Arfat Khan
Jammu: There are startling revelations came flying thick and fast about the sorry state of affairs prevailing in Government Shri Ranbir Higher Secondary School, Parade (GSRHSS).
Last year, the school authorities disposed off huge quantity of timber which was derived from the cutting of nearly 85 well matured and thick decades old eucalyptus trees which earlier used to augment serene beauty of the school campus.
Citing as “hazardous”, these trees first razed to ground in a ruthless manner then hastily disposed off for paltry amount Rs 2.40 lakh without inviting tenders for the auction, revealed school teacher preferring anonymity.
Reciting couplets in urdu – Aye thei sikhanei talim madrassa e school, loot liya sab kuch Na Raha Rasool na Usool, a teacher preferring anonymity alleged “The way huge mounds of wooden logs were sold locally depicts only scandal under carpet and attributes to something fishy in entire matter from cutting to selling of trees”
Surprisingly, the school authorities has got permission from forest department for cutting of only 5 eucalyptus trees which according to the school authorities were posing “danger” to the life and property of school as the same were “leaning” towards the boundary wall facing west side of the school premises.
However, when the process of cutting of trees begin its toll reaches to more than 85 which is nothing but shear misuse and abuse of official power merely for personal pecuniary benefits, alleged another school non teaching official.
Not only this, even the trees which are banned were raized to ground for the reasons best known to the school authorities.
Two mulberry trees adoring the upper lawn of school were ruthlessly razed to ground and to hide their crime, efforts were made to vanish its remnants from ground by making an unsuccessful attempt to burn it.
After trees next came the turn of vintage iron bars which earlier used as beam in class rooms. Giving details, the sources said “Late Dogra ruler Maharaja Shri Ranbir Singh had imported nearly 25 long iron bars from Manchester (UK) which were used as beam in various class rooms of the school.” But unfortunately, instead of preserving it as vintage priceless worth the same were sold for meager Rs 40K again without inviting tenders for its auctioning, added sources.
Several teachers in the school advised Principal to preserve the iron bars as besides vintage it reflects the pain the Late Dogra ruler has took in laying the foundation of this pioneer school. However, setting aside the vise advises Principal categorize the same as “scrap” and prefer to sold the same at much cheaper amount, disclosed another non teaching employee of the school. If these iron bars were sold through tenders’ auction, the school would have earned three times more than what it has received through fixed selling, he added.
Terming all these allegations as rumors Shafqat Ahmad Chib, Principal Shri Ranbir Higher Secondary School said “Cutting of trees was done in accordance with the permission from Forest Deptt and the collected wooden from it and iron bars were sold as per the established financial codes”