The govt primary school at Costi-Kalay was inaugurated in 2001 but has never been put to use.
SANGUEM
The Government Primary School building constructed at Costi-Kalay way back in 2001 lies forlorn and is now on the verge of collapse.
Believe it or not, the building was never utilised for the purpose for which it was built over two decades ago. What’s more, the ‘old’ Government Primary School building which was constructed when Dayanand Bandodkar was then chief minister is still being used, but faces problems of its own.
Considering the needs of villagers and student community in the village, the government through the Rural Development Agency had constructed a building to shift the Government Primary School, which presently exists about two kilometers away.
The Government Primary School building was inaugurated in November 2001 amid much fanfare by then panchayats minister Babu Azgaonkar and in the presence of then Sanvordem MLA Vinay Tendulkar and then Sanguem MLA Prabhakar Gaonkar.
Since the inauguration of the new school, the villagers had been eagerly awaiting the commencement of classes at the new building premise. But that day never came and over the years, the building began to fall into ruin due to neglect. The condition of the building is such that it is on the verge of collapse following the damaged roof and seepage of rainwater inside the premises.
“Since the education department failed in starting classed in the new school building, the villagers had proposed a library in the premises. The proposal had got approval at one gram sabha, but the plan did not move further,” said villager, Adv. Amar Naik.
Over the years, the abandoned building was being used for drinking, smoking and other antisocial activities, claimed locals.
They added that the building now lies in shambles and may collapse at any given time unless the department decides otherwise and gets the structure renovated.
PRESENT SCHOOL
Incidentally, the Government Primary School in the village continues to be housed in an old structure located in an erstwhile mining workers colony, which was constructed when Dayanand Bandodkar was then chief minister.
“Though the building is old, it is in better shape and condition than the new school building at Costi,” informed Naik.
“However, what the old building lacks is electricity and water connection. Except for a couple of bulbs which run on solar panels, the school building lacks fans and use of other essential electric gadgets. The only time when the school gets regular power supply is during elections and it gets disconnected the next day after elections,” complained Naik.
The school also lacks water connection and is presently using water supplied through tankers by a nearby mining company.
Inquires revealed that though the school building was constructed decades ago, a land owner claims the building premise to be located in his private property and does not issue No Objection Certificate for the school to obtain water and electricity connection.
“How can the land owner deny NOC for water and electricity connection when the school building has been in existence in the village for decades together and that too, when the main water pipeline and electricity cable are barely around 50 metres away from the school building,” asked a perplexed villager.
