Power lines over Kamala Model School, Ayatan, in Rajkanika. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Sept. 17: The district administration has decided to shift electricity transformers and high-tension overhead wires located near or passing through government-run schools and aganwadi centres to ensure the safety of students.

Parents, guardians and local residents had, on several occasions, drawn the attention of district authorities to the danger that power transmission lines and transformers posed to the students.

The authorities have finally responded to their plea and the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) division has drawn up a project for relocation at an estimated cost of Rs 10.92 crore.

In the district, 429 schools and nearly 100 anganwadi centres that face such danger have been identified. The administration has decided to shift overhead lines passing through school premises. It has also been found that some of these schools have transformers installed on their premises. The location of such electric gadget inside the school exposes the children to potential danger. These structures would be shifted to areas far away from the schools, said executive engineer, Cesu, Kendrapara division, Swapna Sarit Mishra.

“We are ready with funds. The tender-bidding process for execution of the project has already been initiated. We are hopeful of relocating the high tension line close to schools by the end of the year,” Mishra said.

In a related development, district officials have expressed concern over the absence toilet facility in government-run schools. Lack of toilet facility is one of the major contributory factors for the increase in the drop-out ratio of girls in the district’s government-run schools.

There are 122 schools that do not have toilet. Significantly, girls dropping out from schools without toilets are more than those at institutions that have the facility.

A high-level meeting at the district headquarters to review the sanitation scheme threw light on this disturbing trend.