Five Kendriya Vidyalayas hit land hurdle

Kendrapara:Since they have not been given land, centrally-sponsored schools in at least five districts in the state may be forced to stop admitting students. In Kenderapara district, the Kendriya Vidyalaya opened one-and-a-half years ago in temporary facility. The District administration had promised to provide 15 acres of land for its permanent home, but has not followed through.

"As a result, normal function of the school is getting adversely affected due to poor infrastructure available," said Kendrapara Kendriya Vidyalaya principal Bijoy Kumar Parida. "The pressent accommodation is inadequate to provide classroom teaching to nearly 400 students. The guardians and parents are aggrieved," he said.

Now the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the apex body of Central schools, says it may not allow fresh admissions for the coming academic session.

Kendrapara district officials say they are not dilly-dallying. "A suitable patch of land has been earmarked for the Central Scool at Barimula on the township`s outskirts," an officials said. "The proposal for the transfer of the said land is being sent to revenue divisional commissioner for approval."

Things are even worse in neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district, where the Kendriya Vidyalaya has yet to begin operation. The authorities have failed to provide the required land, a lapse many blame on bureaucratic red tape. "A temporary accommodation is being provided for the purpose, said Jagatsinghpur collector Narayan Chandra Jena. "Suitable land is located for the purpose."

Kendriya Vidyalas in Bhadrak, Nuapada and Nayagarh districts are facing the same fate, with the apex body shooting off letters to concerned district officials.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan commissioner has warned that fresh admission will be halted if land is not allocated, sangathan sources said.