Kendrapada: A Kendrapada municipality plan to construct a commercial complex on the premises of the 137-year-old govt-run at Fraser Girls’ Upper Primary School in Madhiala has been opposed by citizens, who have approached the district officials for help.
“We have urged the district education officer and the district administration to prevent the civic body from constructing illegal structures inside the premises.The proposed complex will also reduce the size of the school area and there is a possibility that outsiders might enter the school,” headmistress Sarala Mishra said.
Upon contact, Kendrapada collector Smruti Ranjan Pradhan said has assured to look into the issue. “The civic body has laid foundation for constructing the market complex inside the school. I will take necessary steps on the matter soon as nobody has the right to build any shops on school land,” Pradhan added.
On Saturday, the civic body laid the foundation stone inside the school at Old Bus Stand Chhack, located in the heart of Kendrapada town. As per one Biswanath Behera, a retired engineer who is among those opposing the move, ‘construction of a market complex by demolishing toilets and classrooms will hamper the school’s development’.
Built on 32 decimals of land, around 204 students from Classes 1-8 are enrolled in the school. It was named after Sir Andrew Henderson Leith Fraser who was the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal from 1903 to 1908 and was associated with the partition of Bengal in 1905.
“We have decided to put the proposed shops inside the school on rent to help unemployed youths earn a living,” Sarita Sahoo, chairperson of Kendrapada municipality, said.
“We are determined to oppose the civic body’s plan at a spot where a heritage girls’ school has been in existence for over a century,” Dhruba Charan Jena, lawyer and president of district lawyers’ association, said.
“The Allahabad high court had directed in 2020 that district magistrates in all districts in a state to ensure that no commercial activities of any kind, like running a coaching centre, shops or organising weddings, are allowed on the property of recognized and govt-aided schools,” Jena added.
Many former students have also appealed to the govt to stop the proposed construction. Baijayanti Das (83) of Kendrapada town said, “There are a lot of memories associated with the school and nobody has the right to build a market complex on school land. Only those with vested interests will benefit from the shops.”