HEALTH

RSIC starts functioning
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — Regional Spinal Injuries Centre (RSIC) started functioning from today on the premises of Department of Orthopaedics, GMCH-32. Giving this information, Prof Raj Bahadur, project director of RSIC and Head, Department of Orthopaedics, GMCH said the centre had been set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Government of India and the Government of Italy in collaboration with the Government of Punjab.

He said necessary recruitment of basic staff had already been made and technical staff had been trained at the Indian Spinal Centre, New Delhi. The first instalment of the equipment required for the basic infrastructure had been received and being installed. The centre had been allotted 5 acres of land in SAS Nagar. 

PGI employees submit demands’ charter
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — A deputation of the ‘PGI Employees’ Co-ordination Committee (PECC) submitted a charter of demands to Mr Suresh Chandel, MP and member of the governing body, PGI.

According to Mr R.K. Kanchi, chairman, PECC, a similar charter of demands has already been submitted to Dr C.P. Thakur, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his last visit to the PGI on November 13, this year.

The list of demands include hospital patient care allowance to the group ‘A’ and ‘B’ employees, the implementation of Fifth Central Pay Commission, the proper implementation of the ACP scheme, more funds for community centre and shopping centre in the PGI residential complex and construction of parking sheds for the PGI employees.

The union has requested Mr Suresh Chandel to take up the issue with the authorities to sort out these long-pending issues.

ADMINISTRATION

Minor changes in Forest Act
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest has issued guidelines carrying out certain minor modifications in the existing Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

Under the fresh instructions, no permission will be required for the diversion of forest land to lay underground optical fibre cables, telephone lines, drinking water supply lines, which involve no tree felling and are outside a national park or a wildlife sanctuary. The trenches for laying underground lines will have a depth of two metres and a width of one metre. A deviation from the above category will require a separate submission of the proposal and permission under the Forest Conservation Act , 1980, a letter circulated by the ministry says.

The decision has been taken as underground works a one time affair and the land use is temporary and cause minimum damage. Even the trench when it is filled up and merges into the forest thus causing no overground harm, informed the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mr H.S. Sohal.

The agencies which carry out the work will have to agree to make good for any loss to forest and environment. The users will have to seek the permission of the Forest Department for maintenance.

Meanwhile in another modification the Union Ministry has said if trees are planted for some other agency on its own land and then cut down after a few years a permission from the Forest Department is not required.