Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 23: The education sector has emerged as the worst-hit in the recent spell of incessant rains and floods across Jammu province, with hundreds of school buildings rendered unsafe.
According to an official safety audit of more than 8,800 schools, over 5,500 institutions were issued safety certificates. Of these, nearly 5,200 were deemed structurally sound, while 758 were declared unsafe for students and staff. Ensuring continuity of education in these unsafe schools has now become one of the biggest challenges before the authorities.
Amid growing concerns, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislative Assembly, chaired by former minister and BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, has directed the administration to conduct a fresh safety audit of all school buildings, particularly in flood-affected areas. The panel emphasized that immediate safety measures must be implemented to safeguard students’ lives.
PAC members also urged the government to complete ongoing projects within stipulated timelines and pay urgent attention to the repair and maintenance of damaged school infrastructure. They stressed that accountability be fixed on officers responsible for delays and sought a comprehensive report on project violations.
Reiterating the PAC’s mandate of promoting transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability, Sharma underlined the importance of providing students with safe and quality educational facilities. The Committee also recommended adopting vertical construction models for the judicious use of available land in the future. |
