Kolkata, May 25 -- Several schools in and around Kolkata that accommodated central forces during the recent Assembly elections have been left grappling with steep electricity bills, with headmasters and teachers alleging uncertainty over reimbursement of the additional expenses.

A headmaster of a school in the Dum Dum area said the institution, which usually receives electricity bills of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 a month, was billed more than Rs 36,000 for April after central forces stayed on the campus during the election period.

The headmaster, who did not wish to be named, said the local police administration had directed the school to accommodate the forces. He claimed that when he approached the local police station seeking clarification on reimbursement, he was allegedly told the police would not bear the cost.

"The burden cannot be on the school. We are now worried about how such a large amount will be arranged," he said.

A teacher at another aided school in Kolkata said there was no clear guideline on how schools should recover the excess expenditure. "Since the local police arranged accommodation for the central forces, schools naturally expect the payment to come through them," the teacher said.

Election Commission officials, however, maintained that schools would receive reimbursement if applications were submitted through the proper channel. An official said the payments were processed through the Public Works Department on behalf of the state police.

Chetla Boys' High School headmaster Shubhra Chakraborty said the school's electricity bill had risen by around Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 above normal levels after central forces stayed on the campus.

He said the school had informed the Election Commission through the local police station and had applied for reimbursement.

"The police informed us that the payment would be made. We have submitted details of the excess bill," Chakraborty said. He said schools generally received reimbursement after applying, though the full amount was not always sanctioned.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.