School body seeks higher FAR from HS

CHANDIGARH: CBSE and ICSE had recently recommended that schools should have laboratories for subjects like English, history, geography and other job-oriented courses. This has led to Independent Schools Association demanding that the cap on floor area ratio (FAR) in city���s schools be raised from 0.5 to 1.
The association has also sought UT home secretary���s permission for setting up laboratories in basements.
The FAR of 0.5 means that the covered area cannot be more than half of the size of the actual plot. Ratio of 1 means that the covered area can be equal to the plots���s size.
The association���s president, HS Mamik, said there had been no increase in land allotted to schools since 2002. He stated that as the population in city was rising, school managements had been finding it difficult to provide more facilities because of limited land.
He said, ���Schools in Panchkula and Mohali have been allotted FAR of 1.��� He added that students in Chandigarh were opting for schools in adjoining cities as schools in UT lacked space.
���The schools can use basements as labs as the space there is being wasted otherwise. Since labs will be fully-air conditioned and students will have to spend less time there as compared to classrooms, it would not lead to any harm,��� said Mamik. However, when contacted by The Times of India, home secretary Ram Niwas objected to the proposal and stated that the UT administration had always been against the use of basements for any institution and would not be recommending it this time as well.
���As far as increase in FAR is concerned, the schools will have to purchase land if they want more space,��� said Ram Niwas.
In October 2008, over 17 educational institutions including schools, colleges and trusts were served notices under Section VIII of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulation) Act after taking cognizance of building violations.