Tamil Nadu borewells run dry, schools take a break

CHENNAI: Scarcity of water has forced some private schools in the city to cut down on working hours.
Christ King Girls’ Higher Secondary School in East Tambaram, which has more than 2,600 students, has given a two-day break to students from Classes VI to VIII. The six borewells on the school’s premises are dry. The school procures 24,000 litres of waters in two tanker every day.
As the news went viral on social media, the school modified its stance.“A sump to store water is being constructed and students were told to not to come because of safety reasons,” said S Mary Immaculate, headmistress and correspondent.
RKD Fomra Vivekananda Vidyalaya, a private CBSE school in Chrompet, has sent text messages to parents informing them that the school will function only for half-aday. “This school will function between 8am and 12.15pm from June 24 for all classes due to scarcity of water,” read the message. Principal Indra Shankar refused to comment and said. “It is a decision by the top management.”
Many schools have temporarily shut kindergarten sections saying that children will not be able to handle the heat. This included Jaigopal Garodia School in West Mambalam. Asked about this at a press meet on Tuesday, school education minister K A Sengottaiyan said providing water to students is the responsibility of the school managements and some have been collecting money to get water tankers.