Kapurthala edu office grapples with garbage menace

The Kapurthala Block Primary Education Officer (BPEO) office has been battling a persistent garbage crisis for years, turning it into a virtual dumping ground due to the alleged negligence of the Municipal Corporation (MC).

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The BPEO office, Block-2, also houses a Government Elementary Smart School, besides the BPEO Block-3 office.

The worsening situation has not only exposed the civic body’s apathy, but is also posing a serious health hazard to students and staff.

Heaps of garbage greet visitors at the main entrance of the BPEO office. The office serves as administrative hub for 123 government primary schools — 62 under Block-2 and 61 under Block-3 — with teachers and staff regularly visiting here for official work.

The school, with nearly 150 students and six teachers, has a side gate for entrance. At times, garbage get scattered from the BPEO office entrance to the school gate, leaving no clean passage for students and staff to walk.

Despite the MC team’s routine cleaning in the morning, the relief is short lived as garbage collectors from nearby areas allegedly dump trash at the site by evening. The unchecked garbage dumping continues despite repeated complaints from the staff and residents.

Parents of the schoolchildren have expressed their concern over hygiene in the school. “Children are forced to walk through garbage every day. Unclean environs and stray animals outside a school reflect poorly on the authorities concerned,” said Narinder Singh, a parent.

Another parent, Suman Devi, added, “We expect a safe environment for our children at school, not piles of garbage and foul smell.”

Suket Gupta from NGO Human Rights Press Club said in 2019-20, his team had turned the area into a green space with fencing and plants, in collaboration with the then Deputy Commissioner. However, years of negligence and the adamant attitude of garbage collectors have turned the premises back into a dumping ground.

“Every morning the MC clears the garbage, but by evening garbage collectors from nearby areas dump waste here,” he said.

Block-3 BPEO Rajesh Kumar said multiple complaints had been lodged with the DC office, but to no avail. District Education Officer (Primary) Mamta Bajaj said the matter would be taken up with the MC Commissioner.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Varinderpal Bajwa who holds additional charge acknowledged the problem. “I have got the area cleaned recently, but a permanent solution is required. I will be holding a meeting with the Health Branch soon. Garbage collectors will be warned against dumping waste in front of the office,” he added.