J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

PTU may scrap MBA entrance
Jalandhar, August 16
Aimed at reducing the number of tests, the Punjab Technical University (PTU) has plans to scrap yet another entrance examination. After doing away with the Common Entrance Test for BTech admissions two years ago, the university authorities have now mooted scrapping the Management Entrance Test (MET). MET is conducted for admission to MBA in various colleges of Punjab affiliated to the university. The PTU has proposed that the admissions should instead be carried out on the basis of Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The proposal came after the realisation that multiple examinations not only bothered the students but also cost more.

Wetland gets new lease of life
Gurdaspur, August 16
Keshopur wetland, known for attracting migratory birds from Siberia and central Asia, is all set to become a major attraction for eco-tourists as the Department of Culture and Tourism will develop and protect the area.

PTU may scrap MBA entrance
Deepkamal Kaur/TNS

Wetland gets new lease of life
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Gurdaspur, August 16
Keshopur wetland, known for attracting migratory birds from Siberia and central Asia, is all set to become a major attraction for eco-tourists as the Department of Culture and Tourism will develop and protect the area.

The Tourism Department has taken this iniative as it has received a loan of Rs 9 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Geetika Kalha, Principal Secretary (Tourism), confirmed this development and added that work on the project would commence soon.

Earlier, the project was mired in controversy with the panchayats of five villages in the area refusing to lease out land to construct the ADB funded Tourism Interpretation Centre, which would come up in an area of 25 kanals, located close to the main wetland

However, the panchayats of villages Keshopur, Mattam, Daala, and Miani recently passed a resolution to lease out 850 acres of the land to the government. At one stage the wetland was on the verge of extinction with village elders refusing to cooperate with the authorities to save the area, which has been a winter home for many migratory birds for centuries. However, after much persuasion from the wildlife authorities, the panchayats finally decided to lease out the land.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhinav Trikha, who is co-ordinating various agencies engaged in revamping the project, said "Wetlands are considered to be one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems. Punjab is home to three internationally acclaimed wetlands - Harike, Kanjli and Ropar - and three others including the Keshopur wetland. It is an important site and had a profound impact on the economy of the villages surrounding it."

As initially there was some scepticism about the project, the Tourism Department in an attempt to placate the villagers planned a trip for them to the famous Bharatpar Wildlife Sanctuary. They were shown how the project would be financially viable.

Harpreet Kaur, Community Development Officer, said nature trails, huts, bird heights and pause points would be developed. A Mumbai based design consultant was roped in to create the right ambience for eco-tourists, she added.

Sources revealed that the Forest Department had recorded more than 400 bird species in the Keshopur wetland. Out of these, 45 species of migratory birds numbering over 40,000 visited the area in the winter season, which extended from October to March.