MUNGER, BIHAR — In a striking highlight of administrative oversight, a brand-new, two-story primary school building constructed at an estimated cost of ₹30 lakh lies completely abandoned in Bihar’s Munger district. The reason: authorities built the structure without securing an approach road or power supply, leaving it totally inaccessible to students and teachers alike.
As a result, 83 young children of Primary School Naya Tola in Prasando village (Baijalpur panchayat, Haveli Kharagpur block) remain forced to continue their classes inside an overcrowded, makeshift community building where the school has operated since 2006.
A Generous Donation Wasted
For years, the local primary school functioned out of a single community center due to a lack of land. Hopes were raised when a local family generously donated a patch of land for a dedicated educational facility. Following initiatives spearheaded by Munger MP Rajeev Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh), government funds were sanctioned, and the new structure was completed over a year ago.
However, the promises of a modern learning space quickly evaporated. Surrounding landowners have refused to cede private farmland to construct an approach road. Students and staff attempting to reach the premises must trek through muddy agricultural fields and farms.
"The school has been built, but there is no road," said Sushmita Kumari, a Class V student. "You have to cross a dirty, muddy farm path just to get near it."
Worse still, the building lacks an electricity connection, leaving classrooms completely dark and unventilated. Over the past 12 months, bushes have overgrown the perimeter, and parts of the premises have turned into dumping grounds for garbage and cattle dung.
Dirty Kitchens and Safety Concerns
The structural deadlock has compounded hardships for school staff and cooks under the Mid-Day Meal scheme. Cooking takes place under a temporary tin shed with a unpaved soil floor.
"For 20 years, we have been cooking in these sub-par conditions," said Mamta Kumari, one of the school cooks. "During the rainy season, the place turns into a sea of mud. It makes maintaining basic food hygiene nearly impossible. On top of that, there are no toilets for women working here, causing immense daily distress."
Administrative Deadlock
According to the current principal, Neeraj Kumar Nirala, the building was constructed prior to his appointment, but official handover protocols hit a wall due to the road dispute.
"I wanted to shift operations to the new building as soon as possible, but moving children without a proper road from the main highway proved impossible," Nirala explained. "Nearby landowners refused to allow access through their private land. I have submitted a detailed report to the District Education Officer so the issue can be addressed at the departmental level."
Nirala added that the new premises also lack a dedicated kitchen facility, creating another hurdle even if the road dispute is resolved.
Official Response
Responding to the situation, Haveli Kharagpur Block Development Officer (BDO) Sanjay Kumar described the state of affairs as serious and promised immediate intervention.
"If children are unable to attend a newly built school due to electricity and approach road deficits, it is a matter of grave concern," Kumar stated. "We will conduct a site inspection to assess the ground reality and take every necessary measure to provide basic infrastructure. Children’s education must not suffer under any circumstances."
Until local authorities negotiate a right-of-way and lay down power lines, the children of Prasando village will remain crammed inside a community center, looking across muddy fields at a multi-lakh rupee school they cannot use.
