thevalakkara School in Kollam. It will be completed within a week. This is as per the instructions of Minister M.B. Rajesh. The listing is being conducted in both government, aided and unaided schools.

The number of school buildings that have suffered from structural damage is high in the flood-hit districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur and Wayanad.

The buildings that were issued unfit certificates by LSG engineers are still functioning. In some places, those buildings have been converted into store rooms and kitchens instead of classrooms.

Many procedures: Demolition will be delayed

Even if it is decided to demolish buildings that have been issued unfit certificates, it will take a long time to complete the procedures. The school PTA and then the relevant local body should meet and take a decision first. The Department of General Education should give permission for it. Then, after determining the valuation, the engineering department should call for tenders and award the contract for demolition. There are school buildings that have been stuck in the process of being demolished for three years.