Nearly three dozen damaged school buildings of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) may soon be put to community services.
As the existing structures are unfit for running schools, the civic body plans to repair and convert the vacant buildings into libraries, recreation centres and old age homes. A majority of these buildings are located in the city zone, Sadar Paharganj and Karol Bagh zones. The Corporation also plans to use some of the school buildings in areas, like Karol Bagh and Paharganj for commercial activities by changing its land use by seeking approval from the High Court, which has put a ban on commercial use of the school buildings in the Capital.
“We are planning to use the vacant school buildings for community services since they are unfit for running schools. Also, it is practically non-viable to run schools in these locations as there is negligible turnout of students. We are also mulling to approach the High Court seeking permission to change the land use of these properties so that they can be commercially exploited,” said a senior officer of the Education Department.
Chairman of the Education Committee in NMC, Ram Kishan Bansiwal said the civic body was also exploring the possibility of reopening schools in these buildings by demolishing and constructing the afresh. “We have sought a detailed report on condition of these buildings and also the viability of reopening schools,” he said. However, officials said they were keen on starting community services from these buildings.
Also, the Corporation is planning merging of schools where student strength is less than 120 and commercially exploiting the vacant school premises. Officials said the Education Department is preparing a list of schools where strength of students is less than 120. Once the list is prepared, members of the Education Committee will physically inspect the schools and explore the feasibility of merger of two schools.
“The vacant school premises will be used for other purposes, like making recreational centres, gyms, commercial buildings, community halls, swimming pools and other such facilities that would further help the Corporation to earn additional revenue,” officials said. Earlier in 2008-09, the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had planned to sell vacant schools for developing malls, banquet halls and shops, but following strong protests, the idea was dumped.