Moss, dirt found in water tanks at govt schools: Survey

JHAJJAR: The School Education Department Panchkula in a survey has found dirt and moss deposits in most of the drinking water tanks at government schools across the state

Updated At : 06:01 AM Jul 17, 2017 IST

Water tank covered with wooden board and bricks at government senior secondary school in Jhajjar. Tribune Photo

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, July 16

The School Education Department, Panchkula, in a survey, has found dirt and moss deposits in most of the drinking water tanks at government schools across the state. The schools were provided new water tanks this year.

This has been revealed in a communique to all DEOs from the office of the Director (Secondary Education). It also speaks about ‘negligence’ on the part of school heads in keeping water tanks clean, say sources.

The department, in a survey, has found lids of water tanks in most of the government schools either open or broken.

“No attention is being paid to cleaning drinking water tanks in government schools. Consequently, dirt and moss have deposited in these. The government has taken serious note of the situation. Hence the DEOs have been directed to ensure that drinking water tanks are cleaned in all government schools,” states the letter sent by the Superintendent (Construction), Secondary Education Department, to all DEOs.

They have been directed to submit a compliance report to the department in this respect by July 25. Failure to submit the report will invite action.

“By ignoring cleanness of water tanks, most of the government school heads are discouraging the government’s efforts to ensure clean water for students. The government should fix the responsibility on school heads if unclean water is found in their schools’ tanks,” says Deepak Rathi, a social activist.

Lizard found in water tank at Jhajjar school

The Tribune team on Sunday visited various government schools and found a lizard in a water tank at the middle wing of Government Senior Secondary School in the city. Two tanks were kept at the rooftop of the school to store drinking water for students. The lids of both tanks were missing and they were covered with wooden boards and bricks.
When the matter was brought to the notice of school principal Ranbir Kadian, he said the tanks were cleaned every month. Since monkeys used to break the lids of the tanks, these have been covered with wooden boards. “I shall check all water tanks in the school on Monday morning to ensure their cleanness,” he added.