Patna College, the oldest institution of higher education in Bihar, is going to publish its Alumni's Who's Who soon. The publication would include the full details of all its alumni located at different places and occupying positions of eminence in public life.
College principal Ras Bihari Prasad Singh told here on Friday that the college would be holding its alumni meet on May 31 after a lapse of over 12 years. The last alumni meet was held in 1996. Former Lt General and governor S K Sinha, former director of higher education Damodar Thakur and several other distinguished alumni are likely to grace the occasion, he added.
Meanwhile, the teachers and students of the college, at a meeting held here on Friday under the presidentship of the principal, expressed their deep sense of shock over the sudden demise of former head of philosophy department, PU, P N Bhagat. Patna University Teachers' Association president Dharm Prakash and general secretary Randhir Kumar Singh and PU dean of students' welfare K N Paswan also attended the meeting. link
Saturday 23 May 2009
Friday 22 May 2009
Some relief for Bihar’s arsenic hit villages
High levels of arsenic in the groundwater pose the threat of cancer to people in many Bihar villages, but the state government has finally moved to bring safe drinking water from the Ganga river to some of these areas.
‘Multi-village water supply projects’ have been given the green signal in 200 arsenic-affected villages in three districts.
“The multivillage water supply projects would be launched soon and completed under a timeframe,” said Public Health Engineering Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.
The projects will cover 130 arsenic-affected villages of Simri block in Buxar district, 45 villages of Bidupur block in Vaishali district and 25 villages of Maner block in Patna district.
D.S. Mishra, an official in the department, said the government would provide safe drinking water from the Ganga to villages affected by arsenic.
“First, the surface water (in the river) will be treated to remove harmful substances and then it will be supplied,” Mishra said. He said the treatment of groundwater containing arsenic was costly and not sustainable.
The state government admitted early this year that high levels of arsenic have been found in the groundwater of 15 Bihar districts on either side of the Ganga river, posing the threat of cancer, an official said.
“A total of 57 blocks on both sides of the Ganga are affected by high levels of arsenic in the groundwater,” he said.
Arsenic causes cancer of the intestines, liver, kidneys and bladder as well as gangrene. People in several villages are suffering from bone deformation and a variety of skin problems.
“In some affected villages, people have complained of weakening and bending of the bones and dreadful rashes and lumps on the skin,” a health expert said.
Arsenic, an odourless and tasteless semi-metal element, occurs naturally in the environment and sometimes as a by-product of agriculture and industry.
An official said the worst affected districts are Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Chapra, Munger and Darbhanga and Patna.link
Among these, Harail Chapar, a village in Samastipur district, recorded the highest levels of arsenic - 2,100 parts per billion (ppb) - in groundwater, the official added. The World Health Organisation guideline for a safe limit is 10 ppb, while the Indian government’s guideline is 50 ppb.
The official said a survey conducted in the arsenic affected districts reveals that the deeper aquifers lying below 80 metres were free of arsenic.
Last year, a state government report based on a survey of water samples collected at random from 19,961 tubewells in 398 villages found that arsenic concentration was above 10 ppb in 310 villages and above 50 ppb in 235 villages.
‘Multi-village water supply projects’ have been given the green signal in 200 arsenic-affected villages in three districts.
“The multivillage water supply projects would be launched soon and completed under a timeframe,” said Public Health Engineering Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.
The projects will cover 130 arsenic-affected villages of Simri block in Buxar district, 45 villages of Bidupur block in Vaishali district and 25 villages of Maner block in Patna district.
D.S. Mishra, an official in the department, said the government would provide safe drinking water from the Ganga to villages affected by arsenic.
“First, the surface water (in the river) will be treated to remove harmful substances and then it will be supplied,” Mishra said. He said the treatment of groundwater containing arsenic was costly and not sustainable.
The state government admitted early this year that high levels of arsenic have been found in the groundwater of 15 Bihar districts on either side of the Ganga river, posing the threat of cancer, an official said.
“A total of 57 blocks on both sides of the Ganga are affected by high levels of arsenic in the groundwater,” he said.
Arsenic causes cancer of the intestines, liver, kidneys and bladder as well as gangrene. People in several villages are suffering from bone deformation and a variety of skin problems.
“In some affected villages, people have complained of weakening and bending of the bones and dreadful rashes and lumps on the skin,” a health expert said.
Arsenic, an odourless and tasteless semi-metal element, occurs naturally in the environment and sometimes as a by-product of agriculture and industry.
An official said the worst affected districts are Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, Chapra, Munger and Darbhanga and Patna.link
Among these, Harail Chapar, a village in Samastipur district, recorded the highest levels of arsenic - 2,100 parts per billion (ppb) - in groundwater, the official added. The World Health Organisation guideline for a safe limit is 10 ppb, while the Indian government’s guideline is 50 ppb.
The official said a survey conducted in the arsenic affected districts reveals that the deeper aquifers lying below 80 metres were free of arsenic.
Last year, a state government report based on a survey of water samples collected at random from 19,961 tubewells in 398 villages found that arsenic concentration was above 10 ppb in 310 villages and above 50 ppb in 235 villages.
Thursday 21 May 2009
Illegal constructions around Sher Shah tomb
Several constructions, including Bihar government's teachers training college, have come up in the restricted zone around the mausoleum of Sher Shah at Sasaram in blatant violation of the Archaeological Monuments Special Repair Act, 1992. The illegal constructions have taken place in the centrally-protected area of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Incidentally, the area falling in the radius of 100 metres of the monument has been declared the restricted zone.
Two private school buildings have also come up in recent years in the restricted area. These include Duttatreya Public School (on the north-east corner of the mausoleum) and Chaukhandi High School (on the north).
These are just a few examples of illegal constructions in the protected area. More than 200 such structures have come up in recent times.
In a recent communication to the Rohtas DM and SP, the acting superintending archaeologist, ASI, Patna circle, N G Nikose, made a fresh request to them to stop and remove illegal construction in the protected zone.
Nikose said such requests had been made to the district administration on several occasions earlier too. "Despite numerous reminders to district officials concerned, nothing concrete has been done by the administration so far," said an ASI official. Incidentally, ASI has already issued notices to those responsible for illegal structures in the protected area. On several occasions, local goons even threatened ASI officials of dire consequences for this.
Incidentally, ASI has been raising the issue since 1990. All former superintendent archaeologists of ASI -- Mohammed K K, Urmila Sant and P K Mishra -- raised this issue right from the Rajbbhavan to the DM level.
Sher Shah's mausoleum is undoubtedly the finest mediaeval tomb architecture in the Indian sub-continent. "Efforts have been made to get this monument listed in UNESCO's list of world heritage sites, but it cannot not find an entry there unless the illegal constructions are removed," said an official.link
Two private school buildings have also come up in recent years in the restricted area. These include Duttatreya Public School (on the north-east corner of the mausoleum) and Chaukhandi High School (on the north).
These are just a few examples of illegal constructions in the protected area. More than 200 such structures have come up in recent times.
In a recent communication to the Rohtas DM and SP, the acting superintending archaeologist, ASI, Patna circle, N G Nikose, made a fresh request to them to stop and remove illegal construction in the protected zone.
Nikose said such requests had been made to the district administration on several occasions earlier too. "Despite numerous reminders to district officials concerned, nothing concrete has been done by the administration so far," said an ASI official. Incidentally, ASI has already issued notices to those responsible for illegal structures in the protected area. On several occasions, local goons even threatened ASI officials of dire consequences for this.
Incidentally, ASI has been raising the issue since 1990. All former superintendent archaeologists of ASI -- Mohammed K K, Urmila Sant and P K Mishra -- raised this issue right from the Rajbbhavan to the DM level.
Sher Shah's mausoleum is undoubtedly the finest mediaeval tomb architecture in the Indian sub-continent. "Efforts have been made to get this monument listed in UNESCO's list of world heritage sites, but it cannot not find an entry there unless the illegal constructions are removed," said an official.link
Road cleaning work to be outsourced in Patna
The road construction department (RCD) is working on a proposal for outsourcing the cleaning work of city roads, footpaths and road dividers.
According to the plan, bids would be invited from private parties to undertake the work on a long-term basis. The bidder would have to clean roads, pavements and road dividers of the city on a regular basis. He would also be responsible for painting of pavements and dividers at least twice a year.
Lighting of roads would be the responsibility of the bidder and costs incurred on lighting too would be paid by him.
Those opting for the bid would have the freedom to earn revenue using their advertisement rights along the roads.
"We have sent a proposal in this regard to the finance department and once it gives approval to it, the proposal would be sent to the cabinet," said a senior RCD official.
To begin with, the project would be launched on a pilot basis in Patna and depending on the feedback, bids would be invited for RCD roads in other cities of Bihar, he said.
Explaining the economics of the proposal, the RCD official said that bidders would be able to earn a lot of revenue against the cleanliness work done by them as they would have at their disposal a huge chunk of land along the roads, which could be used for advertisement purpose.
The department is also working on a plan pertaining to long-term bidding for maintenance of roads being constructed by it.
A World Bank consultant was roped in for preparing the draft of this proposal and senior RCD officials are studying the report to find out its adaptability in local conditions.
"Our main goal is to come up with such a proposal which contains good points of the report submitted by the World Bank consultant as well as the system being followed by the department now under which a contractor is also given the responsibility of maintaining a road for a three-year period," said the RCD official.
He said once the amalgamated form of existing and proposed system is ready, bids would be invited for the long-term maintenance work. "The department would undertake quarterly inspection of roads. Payments would be made to such parties only if inspection reports about the condition of roads would be satisfactory," added the official. link
According to the plan, bids would be invited from private parties to undertake the work on a long-term basis. The bidder would have to clean roads, pavements and road dividers of the city on a regular basis. He would also be responsible for painting of pavements and dividers at least twice a year.
Lighting of roads would be the responsibility of the bidder and costs incurred on lighting too would be paid by him.
Those opting for the bid would have the freedom to earn revenue using their advertisement rights along the roads.
"We have sent a proposal in this regard to the finance department and once it gives approval to it, the proposal would be sent to the cabinet," said a senior RCD official.
To begin with, the project would be launched on a pilot basis in Patna and depending on the feedback, bids would be invited for RCD roads in other cities of Bihar, he said.
Explaining the economics of the proposal, the RCD official said that bidders would be able to earn a lot of revenue against the cleanliness work done by them as they would have at their disposal a huge chunk of land along the roads, which could be used for advertisement purpose.
The department is also working on a plan pertaining to long-term bidding for maintenance of roads being constructed by it.
A World Bank consultant was roped in for preparing the draft of this proposal and senior RCD officials are studying the report to find out its adaptability in local conditions.
"Our main goal is to come up with such a proposal which contains good points of the report submitted by the World Bank consultant as well as the system being followed by the department now under which a contractor is also given the responsibility of maintaining a road for a three-year period," said the RCD official.
He said once the amalgamated form of existing and proposed system is ready, bids would be invited for the long-term maintenance work. "The department would undertake quarterly inspection of roads. Payments would be made to such parties only if inspection reports about the condition of roads would be satisfactory," added the official. link
BSF jawans who fought Naxals in run up to LS polls awarded
BSF jawans who successfully thwarted a Naxal attack in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar's Rohtas district were today awarded at a glittering investiture ceremony.
A contingent of the force came under heavy gunfire, including rocket launchers, when it was patrolling the jungles of the district on April 14, two days before the first phase of the elections. The troops also retaliated and thwarted the attempts of the Naxalites.
During the annual ceremony, the troops (35 in number) were presented with a memento and a trophy. Director General of BSF M L Kumawat and chief guest at the function, Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat, lauded the role of the men and said it is because of such efforts that the Indian democracy is still vibrant.
"The boys fought fiercely with the Naxals and thwarted their attempt with a heavy hand. They deserve a special mention and recognition," Kumawat said while addressing the gathering which was attended by chiefs of other central paramilitary forces.
During the ceremony, 10 personnel of the force were decorated with Police Medals for gallantry for"displaying exemplary courage in the face of adversity" while 42 other jawans and officers were awarded with medals for distinguished and meritorious services.link
A contingent of the force came under heavy gunfire, including rocket launchers, when it was patrolling the jungles of the district on April 14, two days before the first phase of the elections. The troops also retaliated and thwarted the attempts of the Naxalites.
During the annual ceremony, the troops (35 in number) were presented with a memento and a trophy. Director General of BSF M L Kumawat and chief guest at the function, Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat, lauded the role of the men and said it is because of such efforts that the Indian democracy is still vibrant.
"The boys fought fiercely with the Naxals and thwarted their attempt with a heavy hand. They deserve a special mention and recognition," Kumawat said while addressing the gathering which was attended by chiefs of other central paramilitary forces.
During the ceremony, 10 personnel of the force were decorated with Police Medals for gallantry for"displaying exemplary courage in the face of adversity" while 42 other jawans and officers were awarded with medals for distinguished and meritorious services.link
Bihar announces Santosh Trophy squad
The Bihar Football Association today announced a 20 member squad for the upcoming 63rd Santosh Trophy that will be played from May 24 to June 14 in Tamil Nadu.
Mohammed Afzal Alam will lead the team which is placed in Cluster VII along with Gujarat and Haryana. Bihar will play its first match against Gujarat on May 27 and face Haryana on May 29.
Bihar
Goalkeepers: Inderjit Kumar Singh (Gaya), Anup Kumar (Patna), Tanvir Khan (Patna)
Defenders: Rajesh Patel (Motihari), Nadir Parvez (Patna), Mohammed Aadil Ansari (Patna), Birendra Kumar Yadav (Dharbhanga), Mohammed Alimudin (Muzafarpur), Mohammed Afzal Alam (Patna, Captain), Sanjay Kumar (Patna), Sunil Patel (Motihari)
Midfielders: Rajgiri Yadav (Patna), Rajesh Ranjan (Jamalpur), Satyajit Ray (Dharbhanga), Suman Kumar Dayal (Patna), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Darbhanga)
Forwards: Debashish Roy (Patna), Mohammed Shahbaz (Patna), Navin Thapa (Patna), Sonu Kumar (Begusarai)
Officials: Gopi Nath Dutta (Coach, Patna), Sanjeev Kumar Sinha (Assistant Coach, Banka), Jwala Prasad Sinha (Manager, Patna).link
Mohammed Afzal Alam will lead the team which is placed in Cluster VII along with Gujarat and Haryana. Bihar will play its first match against Gujarat on May 27 and face Haryana on May 29.
Bihar
Goalkeepers: Inderjit Kumar Singh (Gaya), Anup Kumar (Patna), Tanvir Khan (Patna)
Defenders: Rajesh Patel (Motihari), Nadir Parvez (Patna), Mohammed Aadil Ansari (Patna), Birendra Kumar Yadav (Dharbhanga), Mohammed Alimudin (Muzafarpur), Mohammed Afzal Alam (Patna, Captain), Sanjay Kumar (Patna), Sunil Patel (Motihari)
Midfielders: Rajgiri Yadav (Patna), Rajesh Ranjan (Jamalpur), Satyajit Ray (Dharbhanga), Suman Kumar Dayal (Patna), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Darbhanga)
Forwards: Debashish Roy (Patna), Mohammed Shahbaz (Patna), Navin Thapa (Patna), Sonu Kumar (Begusarai)
Officials: Gopi Nath Dutta (Coach, Patna), Sanjeev Kumar Sinha (Assistant Coach, Banka), Jwala Prasad Sinha (Manager, Patna).link
Five Infosys employees die as bus falls into valley
Five Infosys employees died and 32 others were injured as a company bus fell into the valley in Belgam near Nipani on Thursday.
According to the sources, the bus ferrying between Mysore and Pune went off the road near Nipani, apparently as the driver lost control of the vehicle and fell into the valley in Belgam.
Most of the people traveling in the bus belonged to Bihar and West Bengal.
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. Rescue operations are underway. Further details are awaited.link
According to the sources, the bus ferrying between Mysore and Pune went off the road near Nipani, apparently as the driver lost control of the vehicle and fell into the valley in Belgam.
Most of the people traveling in the bus belonged to Bihar and West Bengal.
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. Rescue operations are underway. Further details are awaited.link
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