It has been reported that a Tamil Nadu Government school in Triplicane, Chennai is being demolished to build a marriage hall.
The Greater Chennai Corporation runs a middle school in Bangaru Street of Triplicane, an area which falls under DMK Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s constituency.
A resolution was passed passed in the Corporation Council meeting to demolish the old building and build a new one..
Around 115 students studying in this school were shifted to another nearby school until the new building came up. By the end of last year, the students from the school were placed in a school near Star Theatre saying that they will demolish this middle school and build a new middle school. Then they were transferred to a Corporation Urdu Medium School. All the school students were accommodated in just 4 class rooms. As a result of the successive transfers of children to two schools, it is said that only the strength of the school has reduced to 80 children.
In December 2022, through Corporation Council Resolution No. 703/2022, it was decided stating that the old school building on 8000 square feet of land will be demolished and a new middle school will be built. It was noted that the Chennai Corporation will float a tender in March 2023 for ₹2 crores to demolish the old school and build a new middle school. With the participation of 2 companies, the tender was terminated and the Corporation School was demolished. However, the parents and children who were expecting a new school were informed that Ward 114 councilor Madanmohan is going to build a wedding hall on behalf of the corporation instead of the middle school. Parents and children protested against this move on 18 April 2023 by standing in front of the demolished Bangaru Street school.
பழைய பள்ளிக்கூடத்தை இடித்து புதிய பள்ளிக்கூடம் கட்டுவதாக முடிவு செய்து போடப்பட்ட சென்னை மாநகராட்சி தீர்மானத்திற்கு அனுமதி அளித்த ஆதாரம். இதற்கு பிறகு புதிய பள்ளிக்கூடம் கட்டுவதற்கு டெண்டர் கோரிய ஆதாரம் மற்றும் 2.14 கோடிக்கு டெண்டர் போடப்பட்ட ஆதாரம் என்று வரிசையாக தருகிறோம்.… pic.twitter.com/7tdUV6HuNY
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) May 13, 2023
But DMK ward 114 councilor and zonal president of the corporation Madanmohan apparently wrote a letter to the corporation to bring a resolution that a marriage hall should be built at this place. On 28 April 2023, the Chennai Corporation Council, headed by Mayor Priya, passed Resolution 236/2023 by hiding the fact that a school was supposed to be built at this place. Arappor Iyakkam, a civic rights organization claimed that the resolution fraudulently hid the details of the tender for building a new school and lied that there are only 60 students. Accordingly, the resolution was passed to build a marriage hall.
“The details of students who have passed the last year is pasted on the door of Urdu school says that 75 students have passed. This also shows that it is a lie that there are only 60 children in the forum resolution.”, Arappor Iyakkam alleged.
“The resolution has lied that the Urdu school where they have been sent has two floors. The school has only one floor. Mayor Priya, Councilor Madanmohan and the Municipal Education Department officials have acted to spoil the educational dream of the children when the parents and children who have suffered many hardships were expecting a new school building to come to them.” Arappor Iyakkam said in their statement.
Parents in the locality seem to be under the pressure of the DMK councilor to not speak about the matter.
அரசு பள்ளியை இடித்து கல்யாண மண்டபம்: @Udhaystalin @Madhanmohandmk @PriyarajanDMK @chennaicorp @GSBediIAS
அமைச்சர் உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின் தொகுதியில் மாநகராட்சி பள்ளிக்கூடத்தை இடித்து மோசடியாக கல்யாண மண்டபம் கட்டும் மாநகராட்சி தீர்மானத்தை திரும்ப பெற அறப்போர் இயக்கம் புகார்அமைச்சர்… pic.twitter.com/uvm1erq65p
— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) May 11, 2023
Condemning the DMK’s move, BJP state president Annamalai said, “It is shocking to see news reports that the corporation school building at Bangaru Street in Triplicane is going to be demolished to build a marriage hall. There are 115 students studying in this school in minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s constituency.”
சென்னை திருவல்லிக்கேணி பங்காரு தெருவில் உள்ள மாநகராட்சி பள்ளிக் கட்டிடத்தை இடித்துவிட்டு, திருமண மண்டபம் கட்டப் போவதாக, நாளிதழில் வந்துள்ள செய்தி அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.
அமைச்சர் திரு @Udhaystalin தொகுதியில் உள்ள இந்தப் பள்ளியில் 115 மாணவர்கள் பயின்று வருகின்றனர். (1/3)
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 12, 2023
“If there is a proposal to demolish about 10,000 dilapidated school buildings in Tamil Nadu and construct new school buildings, to set up commercial complexes in place of schools, it is highly condemnable. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu BJP, I urge that Not only this school, but all the dilapidated schools across Tamil Nadu should rebuilt in the same location after demolition.” he said.
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