Mumbai:
While schools are generally the best place to go to quench one's thirst for knowledge, the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya at Kanjurmarg are faced with a different kind of thirst. With taps and drinking water facilities running dry for two years now, students have been complaining to the school authorities about the water problems at the school. Despite repeated attempts to incite action, the students' efforts have gone in vain.
Students claim to have not only informed the authorities about the issue, but to have also dropped complaint letters in the school's suggestion box. In spite of the school authorities being informed of the grim situation, however, the problem has still not been rectified. The school hours are between 7.20 am and 1.30 pm, with a half-hour recess at 10.30 am.
Sushant Rawal, (name changed), one of the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, said, "We have two water coolers at our school, of which one doesn't work. How many students can drink water in half an hour? We have complained to the school authorities but no action has been taken yet."
However, the drinking water problem is only the tip of the iceberg. Ravi Sharma (name changed), another student, said, "There is not only a drinking water problem, but also a problem with the toilets. There is no water in the toilets, and many students avoid going there because of that. This water problem has been around for the last two years."
Another student, Rakesh Shah (name changed), said, "When we complain, we are always told that something will be done, but after six months, everything is as it is. It is very unhygienic to have no water in the toilets. We have dropped letters in the suggestion box, hoping the authorities will read them."
An official from the school who did not wish to be named said, "We had a bore well outside our premises from which we used to get water, but it stopped functioning suddenly. Since then, we sent letters to BMC authorities to allow us to build another bore well in our premises, but they haven't given us any reply. We sent the letter in April and are still waiting for their reply. It is not fully true that there is no drinking water facility as both our coolers are working and we are providing water to students. But yes, there is an issue with the toilets where water supply is inadequate."
R Biradar, BMC officer from Bhandup S-ward, said, "I don't know of their problem, but if they come directly to me I will give them permission to build the bore well."