156-year-old school building demolition – DC directs DDPI, ZP CEO to submit a report

Puttur: Amid the furore over the overnight demolition of a heritage school building at Nellikatte, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC) Dr K V Rajendra has directed the Deputy Director of Public Instruction and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer to submit a report on the incident.

The 156-year-old heritage structure was started by the British East India Company in the year 1865 to cater to the schooling needs of the region. The school building also holds relevance as Jnanpith awardee Dr. K Shivaram Karanth used to direct plays from the school venue and there were demands to turn it into a memorial in his honour.

Reports cite that the school development and monitoring committee (SDMC) had undertaken some emergency repairs to the school building after its tiles began to fall and injured a few persons. However, during the repair works a pillar of the building collapsed and the SDMC took a decision to demolish the building considering the danger it posed to others.

The committee, however, does not have the power to take these decisions and it had not consulted or apprised the concerned authorities about the demolition.

After the DC’s directive, the DDPI has sought a report from the Block education officer (BEO), Lokesh who in turn has served notice to the SDMC and the headmaster, seeking a report on circumstances leading to the said demolition.