Construction of LPG storage and distribution unit putting school students' lives at risk

From our Correspondent

Bongaigaon, August 2: Construction of a LPG storage and distribution unit is causing threat to the lives of students of Don Bosco School in the Bengtol area in Chirang. Though the school authority had given many written complaints to the district administration, the LPG unit has not been closed down, allegedly due to the support of district administration officials.

The Principal of Don Bosco School, Bengtal, said that they had given many written complaints and also appealed to the Chirang Deputy Commissioner to shift the LPG storage and distribution from that area, and also to the Lower Assam Commissioner and Commissioner for Food and Supply. “Our school was established here in the year 1968. In the year 2014, we saw that one LPG storage and distribution was proposed to be set up in close proximity to the school (12 metres approximately) on a plot of land owned by a certain Monoranjan Mondol, a resident of Bengtol. As soon as the construction began the students, teachers, parents, guardians and the school maging committee went to the proposed site and staged a protest on December 10, 2014 objecting to the construction of LPG storage and distribution centre in a residential area adjacent to a school, girls’ hostel and staff quarter. We also gave a letter to the Chirang Deputy Commissioner, apprising him about the threat to the lives of the students from the LPG unit. Work was halted for six months,” he said.

“But in July we were shocked to see that the construction party again resumed its work. We gave a reminder letter to the Chirang Deputy Commissioner on July 6. We were surprised as to how the DC could allow the construction of the LPG centre here adjacent to the school and hostel. On July 7 we approached Shantanu Thakur, IAS, the Lower Assam Commissioner of the Government of Assam, requesting him to intervene in the matter. He immediately issued a letter to the Chirang Deputy Commissioner asking to ‘see that the safety, academic atmosphere and overall atmosphere of the education institution’ does not get affected in any way by proposed storage of a highly risky and inflammable material. As per his advise, a group of local people, student and school committee called on the Chirang Deputy Commissioner on July 10 but the DC did not take any measures,” alleged the Principal.

On July 15 they approached the Commissioner of Food and Civil Supply of the Government of Assam. “After that meeting, the construction work was halted on July 17. On July 27 a memorandum from the local people and school committee was submitted to the Chirang Deputy Commissioner appealing to shift the centre from that place. However, the Chirang Deputy Commissioner allegedly did not respond well. Surprisingly on July 29, the company resumed the construction on the same site. We became helpless by the attitude of the Chirang Deputy Commissioner as he does not want to think about the life of thousands of students and the common people,” alleged the Principal. The construction work of the LPG storage and distribution centre is still going on.