UP Govt Introduces ₹80 Crore Safety Drive to De-String Power Cables Over Schools

Taking a big leap in improving the safety of students, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced an ₹80 crore program to de-string high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) power cables passing over government schools in the state.

The ambitious scheme will include all primary, upper primary, and secondary schools that fall under the Basic and Secondary Education departments. The Power Department has already given instructions to facilitate quick and orderly implementation of the scheme.

Dr Ashish Kumar Goel, the Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), has directed regional managing directors of the state's four key power distribution zones of Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Paschimanchal, and Dakshinanchal to get in touch with local government officials for implementing the move forthwith.

District-level committees consisting of District Magistrates (DMs), Chief Development Officers (CDOs), Basic Shiksha Adhikaris (BSAs), and District Inspectors of Schools (DIOS) shall spot the affected school buildings and monitor line-removal activities. The committees have been asked to conduct their first meeting within three days to initiate the process.

To minimize disruption to learning by students, officials have been directed to plan the removal of the line during school breaks whenever possible. Short-term closures might be considered in situations where urgent work cannot be avoided.

This step comes in the wake of increasing concerns regarding the safety of children at school, particularly in rural and semi-urban belts where overhead cables tend to pass close to schools. The move is a part of the overall effort by the state to make school infrastructure child-safe and resilient.

The project will not only remove an overlooked hazard but also mark a serious turn to put child safety high on the agenda in schools, officials stated.