Paucity of funds retarding seismic work on buildings of school districts

Who can be the greatest victims of earthquakes or natural disasters except the human population? They are the buildings and any of them is bound to crumble, whatever may be the size, if there is a devastating earthquake. Who knows this better than China? Perhaps none has forgotten, till now, the nineteenth deadliest earthquake of all time, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake or “Great Sichuan Earthquake”. It measured at 8.0 and destructed innumerable buildings along with claiming at least 69,000 people. Well, these incidents are common and can happen at any other time. For that reason, as has been learnt, the government is all set to introduce a new study to assess the seismic safety of school buildings across the country. The San Mateo County school districts are found to be the pioneers in these.

What are the present activities of the San Mateo County school districts hence? They are at present engaged in looking for information from the state about their buildings’ seismic safety. However, the present economic recession is posing a great question before the feasibility of this project. Whatever it is, there is no dearth in the honest intentions of the state and has already communicated with the states and has prepared a precise list of almost 8,000 public school buildings, especially those who are on the verge of breaking down.

There is no doubt that this initiative of the state has enthused the school districts and a large number of them also responded. But the paucity of adequate fund is offering the greatest threat. Take for instance Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. This district is highly interested to carry forward the project but since the state has limited funds Belmont-Redwood Shores would have to cover the balance of the cost.

This is not any isolated situation but a part of the larger reality. Throughout the country the condition is same and several projects have stalled on account of the same reason (shortage of funds). If there is an additional fund in any district, the seismic work can happen only then.