MThe gates of Subbaiah Reddy Higher Primary School in Jogupalya, Ulsoor, were finally unlocked by Mayor G Padmavathi on Thursday, a week after TOI published a related report. The old building was ravaged by rain in 2006, and a new one came up subsequently. But despite the construction being over, it remained locked since 2011, due to non-payment of the contractor's dues.
The 70-year-old BBMP-run institution is the only Kannada-medium school in Jogpulya and caters to students in four wards. A TOI article dated June 9 had highlighted the woes of students, who had to share classrooms with students of another school. BBMP owes the contractor Rs 36 lakh.
"After the newspaper highlighted the issue of students being affected due to non-payment of bills, I held a meeting with the officials concerned and asked them to clear the dues as soon as possible," said the mayor who inaugurated the school on Thursday.
However, contractor C Babu, said, "BBMP officials have told me I will be paid 50% of the dues in two days. If I don't get the money, I will get a stay from court. I have been running from pillar to post for the past seven years, have been hospitalized several times but all my efforts have drawn a blank," said the contractor who's in his 70s.
When BBMP had floated the tender for the new building, the proposed cost was Rs 46 lakh, but the amount escalated to Rs 98 lakh. Of that, Rs 36 lakh is still due, the reason why BBMP was not able to reopen the school. It has 10 classrooms for primary students along with an office, washrooms and drinking water facility.
BR Chandran, a former student of the school who had been fighting for its reopening, said, "I am on top of the world today. Finally, the school has been opened for the existing students. I hope that more students take admission here and teachers are hired as soon as possible."
The 70-year-old BBMP-run institution is the only Kannada-medium school in Jogpulya and caters to students in four wards. A TOI article dated June 9 had highlighted the woes of students, who had to share classrooms with students of another school. BBMP owes the contractor Rs 36 lakh.
"After the newspaper highlighted the issue of students being affected due to non-payment of bills, I held a meeting with the officials concerned and asked them to clear the dues as soon as possible," said the mayor who inaugurated the school on Thursday.
However, contractor C Babu, said, "BBMP officials have told me I will be paid 50% of the dues in two days. If I don't get the money, I will get a stay from court. I have been running from pillar to post for the past seven years, have been hospitalized several times but all my efforts have drawn a blank," said the contractor who's in his 70s.
When BBMP had floated the tender for the new building, the proposed cost was Rs 46 lakh, but the amount escalated to Rs 98 lakh. Of that, Rs 36 lakh is still due, the reason why BBMP was not able to reopen the school. It has 10 classrooms for primary students along with an office, washrooms and drinking water facility.
BR Chandran, a former student of the school who had been fighting for its reopening, said, "I am on top of the world today. Finally, the school has been opened for the existing students. I hope that more students take admission here and teachers are hired as soon as possible."