RAWALPINDI: Though belatedly, the city district government has agreed to release Rs6.5 million to the education department to fix drainage problem in three educational institutions of the city.

During the recent spell, rainwater inundated classrooms and offices of the educational institutions, partially suspending education activities for three days.

The affected institutions are Comprehensive High School for Boys Dhoke Kashmirian, Comprehensive School for Girls and Hashmat Ali Islamia College.

These three institutions are located in a depression and do not have a sewerage system through which rainwater can be drained. As a result every year during monsoon season, students and teachers have to suffer a lot.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Education held a meeting with District Coordination Officer (DCO) and Managing Director, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), for a permanent solution to the problem.

“Last year, Rs6.5 million grant was approved to lay sewerage system in the three institutions, but the grant could not be released by the city district government,” EDO Education Qazi Zahoorul Haq told Dawn after attending the meeting.

He, however, said the DCO had agreed to release the fund in the next few days.

Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, DCO Sajid Zafar Dal said he held meetings with the education department and Wasa and directed them to immediately resolve the matter.

Replying to a question, he said last year, Rs6.5 million grant was approved for the three institutions, but could not be released as the education department did not pursue the case properly. He, however, said the grant was a temporary solution.

The DCO said during the meeting, Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mahmood said for a permanent solution, there was a need for proper work, which required million of rupees funds. He said the Wasa managing director had been asked to prepare papers to find a permanent solution to the problem.

The DCO, however, said he was ready to immediately provide the approved grant to the education department to fix the problem temporarily.

Published in Dawn, September 10th , 2014