Zilla Panchayat members passed a resolution on Thursday, to demand the State governemnt to release funds for shifting the electricity lines that pass above the government school buildings in the district.

The decision was taken in the backdrop the student of Government Highschool at Holekoppa in Sringeri taluk who was electrocuted when he was busy making preparations for the sports meet. The boy was electrocuted as the flag pole on which he was working came in contact with an electricity wire. The ZP members offered tribute to the boy and expressed concern over the incident, at the Zilla Panchayat general body meeting chaired by ZP President Rekha Huliyappa Gowda on Thursday.

Raising the issue at the meeting, ZP Member Savitha Ramesh said it was high time that the electricity wires passing in school premises, be shifted to other place. As the Mescom demands the panchayat to pay additional amount for shifting of wires, the ZP should write to the government, seeking funds, she said.Another member Sringeri Shivanna said that Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar who visited the accident spot recently, has said that the same problems persists across the State. He has also assured of taking necessary action to shift electricity wires passing through schools, Shivanna said. He also blamed the forest department for not allowing the shifting of wires, as the department claims the land belongs to it.

Another Member Suchita Narendra said that most of the sport meets of Sringeri taluk are held at Holekoppa school stadium, as there is no other stadium in the taluk. Though land has been identified in Shidle and Menase for developing stadium, the forest department has become an obstacle for it is not permitting for felling the trees. Fund sanctioned for developing the stadium is not used, she complained.

Shivanna said that Mescom demands for Rs 4,000 for shifting an electricity wire that passes through the school building. As the panchayat and SDMC do not have funds for this work, the panchayat has to demand the government to set aside certain amount for the purpose, he said. Memeber J D Lokesh estimated that the electricity wire passes through 135 government and aided schools in the district.

MLA B B Ninagaiah assured of informing the matter to the deputy commissioner and also pressurise the government to release special grants for the purpose.