Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration will spend nearly Rs.48 crore this fiscal to upgrade facilities and infrastructure in existing schools and construct new schools in this union territory, an official said here on Saturday.

According to an official in the education department, over Rs.10.5 crore will be spent on schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and more than Rs.18 crore under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan in 2010-11.

"We have plans to overhaul the school infrastructure in Chandigarh during the current financial year. We have directed the education department to make a list of schools where there is a requirement of upgradation after taking into account the construction work already in progress at some premises," Education Secretary Ram Niwas said.

"A sum of Rs.1.25 crore under the elementary education plan and Rs.8.25 crore under the secondary education have been allocated. We have already decided all the modalities and started working in this direction."

The administration has also directed the officials to maintain basic amenities in all government schools during the upcoming summer vacations.

"Engineering department officials will carry out survey in all the schools. We have directed officials to draw an action plan for proper water supply, whitewashing, painting, repair of water tanks and toilets of all government schools in Chandigarh during the summer vacation and get the work completed before the opening of schools," Niwas said. IANS