Without a wall, Valpoi school at wildlife risk; HC for Centre’s say

Panaji: The high court of Bombay at Goa sought a response from central govt following a petition concerning the safety of students at Valpoi’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School, as it is located within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

Much of the compound wall, constructed about 25 years ago, collapsed and in its absence, wild animals, including leopards, bison, foxes and wild boars, entered the school complex, the parents told the HC.

They even saw the movement of a tiger in the vicinity of the school complex, their advocate S N Joshi told the court.

“They cannot move within the complex without being excessively cautious. Walking around during odd hours, especially early morning and late evening, is too frightening. With the mountains, forest cover, and adjoining river, the parents noticed that these animals move in the forests and walk through the Navodaya property to quench their thirst in the adjoining river,” the petition said.

The wild animals have also damaged the school vehicles and other equipment in the complex.

The residential school, with 424 students and more than 50 teaching and non-teaching staff, is one of the best in the country, the parents claimed.

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti is also reluctant to tender works for the construction of a multipurpose hall, additional dormitory for girls, and infrastructure — roads, electricity line, water supply, sewage disposal plant and stormwater drain — due to a pending litigation regarding ownership of land and pending appeals, they said.