Trespassers, thieves threaten guards, plague Bhandup school
A municipal school in Bhandup (West) has become a playground for thieves and anti-social elements, report school authorities. Although BMC has provided security personnel to Tank Road Municipal School, they allegedly have a tough time keeping away the trespassers, who often steal school infrastructure.
The school’s problems have been sourced to its fivefoot boundary wall, broken by those living in the adjoining compound, which the authorities claim make it easy for strangers to enter the compound freely. “How can people steal stuff when the security guards are present on the spot? The BMC should construct a taller compound wall and should completely restrict the entry of any outsider,” said BMC’s education committee member Shivnath Darade, who has written to BMC seeking tighter security .
Apart from the thefts, several people suspected to be living in the adjoining Valmiki Nagar slums have been known to enter the school premises post 6 pm in order to drink and smoke. “While we are able to control their entry throughout the day, we cannot do anything during the night. They often throw alcohol bottles in the compound and also steal stuff like taps and door knobs,” said school in-charge Usha Oza. The school has written to the BMC on several occasions about the problem, but BMC authorities said that the locals threaten the security personnel. “We keep two guards at night, but they say that the goons often threaten them with a knife if they try to stop them,” said Malti Tonpe, BMC’s administrative officer at the education department. Additional Municipal Commissioner Pallavi Darade said, “We have received the school's complaint. We are looking into the matter and are planning to find a fool-proof solution to this menace."
The school’s problems have been sourced to its fivefoot boundary wall, broken by those living in the adjoining compound, which the authorities claim make it easy for strangers to enter the compound freely. “How can people steal stuff when the security guards are present on the spot? The BMC should construct a taller compound wall and should completely restrict the entry of any outsider,” said BMC’s education committee member Shivnath Darade, who has written to BMC seeking tighter security .
Apart from the thefts, several people suspected to be living in the adjoining Valmiki Nagar slums have been known to enter the school premises post 6 pm in order to drink and smoke. “While we are able to control their entry throughout the day, we cannot do anything during the night. They often throw alcohol bottles in the compound and also steal stuff like taps and door knobs,” said school in-charge Usha Oza. The school has written to the BMC on several occasions about the problem, but BMC authorities said that the locals threaten the security personnel. “We keep two guards at night, but they say that the goons often threaten them with a knife if they try to stop them,” said Malti Tonpe, BMC’s administrative officer at the education department. Additional Municipal Commissioner Pallavi Darade said, “We have received the school's complaint. We are looking into the matter and are planning to find a fool-proof solution to this menace."
