Corporation pulled up for flaws in Chennai schools

Updated on: Monday, February 06, 2012

Finding several shortcomings in safety and infrastructure aspects in Chennai Schools, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has charged the Chennai Corporation with flouting norms, thereby failing to ensure the safety of the schoolchildren.

The CAG report tabled in the Assembly (for the year ending March 2010), in its performance review of 281 schools run by the Chennai Corporation between 2005-09, has revealed that none of the schools had obtained licence from competent authority for buildings under the Tamil Nadu Public Buildings (Licensing) Act, 1965, which stipulates that public buildings like schools should be used only under a valid licence for structural stability. The government's argument that they were government buildings and so exempted from such licence was not tenable as the Act clearly stipulates the schools, frequented by public, had to be certified by competent authority, the CAG report said.

No fire extinguishers

Audit also noticed that in 26 out of 79 (33 per cent) sample schools, the fire extinguishers were not refilled for periods ranging from two to three years.

In two schools, fire extinguishers were not installed. As fire and collapse of old buildings could be life-threatening accidents, the corporation, by flouting norms, has failed to ensure safety of school children, the report charged.

The CAG report also charged the corporation with not executing civil works in seven test-checked schools left to function from dilapidated buildings with 1,505 students for periods ranging from two to five years when there were instances of roof collapse and electric shocks due to damaged wiring.

Fund diversion

According to the report, only 47 to 53 per cent of Elementary Education Fund (EEF) was utilised during 2005-09 and Rs.35.05 crore was diverted to other works not authorised under EEF.

Besides, the Corporation spent only five to eight per cent for maintenance of buildings from education tax collected against the permitted percentage of 25 during the years 2005-10.

The report further detailed the shortcomings in sampled schools of lack of sanitation facilities, playgrounds, shortage of teachers, of even failing to provide nutritious noon meal to nearly 2,000 students in eight high and higher secondary schools and constructing kitchen platforms in 40 schools for a pollution free environment.

Corporation pulled up for flaws in Chennai schools

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