Arfat Khan
Jammu: History remember Mohd Gazni for his ruthless behavior and infamous acts of plundering gold wealth from temples in India and similar is the fate of another temple of learning in Jammu -Government Shri Ranbir Higher Secondary School where its rich and heritage resources are allegedly being swindled on the name of cosmetic development instead of preserving its prestigious heritage look.
Recently, the school authorities undertook construction of boundary wall where according to sources; sub-standard materials are being used allegedly to gulp down development funds in connivance with the contractor.
Even the Commissioner Secretary School Education A.K Sahu only yesterday made surprised visit to the school and expressed his strong displeasure to the Principal Shafqat Chib over the poor standard of under construction boundary walls and other constructions going on in the school premises, said highly placed sources.
Sharing details, sources said “Old bricks from the dismantle wall were reused while showing as new purchased bricks in the bills. Even the cement-sand ratio used was far below of set norms, added sources.
The school building is nearly more than 125 year old having wide thick boundary walls consisting of strong and thick bricks which are still intact in its original shape. But, sadly merely for personal gains the prestigious school of Jammu is deprived of its green gold as well as heritage wealth on the name of fake development, added another senior teacher preferring anonymity.
To dodge the higher authorities, the contractor used only 15 % of new bricks where as rest old bricks were used which reflected as new bricks in the bills, alleged sources.
Stating it as tip of an iceberg, sources revealed “Nearly 10 giant iron bars (Guarders) which were imported from Manchester (UK) by its founder Dogra King MahaRaja Ranbir Singh in 1805 were allegedly sold as scrap instead of preserving it as heritage wealth of the school”.
This act of plundering precious wealth of school which is regarded as temple of learning attributes to showing severe disrespect to Dogra ruler Late Maha Raja Ranbir Singh who laid the foundation of this school which gave the nation numerous outstanding personalities, asserted a senior citizen who happens to be aluminous of this pioneer school.
The act of open loot in the school which declared as heritage amounts to destroying the valuable and pristine history of the Jammu, he added preferring anonymity.
With last change of guards in the school, there has been alarming shift in focus from academic to development which unfortunately inconsistent with the norms fixed for renovation of heritage complexes, revealed another member of School Management Development Committee (SDMC).
For carrying out renovation and reconstruction in the heritage complex, the authorities must invite persons with relevant experience through tenders. However, the way construction and renovation are going in the school its only amount to disrespect to the founder of this great school late MahaRaja Ranbir Singh, said another senior teacher in anger.
Though the school boost of its Heritage tag however, the reality is that it has become a center of loot where teachers are treated like borrowed slaves and lakhs of rupees were collected from the poor students on the name of penalty which later goes into the personal coffers of those managing the affairs of the school, added sources.
Eyeing on exhausting the funds on the name of haphazard development, the prestigious heritage look of the school has been destroyed ruthlessly while showing no mercy to its century old heritage look, added a professor who served as Principal in this school before being retired long ago. The Governor administration should look into the plunder underway in this heritage school and ordered a high level committee to look into the serious charges leveled against those acting as its musketeers before it’s too late, he added.
JKGN made several attempts to contact Principal Shafqat Chib but she prefers not to respond.