Jalandhar, January 4
A Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) team on Thursday raided the Punjab Institute for Medical Sciences (PIMS) and found much amiss in terms of the requisite disposal of biomedical waste.

The PPCB officials admitted that the faulty biomedical waste disposal would not have come to light if the discovery of a carelessly dumped amputated leg had not been reported.

What stays to be a concern is that the PIMS might not just be the only medical institution disregarding biomedical waste disposal guidelines. While it is believed that most of the medical establishments carry out the segregation of waste, what is yet to be taken note of by the concerned authorities is that many of these dispose of untreated biomedical waste in the open, exposing people to risk.

Garbage dumps in areas like Rama Mandi, railway station, Football Chowk, Adarsh Nagar and Pathankot Bypass have been found to be having untreated biomedical waste. Residents have, from time to time, reported that used syringes, needles, soiled bandages and polythenes full of other such wastes are openly dumped here.

Sources say quacks, private medical practitioners and even reputed medical establishments in the city dump biomedical waste in the open in total disregard of rules and the hazard they are posing to residents and animals.

“Some of the waste is disposed of discreetly in the neighbourhood dumps by medical staff of hospitals. These hospitals are spick and span when you visit them but their waste is being disposed of in some dump nearby, mostly irresponsibly,” said a source.

Doctors say high cost of proper biomedical waste disposal system makes some hospitals opt for shortcuts. They say subsidised waste disposal services by the government might ensure that everyone adheres to the rules.

Dr Satish Sharma, who runs a clinic, says, “I have been abiding by the disposal rules for the past seven years. I have noticed that awareness in this regard has increased in past few years due to which most of the qualified doctors and big establishments across the city take proper waste-disposal measures. Quacks are major defaulters. Another reason is the high cost, which small medical units want to dodge.”

“The company charges Rs 700 to 800 per month from an establishment. Each polythene bag given by them costs Rs 5 to 6 and the charge per bed is Rs 100 (per month). While big establishments might not have any problem with the cost, it is difficult for small establishments. A 15-bedded establishment has to pay Rs 1,500 per month even if only one of their beds was occupied. Some doctors burden their patients with the added fee. Subsidised, government-run waste-disposal services and government’s own biomedical waste treatment plants will make medical services cheaper for patients and will also encourage more adherence to rules,” Dr Sharma said.

PPCB Superintending Engineer SP Garg said, “We usually keep a check on dumps but if biomedical waste is still being dumped irresponsibly, we will make sure that it is removed. Usually, big establishments stick to rules but quacks might be the ones flouting them.”

Garg said 465 medical establishments from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr were registered with the PPCB, which properly disposes of their wastes. 

Jalandhar, January 4
As part of the road safety week celebrations, the traffic police held a rally to encourage people to follow rules while driving today.

Carrying placards with slogans on road safety, a number of students participated in the rally from Guru Nanak Mission Chowk to BMC Chowk.

ADCP Traffic Sukhdev Singh said a seminar to spread awareness on traffic rules would be held for drivers of auto rickshaws and manual rickshaws near the railway station on Saturday. A similar seminar will be held for students at KMV Sanskriti Public School on the Tanda road on Sunday. These initiatives are part of the special drive by the Traffic Police which started on January one.

A medical camp was organised for drivers of various vehicles, especially trucks, at Pathankot Chowk on national highway yesterday. The objective was to gauge the overall fitness levels and alertness of participants.

A free pollution check-up camp and a session providing information about traffic rules for the general public were organised at Workshop Chowk on Wednesday. The participants were apprised of the significance of traffic rules and ways to minimise road mishaps.

Traffic personnel gave booklets on traffic rules to commuters passing through the busy BMC Chowk on day one of the Road Safety Week on Tuesday. Besides, reflectors were fixed on over 2,000 vehicles to minimise the risk of mishaps due to fog.

Kapurthala, January 4
The Pushpa Gujral Science City (PGSC) has planned to add a number of attractions to encourage scientific aptitude among people, especially children, this year.

Talking to The Tribune, PGSC director general RS Khandpur said a mobile science exhibition (MSE) would be set up this year in collaboration with Centre’s Department of Science and Technology (DST). The MSE would be an initiative to take science on the doorstep of rural populace and to people living in far-flung areas to sensitise them about the significance of science and technology and to expose them to some of the issues and challenges related to sustainable development, Khandpur said.

“The interactive exhibits and information panels will give students and other visitors an opportunity to learn through the process of interaction and discovery,” he said, adding that one of the objectives of the programme was be to save the masses from the clutches of superstitions.

The exhibition will be based on the concept of Science Express, an exhibition train carrying information on various scientific topics and sponsored by the National Council of Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) of the DST.

“Besides the MSE, a climate change theatre will be opened this year,” he said, adding that the theatre would offer a one-of-its-kind experience with various environmental effects. The show will outline serious and contemporary challenges of climate change by mirroring the lifestyle of people and its impact on the planet.

Khandpur said the show would be a platform to inspire and educate PGSC visitors about climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy and environmental responsibility via multi-screen projections. The theatre will be built at a cost of Rs 75 lakh and is likely to be opened in March.

The PGSC director general said a state-of-the-art railway gallery in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Railways was also being set up and would be open for visitors this year. The gallery will give information about sophisticated railway technology which is being used across the globe.

The gallery will have working models and dioramas of the bullet train of Japan, magnetic levitation train of Shanghai, metro of New Delhi, narrow gauge train between Kalka and Shimla and the track between Jammu and Srinagar.

Apart from technical details, the visitors will get to see panoramic views of trains moving on hills, ridges, curvy tracks and other difficult terrains. A scene of the Shatabdi Express with life-size models of a ticket collector, guard and a station master will be replicated here. Information kiosks will give information about various milestones and the history of railways. An engine simulator will also be installed in the gallery. 

Jalandhar, January 4
“Creative thinking is an integral input to quality higher education.” This was stated by AICTE member secretary Dr KP Isaac while addressing scholars in the two-day national conference on “Higher Education in India: the changing facet”.

The conference began at Sardarni Manjit Kaur Auditorium of the CT Institute of Engineering, Management & Technology, here on Friday.

Charanjit Singh, Chairman, CT Group of Institutions, Dr Buta Singh, Dean Academics, PTU, Dr VK Goswami, Vice-Chancellor, Sunrise University, Alwar, Prof Prithpal Singh Kapur, former Pro Vice-Chancellor, GNDU Amritsar, Prof Sudarshan Batra, Academic Expert & Consultant, Global Management Xperts, Mumbai, Major General Raj Mehta (retired) and Dr Manoj Kumar, Group Director, CT Group of Institutions, were present.

Addressing the scholars in the conference, held in association with PTU, Dr Isaac further said, “The pace of social change and the heightened expectations of the world have broadened and deepened the teachers’ roles. They should be effective mentors and should have superior communication skills, technical support, in-depth knowledge of the subject and creative and pragmatic approach.”

“A teacher should generate the interest of students in research, proposal writing, technical reviewing, problem solving and problem analysing skills. Rather than visiting the industry for learning, the learning can be brought at the institutions from the industry via internet technology. Through web telecast of the product manufacturing, transformers testing at various industries the students can have better knowledge regarding the subject. The institutions should generate employable students,” he added.

The conference made an effort to target a host of issues concerning the contemporary situation of higher education in India. The convention is aimed at inviting valuable opinions from leading academicians and other think tanks associated with industry.

Renowned academicians shared their views on various topics including ‘role of FDI in sustenance of quality in higher education’, ‘higher education in India-multiple facets’, ‘what makes education in Finland that good? 10 reform principles behind success’, ‘holistic learning and a review of our current education system’, ‘changes required in educational curriculum’.

Charanjit Singh, while releasing a CD regarding proceedings of the conference, said there was a need to adopt a cautious approach while talking of reforms and no hurry should be shown while formulating and implementing new policies. The issues pertaining to changes in higher education system should be carefully deliberated, before any change is introduced, he added. 

Kapurthala, January 4
Flaying Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka for issuing a statement about not implementing of Central education schemes in the state, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh said the Union Government had provided crores of rupees to the Punjab Government for improving the standard of education.

In a statement issued here today, Rana said Central schemes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) had played a significant role in uplifting the education sector and raising the literacy rate in the state. "Maluka should have contacted the Union Minister for Human Resource Development to get detailed information about schemes if he had any doubts regarding them before issuing a baseless and strange statement," he said.

The Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government should adopt a wider outlook towards education and should not try to play with the future of students by not not implementing Central schemes, he said.

Rana said the state government should also play its part in providing adequate infrastructure and filling vacant posts of teachers and other staff in government schools without further delay.

He urged the Badal government to consult all political parties of the state, especially the Congress, before taking any important decision concerning with this sector.

Amritsar, January 4
Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, lifted the overall trophy at the 43rd Annual Inter-College Athletics Meet (Men and Women) 2012-13, of Guru Nanak Dev University, which concluded today.

It earned 80 points to secure the first position.

A new record of 10.71 seconds was also made in 100 meter race by Maninder Singh of the college. In 4x100 metre relay, the college stood winner followed by Khalsa College, Amritsar, and DAV College, Jalandhar.

Students of various colleges participate in the 43rd Annual Inter-College Athletics Meet (men and women) of Guru Nanak Dev University; and (right) a student participates in the high jump event in Amritsar on Friday. Photos: Sameer Sehgal

Dr HS Randhawa, Deputy Director, Sports and Head, presided over the valedictory function and gave away trophies and certificates to the winners.

In the Men section, Khalsa College, Amritsar, remained second with 47 points and Sports College, Jalandhar, finished third with 41 points.

In the Women section, HMV College, Jalandhar, won the overall championship with 111 points. Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar, remained second by 82 points and SN College, Banga, finished third with eight points.

Amritsar, January 4
Even as the prohibition on sale and use of China-made string has been in existence here for many years, its violation with impunity can be gauged from the fact that speechless birds are becoming its victims.

Many birds have perished while some lost their limbs and others suffered pain after coming in contact with the string.

Members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have been rescuing injured and entangled birds from top of the trees, buildings, besides electric supply and other poles. However, they added that they could not rescue more than five per cent of the total injured birds as they were not reported about all these incidents.

SPCA rescued an injured owl late last night. The long wings of the bird were enmeshed in the string while it was hanging down from a Pipal tree on the back of the pharmaceutical building of Guru Nanak Dev University.

The SPCA centre outside Hathi Gate is treating a crow whose left wing had almost detached from the rest of the body due to the string. The crow was saved from Gole Bagh a week back.

A Birder, Vineet Randhawa, also a member of the SPCA, said the string was causing untold harm to birds. She said it was quite strange that despite it being banned, people were flying kites with the string. She added that the people needed to be conscious and sensitive towards the rights and convenience of the birds.