March 21, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 1, 1428

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SWAT, March 20: Administration of the Jehanzeb College in Saidu Sharif has opposed demolition of the college and hostel buildings by the district government.

The college and hostel, built by former Wali Mian Gul Jehanzeb, was twice affected by earthquake and some cracks appeared in the building which, sources said, could be repaired with the help of any structural engineer.

The administration had repaired the cracks in the walls caused by an earthquake in 1985 at a cost of Rs8.8 million.

It was a postgraduate college with the total strength of some 2,500 students.

“Demolishing the building will not only affect the student’s studies but we will also lose a historic building,” said a lecturer of the college.

Officials of the works and services department said the building was declared dangerous after the October 8, 2005 earthquake.

The feasibility report has been prepared to construct a new building and an amount of Rs110 million has been sanctioned for the purpose, said an official.

College principal Dr Usman Ali said that some elements wanted to demolish the building so that they could get hold of antique doors and locks of the historic building.

“If the government is so concerned about the building then it should get the cracks repaired instead of razing the building,” Mr Ali said.

He demanded that the government should provide a structural engineer who could restore and conserve the building.

The works and services department which have no expertise in assessment of structures, have carried out surveys of the buildings and declared the Jahanzeb College and Mingawara hostel as dangerous.

“They recommended demolition and we don’t know how they have arrived at the decision as we see that the college and hostel buildings have got minor damages which could be rehabilitated at a low cost,” teachers of the college observed.

They just want to steal the precious deodar wood worth millions of rupees and the antiques (door locks, switches, fans and the like), teachers alleged.