Bengaluru: It’s official now! As many as 7,779 primary and high schools have been damaged in 23 flood-hit educational districts across the State this year.
Sources in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) told this paper that while some schools were fully damaged, some were partially damaged due to the floods, according to reports received from every educational district.
A joint survey was conducted by panchayats, revenue department and teachers. Every classroom was surveyed on the spot as per instructions from the state government.
Initially, the department estimated the loss to be Rs 320 crore but the final survey reports put the loss at Rs 530 crore, the officials said.
As per the guidelines of National Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), the department can spend up to Rs 2 lakh for repairs and reconstruction work through local Zilla Panchayats.
The Department has to seek additional funding and permission from State Government if it wants to repair the schools beyond this limit of Rs 2 lakh.
If 50 per cent of the damaged schools need minor repairs, the remaining 50 per cent of them must be rebuilt and some schools need more than Rs 2 lakh for reconstruction, officials said.
In Chikkodi 1305 schools were damaged followed by 1,117 schools in Shivamogga, Bagalakote 868, Mysuru 450, Sirsi 386, Belagavi 128, Ballari 198, Chikkamagaluru 464, Kodagu 173, Mangaluru 222, Raichur 13, Dharwad 65, Mandya 32, Raichur 14, Udupi 24, Uttara Kannada 237, Vijayapura 50 and Yadgir 15.
The DPI has submitted a proposal to the government seeking release of Rs 530 crore for repairs and reconstruction work of all the damaged schools across the state. The Department has also sought funds from Zilla Panchayat, National Calamity Relief Fund and National Disaster Fund.
