2011 NOV 20
Curbs on water tankers filling up near schools
MUMBAI: Water tankers parked near schools is a common sight, risking the lives of thousands of children. Realizing the impending danger, the civic body has issued a circular to ward officers restricting tanker-filling activity near private and public schools.
The tankers fetch water from wells near schools, hindering "free movement of school children, their parents and school buses". In addition to inconvenience, the safety of children is endangered, said municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar.
The civic body has restricted the tanker-filling activity on municipal roads in a 100-metre zone on all approach roads to the schools. The zone includes the approach road (main roads leading to the approach road as well as by lanes bifurcating approach roads and back-lanes) on which the school gate is located.
Tanker-filling will have to be stopped one-and-a-half hours prior and an hour later to the beginning of the school session, and an hour prior and after the ending of every school session. For instance, if the school session begins at 7:30 am and ends at 12:30, tanker-filling on approach roads will be stopped from 6 am to 8:30 am and 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The same restriction is applicable to the afternoon session.
Ward officers will be responsible for the implementation of the circular, which will come into effect from November 15. In case of violation, a notice will be issued to the premise owners where the wells are located. Action will also be taken against tank owners for violation of timings. Written warnings for first two failures will be sent to the premise owner and the tank owner. Despite two warnings, if the civic body catches them, the pump and tanker licence will be forfeited.
"The circular was issued from the security point of view. It was posing a great danger to the security of school children. Water spillage can take place, limiting free movement of children near schools," additional municipal commissioner Rajiv Jalota said. On whether there was resistance from the tanker lobby, he said, "We have not yet received any complaint. We have given all necessary requirements of the civic body as far as water-filling is concerned."
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Schools welcome buffer zones; cops sceptical
MUMBAI: The idea of preventing water tankers from plying near schools has been welcomed by the school fraternity, but has not gone down well the tankers' association.
Experts feel that there is a need for more buffer zones around schools, restricting the entry of dumpers and private buses. The traffic department, however, is sceptical about the initiative, citing practical difficulties.
Many schools across the city are on busy roads-like Bombay Scottish, J B Petit, Villa Teresa and Jamnabai Narsee School--which means buses and private cars, which ferry children to school, clogging roads. Dumpers and other heavy vehicles are often spotted outside schools, restricting the movement of children. "It is a good idea to prevent water tankers from moving around near schools. Soon after the school session, children tend to move around the streets in a very disorderly manner. Heavy vehicles plying around the schools pose a great danger as any untoward incident can take place. The civic body should issue a circular preventing heavy vehicles from plying near schools when the session is on," said Shankar Yamaji Pawar, principal, Pushpa Park School, Malad (E).
The tankers' association, however, slammed the civic body for targeting them. "There has been no such accident near schools. There is no rational behind the decision. The vehicles are stationary when the tanks are being filled. So, how can them harm anyone," said Rajesh Thakur, a member of the Water Tankers' Association.
On the need for more buffer zones near schools, additional commissioner (traffic) Brijesh Singh told TOI, "It is impractical to create the zones due to practical difficulties such as space. There aren't enough alternative routes."
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