Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 30: It has been five years since Government allocated a new building for Government High School Aru in Pahalgam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district but Education Department’s failure to get permission from Pahalgam Development Authority to carry the construction work has left the project in limbo.
In year 2010, State High Court ordered a blanket ban on the construction work of any sort in the areas that fall under Pahalgam Development Authority. The ban came after locals filed a Public Interest Litigation against the rampant vandalization of the fragile environs of the Kashmir’s most favored tourist destination.
The locals of the area said the existing school building has outlived and was insufficient and unsafe for the students. “The building was built in the year 1976 and has outlived. The building is in complete shambles and is poorly furnished. The classrooms are unsafe for the students. The ban is not serving any purpose as illegal construction is still happening at the places like Mavoora,” said Mazoor Ahmad, a local.
“Look at the places like Mavoora, Yenar and Aru. The hoteliers there are ravaging this tourist marvel. The ban is only on papers. Construction work was never stopped here and it is only meant to stop developmental works like the construction of our school building,” the locals said.
The school authorities said the neighborhood deserved better infrastructure as it was a far-flung area and there was no school within a radius of eighty-nine kilometers. “The people have no option but to study here. Major chunks of students are girls who find it difficult to travel long distances as the terrain is very tough. Out of 75 students, there are 40 girls studying here,” he said.
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