Dehradun: To address the growing problem of vehicles and parking in the city, the decades-old school’s playground was at risk of being sacrificed when the government began efforts to reclaim the leased land. The renowned and prestigious St. Joseph’s Academy in Dehradun, known for its education, sports, and various academic activities for many decades, faced uncertainty when a state administration team arrived on Tuesday to measure the land for reclamation.
However, following instructions from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, state chief secretary Radha Raturi decided in a meeting that the land would not be taken back from the school which brought much relief to the students, teachers and members of alumni association.
CS Radha Raturi issued instructions
On the instructions of state chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, chief secretary Radha Raturi held a meeting with Secretary Housing, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police Dehradun and MDDA on Wednesday regarding the land and parking issue of St. Joseph Academy, Dehradun. It has been decided in the meeting that the land will not be taken back from St. Joseph Academy.
Govt prohibited the further extension of the lease
According to an administrative source, the government has taken this decision to address Dehradun’s growing traffic issues and expand the nearby secretariat to alleviate parking problems. Dehradun Deputy District Magistrate Hari Giri stated that, considering the expansion of the Uttarakhand Secretariat and future needs, the Uttarakhand Government had prohibited the further extension of the lease for St. Joseph Academy.
A team of administration reached the school for land measurement
On Tuesday, a team of administration including officials from police, municipal corporation, revenue and Mussoorie-Dehradun development authority (MDDA) reached St. Joseph’s academy for the measurement of the leased land. This exercise was to explore the space for parking in the Rajpur road area which alarmed the school authorities in this concern.
What is the whole issue?
St. Joseph’s Academy, an institution imparting school education in Dehradun for the last many decades, was established during British rule in 1934 and around 28,000 square meter land was given to the school on lease by the government. St. Joseph’s Academy alumni association president and Major General (Retd) Sanjay Sharma said, “Schools’s lease has expired in January this year, after which, administration has not shown much interest in renewal of the lease. Since sports activities are mandatory for the overall growth of children, taking away this playground to deal with parking issues would be unfortunate.”
CS instructed to take action as per rules on the lease renewal
According to the St. Joseph’s Academy principal, Brother Joseph M Joseph, “CM personally intervened in this matter and this has been resolved. He also assured us to get the lease renewed as per rules and no further encroachment will be done in future.” Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has also directed the Housing Department to take action as per rules on the lease renewal of St. Joseph Academy.
School to make arrangements for student’s vehicle
Along with this, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has directed that St. Joseph Academy will make arrangements for parking of vehicles of students and parents within the school premises itself, so that the general public does not have to face traffic problems on the main road.
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