39 school buildings, plots in Gaya encroached

GAYA: Shocking, but true. At least 27 primary and 12 high school buildings in different blocks of Gaya district have been encroached by village strongmen.

The matter came to light during the public hearing of grievances by divisional commissioner Jitendra Srivastava on Wednesday.

Taking serious note of this, Srivastava directed district officials to ensure the removal of the squatters from the school buildings and lands and submit a compliance report. He also directed the officials to take penal action against the culprits.

According to an official press release, the divisional commissioner apprehended that more school assets might have been grabbed by local strongmen and, as such, directed the district programme officer of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to compile a comprehensive list of such assets under adverse possession of encroachers.

The commissioner also received complaints about extortion from vendors and transporters in the Belaganj block area of the district. The commissioner directed the SDO to identify the extortionists and register FIRs against them.