BJP MLA Ashish Shelar on Saturday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish the huts bordering St Elias High School in Khar after hearing the grouse of parents, teachers and school m
BJP MLA Ashish Shelar on Saturday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish the huts bordering St Elias High School in Khar after hearing the grouse of parents, teachers and school management of their presence posing a threat to the lives of schoolchildren. The school and parents had been demanding this after a Class 6 student was run over last week and is now battling for his life.
Throwing light on the issue, a spokesperson of the parent-teacher association of the school said the footpath bordering the school compound had been encroached upon as a result of which students had to walk on the road, exposing them to danger. “For a long time, the management of St Elias High School has been approaching H-West Ward office for getting the footpath free of encroachments and making it available for the 2,500 children studying in the school. However, despite the repeated assurances but there was no fruitful outcome. As a result of this callous and irresponsible attitude of the BMC, Ruchit Gupta, a student of class 6 met with a serious accident on February 5 and had to undergo a major surgery,” said Ruhi Kapoor, the PTA representative.
Ms Kapoor added that the accident was brought to the notice of the ward office, but there was no response, which prompted students, parents and staff of the school to hold a protest outside the ward office on Saturday.
Mr Shelar, deputy mayor Alka Kerkar, manager of St. Elias High School Fr Milton Gonsalves and ward officer Sharad Ugade met the protesters and discussed the issue at length, following which Mr Shelar directed Mr Ugade to demolish the illegal huts and extensions immediately.
Police officials were also asked to take action against illegal activities taking place around the school. “Mr Shelar and Ms Kerkar assured us that necessary action would be taken within 15 days and the people of the hutments would be rehabilitated. The agitation ended peacefully without any untoward incidents,” Ms Kapoor said. Around 500 parents had gathered outside the ward office and around 4,500 on the school premises for the protest.
Following the meeting Mr Shelar said, “St. Elias school children and PTA demanded encroachment-free access. I am happy that after having a joint meeting, things were sorted.”
