Prof. T. K. Chandrashekar has joined as director of NISER on Dec 8, 2008. His web page at IIT Kanpur is at http://www.iitk.ac.in/chm/tkc.html. He is coming from a stint as Director of the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology(NIST) (Formerly Regional Research Laboratory) Trivandrum.
His profile obtained from a NISER notice is as follows.
1 comment December 11th, 2008
1 comment December 10th, 2008
It is through the Orissa Cabinet. See http://www.tathya.in/2008/story.asp?sno=2413 and http://www.tathya.in/2008/story.asp?sno=2411. Many thanks to the industries department and especially the unsung SM, who I think did the bulk of the work in the government in such a speedy manner.
Following is a report on the subject.
Continue Reading 15 comments December 9th, 2008
Following is from a report in Daily Pioneer.
The State Government has allotted 6,000 acres of land, and not 8,000 acres as reported in a section of the media, to the Anil Agarwal Foundation to establish its world-class Vedanta University near the Puri-Konark marine drive.
The land would be used only for the purposes of the university as per the terms of the Government, said a project release on Monday.
The release said the Anil Agarwal Foundation is acquiring land at full market value, well beyond the Government’s land acquisition norms in terms of compensation, ex-gratia payment, rehabilitation and other facilities to the landowners.
Out of the 6,000 acres earmarked for the university, only 1,300 acres constitute the land owned by Lord Jagannath.
The temple trust has agreed to sell the land for the educational mission and the foundation is acquiring it at full and fair market value.
The release claimed that world-class universities like Stanford, Duke and Harvard have land areas of 8,180 acres, 7,200 acres and 4,940 acres, respectively. Vedanta University, 6,000 acres, would be unique with 100,000 students, 10,000 faculty and 95 academic disciplines.
Vedanta would have no control over any land near or far from its site. The Puri-Konark Development Authority and the district administration would make all decisions regarding future developments in the area.
Following are some excerpts from a tathya.in report.
The University will have its own water harvesting and recycling system and there will be no adverse impact on the availability of water for the people of Puri.
… World Class Vedanta University will put Orissa on the global education map and will further enhance the cultural significance of Puri and Konark.
It will provide continuing employment opportunity for several thousands of people in the area.
Vedanta University Project(VUP) has already undertaken many developmental programs in the areas of health, education, livelihood and peripheral development which are greatly appreciated by the local people.
December 9th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in tathya.in.
… At least 6 professional educational institutions have applied for No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the State Government for Deemed University (DU) tag.
Those are Vidya Bharati Trust, Bhubaneswar, Krupajal Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, Nav Dignata Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, C V Raman Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneswar and Ajay Binay College of Architecture, Cuttack. (Editor’s addition: See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1197)
Once they receive the NOC then they will approach the University Grants Commission (UGC) for conferring DU status.
But it seems the Government of Orissa is in no mood to give NOC to these institutions.
Recently held meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary has opined negatively over the issue, said a senior official.
Orissa is having 9 State Universities, 3 Deemed Universities and 1 World Class University and a Central University have been sanctioned by MHRD.
World Class University of Vedanta at Puri, Sri Sri University at Naraj in Cuttack and ICFAI University at Bhubaneswar is also coming up.
In view of the surge of universities in the state, the Chief Secretary Committee has decided not to allow any other professional educational institution for Deemed University status, said sources.
Once they receive DU tag then those will not come under the purview of the Orissa Professional Educational Institution (Regulation & Fee) Act-2007.
… The Committee is of view that providing DU status to professional educational institutions in the state will defeat the purpose of setting up a technology university in Orissa, BPUT.
However all the private educational institutions are making efforts to influence political leadership to favor them with DU tag.
Vidya Bharati Trust(VBT), Bhubaneswar, which runs Gandhi Group of educational institutions has claimed to be the largest educational complex in KBK area of the state.
As the KBK area does not have any university, VBT has justified its demand for DU status.
My thoughts: The two private deemed universities in the state are KIIT and SOA. Both have medical colleges associated with them. The state government should suggest the 6 applicants above that they will get serious consideration for a NOC only after they have an associated medical college, especially in a backward district. This will be a win-win situation for every body.
Orissa needs more medical facilities in most of its districts and even after promising free land and Rs. 5 crore through WODC it is having difficulty establishing medical colleges in WODC districts. Thus if the above 6 applicants establish medical colleges in some of the backward districts in Orissa, then that will help Orissa a lot.
The government is right in being careful in granting NOCs. There are 50+ engineering colleges in the state and not every one of them or too many of them should become deemed universities. By requiring an associated medical college as a criteria for giving NOCs the government will be able to figure out which organization is financially strong and has a bigger goal.
1 comment December 6th, 2008
Thank you Sambada.
Following is a translation of the initial part of the article:
Today in the state assembly two private university bills will be discussed; Sri Sri University bill and Vedanta University bill. Orisssa’s higher education future rests on these two bills. In regards to the first university bill, so far, there has not been any controversy, but for whatever reason the proposed Vendanta University is embroiled in controversies. Opposition to land acquisition for the project, court entanglement, reports in police station, and similar issues have tied down the project. For two years there has not been much progress in the ground. The situation is such that like the Singur Nano project in West Bengal there is apprehension that this world class project may withdraw from Orissa. If that happens Orissa’s dream of being a top higher education location in the world will be shattered. In the past several assembly members have opposed the Vedanta University project. The reason for their opposition! Doubt. There is opposition to the land acquisition in the proposed project area. Few days back there was a struggle in that area. The reason for that was also doubts. May be Vedanta will withdraw from the university project after acquiring the land; May be the people will lose their livelihood; May be Vedanta will renege on its obligations; several such doubts are fueling the opposition. The opposers say that Vedanta plans to loot Orissa in the name of the university. But what is the basis of these doubts and it is not clear how does one loot by establishing a university. This project does not need mines or forests; the government does not need to spend a paisa. It only needs to help in providing land where 15000 crores is aimed to be invested to establish a world class university. Eminent educationalists says that such opportunities come once in 100 or 200 years. If such small issues are used to throw away this opportunity then Orissa’s higher education aim for the next century will definitely become unsure. In reality, states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are eying the Vedanta University project. The land acquisition problem in Orissa has resulted in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh sending proposals to Vedanta. But planning and design of the project has progressed so far that Vedanta does not want to leave Orissa. Vedanta Chief Anil Agarwal has given $1 Billion (Rs 5000 crores) of his own money to the project and has mentioned this to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The main built-up area of the university will be spread across 2000 acres. The Ayres St. Gross company of the US has designed the master plan of this university. This company has developed the building design for many top universities of the world. Vedanta has decided to establish a medical college and hospital in the first phase. This college and hospital to be built in 34 acres has been designed by the world famous firm Perkins and Will. The medical college program will be designed and its equipments will be supplied by Jensen partners. The curriculum of the various colleges of the university and the kind of faculty to hire for such programs have been discussed in conferences organized by Vedanta in Paris and Washington. After all these to doubt that Vedanta will cheat and go away is baseless. Eminent NRO professor CRB says that losing Vedanta will be like kicking a humongous wealth. With IIT, NISER and AIIMS being established Bhubaneswar, if Vedanta University is established it will make the Puri-Bhubaneswar-Cuttack area an heaven for high quality higher education and Orissa’s place in the world will rise significantly. No other industrialist in Orissa has spent that much money on education. If Vedanta wants to spend 15000 crores, why should we throw it away? The top educational institutions in India, the IITs and the IIMs rank 300-400 in the world. Vedanta aims to be in the top 50. He says, if that happnes Orissa will be among the tops in the country. The government should take meausers to resolve the issues related to land acquisition in a war footing. For such a university the sacrifice of the local people should be adequately respected and compensated by the government, he adds.
7 comments December 6th, 2008
See details at its web page http://www.aiph.ac.in/. See also this press release.
4 comments December 6th, 2008
Following is from the architect’s brief.
Continue Reading 35 comments December 4th, 2008
Following is from http://www.mohfw.nic.in/EoI_FOR_PC.htm.
Continue Reading December 4th, 2008
Following is from http://www.mohfw.nic.in/PMR.htm.
Continue Reading 1 comment December 4th, 2008
Going through the NISER call for tenders for providing consultancy for the academic and residential townships, available at http://www.dcsem.gov.in/Page/
1. The whole campus should be universally accessible. (For too long public spaces are designed in India without taking into account people with disabilities.)
2. Research labs in NISER should have the space to accommodate all students in the 4th and 5th year of their integrated M.Sc program. In other words, when students are in their 4th and 5th year they should be required to be part of a research lab, and thus the research labs should have space to accommodate them.
3. Instead of just a cafeteria, most US universities have a "Student Union" which has multiple eating places, bank (with ATM), post office, book store, entertainment options (such as chess, pool, etc.), etc. Some even have a movie theater. The student union should be a one stop place where students (and faculty) can not only eat but also transact other necessary businesses.
4. There should be plan for designing the landscape of the campus as a combination of a botanical garden (with trees labeled with their botanical name and their place of origin) and science based sculptures. Local industries may be approached for sponsoring part of this.
5. Finally the whole design should be such that there is room to expand. Otherwise 20-30 yrs down the road, NISER will suffer the same problem that IISc is facing now in terms of lack of room to grow.
December 3rd, 2008
(Following is from http://www.dcsem.gov.in/page/pcdtbrp3.pdf)
RESIDENTIAL TOWNSHIP
|
SN
|
Description
|
Area per Unit
|
Units consid ered
|
TotalArea Sq.m.
|
|
|
(A) HOSTEL Complex
|
|
||
|
1
|
Double occupancy rooms with common toilet (600 students) |
40
|
300
|
12000.00
|
|
2
|
Single occupancy common toilet
|
22
|
400
|
8800.00
|
|
3
|
Single occupancy common toilet -Phd
|
22
|
300
|
6600.00
|
|
4
|
Single occupancy attached toilet Phd
|
25
|
600
|
15000
|
|
5
|
Post doc staff |
36
|
150
|
5400
|
|
|
|
47800.00 sq.m.
|
||
|
|
(B) Residential Accomodation for Faculty/Staff |
|
||
|
(i)
|
Director E3
|
350
|
1
|
350.00
|
|
() |
E1 (deans)
|
255.73
|
4
|
1022.32
|
|
() |
E (prof/senior-prof/registrar)
|
189.61
|
72
|
13652.00
|
|
(iv)
|
D (asstt.prof./seniornon-teaching sta) |
94.27
|
144
|
13574.00
|
|
(v)
|
C
|
67.17
|
75
|
5038.00
|
|
(vi)
|
B
|
55.04
|
75
|
4128.00
|
|
(v) |
A
|
44.37
|
75
|
3328.00
|
|
(v) |
Flatlets (transit camp)
|
36.00
|
45
|
1620.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
42712.32 sq.m.
|
|
|
(C) OTHER AM ENITIES
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Day care centre
|
|
|
1500.00
|
|
2
|
Primary School
|
|
|
860.00
|
|
3
|
Higher secondary
|
|
|
2200.00
|
|
4
|
Hospital 20 bed
|
|
|
2500.00
|
|
5
|
Shopping
|
|
|
840.00
|
|
6
|
Community Centre
|
|
|
500.00
|
|
7
|
Guest House
|
|
|
3000.00
|
|
|
Total Residential As per Report 102000.00 sq.m. |
101912.32 sq.m
|
||
December 3rd, 2008
(From http://www.dcsem.gov.in/page/pcdtb1.pdf.)
ACADEMIC TOWNSHIP & SPORTS COM PLEX
|
SN
|
Description
|
Area per Unit
|
Units consid ered
|
Total Area Sq.m .
|
|
|
(A) Academ ic Township
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Class rooms
|
|
|
5000.00
|
|
2
|
Central Library
|
|
|
5000.00
|
|
3
|
Academic Schools
|
|
|
20000.00
|
|
4
|
Computer Centre
|
|
|
500.00
|
|
5
|
Admn. Office |
|
|
2500.00
|
|
6
|
Cafetaria
|
|
|
1000.00
|
|
7
|
Auditorium Complex
|
|
|
7500.00
|
|
8
|
Teaching labs
|
|
|
7000.00
|
|
9
|
Research Lab
|
|
|
8000.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
56500.00
|
|
|
(B) Sportscom plex
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Aquatic Facility
|
|
|
2000.00
|
|
2
|
Playground
|
|
|
18000.00 (Playground)
|
1 for Integrated 5-yr M.Sc course (1000 students in full fledged operation): double room w/o attached toilet for first three years. Single room w/o attached toilet for the last two years;
2 for integrated M.Sc + PhD course (300 students total): Single room w/o attached toilet for the first two years (like other M.Sc. students), single occupancy with attached toilet for PhD part;
3 PhD students : total 300 (other than from (2)) : same as other PhD students;
4 Post-doc fellows (150 max.) : flatlets.
Classroom complex (service area is included in the bulk): .
|
Item
|
Unitarea
|
No of units
|
Total area
|
|
Lecture hall for 250 seats |
450 sq.m
|
2
|
900
|
|
Do- for 100-120 seats
|
200 sq.m .
|
5
|
1000
|
|
Tutorial rooms (30 seats)
|
50 sq.m .
|
20
|
1000
|
|
Small lecture rooms (60 seats) |
100
|
18
|
1800
|
|
Common rooms (boys)
|
200
|
1
|
200
|
|
Common room girls
|
100
|
1
|
100
|
|
Total
|
|
|
5000
|
(A) School adm inistration (for six schools)
School chairman’s offices (100 sq.m .*6) 600 sq ms
Meeting rooms (small, two each, 50sq.m X2*6)) 600
Seminar halls (one each, 150 sq.m . *5) 750
Committee rooms (one each, 120 sq.m . *5) 600
School libraries and outreach halls (200 sq.m .*6) 1200
Total 3750
(B) Faculty and Research Scholaroffices
Each faculty office will be standard size (5.5m X 3.6m ≈20 sq.m .). There will be 200 such offices, senior faculty (150) being given independent offices, and junior faculty (100) sharing two each. Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs), associates and visiting faculty will share (double) a normal faculty office. Since visiting faculty will be both short and long-term type, it is assumed that 50 rooms, seating 100 people, may be adequate. Office space for PhD scholars will be provided by sharing three scholars in one room. A good proportion of scholars are usually accommodated in research labs. However sitting space is provided for about 500.
Faculty offices (200 X 20) 4000
Visitingfaculty(50 X 20) 1000
PDF(150atanygiventime),150X10 1500
PhD scholars 3250
Total 9750
Biology 2500
Chem istry 2500
Physics 1000
Total 6500
Total 20000
Note: The area mentioned above are indicative. However the Consultant may change the same as per planning requirement
December 3rd, 2008
Following is excerpted from http://www.dcsem.gov.in/Page/Tender.htm. The cost estimates are:
(As per http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=31118 each IISER construction budget is 241 crores.)
|
7
|
Providing Consultancy Services for Construction of Residential Township along with necessary Infrastructure Facilities for NISER at Bhubaneswar – Draft "Tender – Document" regarding. (Applicable for short listed consultants only) |
E.O.I.NO DCSE/Head (PCD)/EOI/NISER/02/2007, dt 4th April 2007 |
* Clarifications on or before
21/11/ 2008 * Submission on |
Click below to Download the Draft "Tender-Document"
|
|
8
|
Providing Consultancy Services for Construction of Academic Township & Sports Complex along with necessary Infrastructure Facilities for NISER at Bhubaneswar – Draft "Tender – Document" regarding. (Applicable for short listed consultants only) |
E.O.I.NO DCSE/Head (PCD)/EOI/NISER/02/2007, dt 4th April 2007 |
* Clarifications on or before
21/11/ 2008 * Submission on |
Click below to Download the Draft "Tender-Document"
|
December 3rd, 2008
Following is an excerpt from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45185.
Fifthly, there is a need for capacity building in the sector of management of heritage and cultural resources to obviate the serious dearth of expertise and manpower in this area. The Ministry of Culture has proposed, as part of its XI Plan, to set up a Centre for Management of Cultural Resources. There are also suggestions to set up a network of Indian Institute of Art and Culture on the lines of IIMs and IITs.
December 2nd, 2008
(Thanks to a reader who pointed us to this.)
Sardar Valabhai Patel Post-graduate Institute of Paediatrics in Cuttack is a post graduate institute. It seems to be an independent institute with some links with the SCB Medical College. Following are excerpts from couple of old articles on it.
From http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/31/stories/2007033113230200.htm:
CUTTACK: With Japanese grant-in aid of Rs. 37 crores, the city-based Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post-graduate Institute of Paediatrics, known as Sishu Bhawan, the only referral centre for children in Eastern India is now ready after a major facelift. The renovated hospital will be inaugurated on April 2, according to its superintendent N.K. Mohanty.
"The expansion project, which got under way in April 2005, was completed as per the schedule," says Dr. Mohanty.
Supervision
The Japan government-sponsored Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has supervised the progress of the project work which includes a two-storied international standard building over an area of 18,000 square feet. Japan-based Yokogawa Architects and Engineers have designed the building while Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Corporation took up the civil work, say JICA sources.
The building houses OPD, casualty, laboratories, radio-imaging section, OTs, central sterilisation unit and a total of 116 beds, including 21 ICU beds, and 30 newborn special care beds, says Dr. Mohanty.
As per the MoU signed with the Japan government, the hospital now has the state-of-the-art equipments like ultrasound, ventilators, X-Ray, multi-parameter monitors, pulse oxy-meters and defibrillators by the Tokyo-based Ogawa Seikii worth over Rs. 25 crores.
From http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081004/jsp/nation/story_9923481.jsp.
The state government’s bid to overcome deficiencies exposed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) has hit a roadblock.
The MCI had recommended more faculty members in keeping with an increased number of seats for the MBBS course in the three state-run medical colleges.
The State Administrative Tribunal has stayed the recruitment process of 294 posts of senior residents or tutors at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital, VSS Medical College and Hospital, SCB Medical College and Hospital, and Sardar Vallabhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics.
December 2nd, 2008
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