It’s sunrise for solar industry

In World’s First, Defunct Bengal Thermal Plant Is Being Converted Into Solar Station

Subhro Niyogi | TNN

Jamuria (Raniganj): In perhaps the first significant climate responsive project in South Asia, an abandoned thermal power plant has been converted into a mega solar power generating station. It’s quite likely the world’s only high carbon power unit being replaced by a zero-carbon one.

The 2-MW project, the first in solar sphere to cross the megawatt threshold, is poised to give a huge fillip to India’s renewable energy ambitions and marks the culmination of “solar man’’ S P Gon Chaudhuri’s dream. Six years ago, the diminutive man won the Ashden award, popularly known as the Green Oscar.

“This is India’s empowerment in green energy and demonstrates the country’s intent and ability to be climate responsive in the energy sector. It has already catalysed commercial interest in solar power that has been shunned by private companies due to high capital investment and longer break-even period,’’ said Gon Chaudhuri, who is also the MD of West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation (WBGEDC).

At present, capital investment in a solar plant is Rs 15-18 crore per mega watt—four times that of thermal at Rs 4-5 crore/MW. The cost is expected to reduce by half and efficiency double when nano technology is integrated in solar cells in about five years.

The project, located in Jamuria, 20 km from Asansol and 210 km from Kolkata, is in the heart of India’s coal belt. A 6 MW coal-based thermal power plant of Dishergarh Power Supply Co (DPSC) once stood on the eight-acre plot that is now the site of the solar project comprising 9,000 crystalline type solar modules of 230 watt each. The plant will generate three million units of electricity a year, enough to light 2,000 rural or 500 urban households.

The facility will save seven lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emission a day. That’s as much CO2 as 2 MW thermal projects emit daily. The power that the solar plant will generate will be fed into DPSC’s grid for distribution to customers in the Asansol-Raniganj belt. The unique project could help Bengal reclaim its pioneer status in the power sector after nearly a century. Way back in 1897, the country’s first hydel project of 600 KW was set up at Sidrapong in Darjeeling.

At present, half the project has been completed with the 4,500 solar modules generating 1.25-mw electricity. WBGEDC is vetting proposals from several firms who have shown interest in setting up the other half of the project.

DPSC will buy power at Rs 5 per unit and the ministry of new and renewable energy resources will pay Rs 10 per unit as generation incentive. WBGEDC can earn a further 97 paise per unit through the sale of carbon credit that the project will accrue. Annual revenue is pegged at Rs 4.8 crore. The project is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the solar mission of 15,000 MW under the PM climate action plan. That is imperative with the Planning Commission projecting a capacity addition of 6.5 lakh MW from thermal, nuclear, hydel and gas by 2030, leaving a deficit of 1.5 lakh MW that only solar energy can meet.

The upcoming 2-MW solar power station in Jamuria, 210 km from Kolkata, is the dream of ‘Solar Man’ S P Gon Chaudhuri. The world’s first transformation of the high carbon thermal power unit into a zero-carbon solar plant will generate 3 million units of electricity, enough to light 2,000 rural or 500 urban households

Chavan prevails over education minister for manual admission

Prafulla Marpakwar | TNN

Mumbai : Chief minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday reiterated that the manual admission procedure will be in force for the ensuing academic session along with online admissions for junior colleges.

“I have asked school education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil to ensure the manual system is continued atleast for the current year along with the online procedure,’’ Chavan said after launching the website for online admissions on Tuesday.

Lauding the school education department for effective use of new technology, Chavan said the online system will make admissions to junior colleges more convenient. “Students will have to fill only one form for over 150 colleges in the metropolis,’’ Chavan said.

Vikhe Patil said the software developed by the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation utilised for the online admission system will be foolproof. “We are sure there will be absolutely no hurdles,’’ he said.

Vikhe Patil said when the student gets his marklist, he will be given a comprehensive booklet on the online admission procedure. Either the student can submit his application form online or at a centre near his house. The status of his admission will be informed to the student by SMS.

“For providing information to the students, we are coordinating with some cellphone firms and service providers,’’ Vikhe Patil said.

MAY 26
School education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil announces online admission programme

JUNE 4
Chavan assures the state legislative assembly that both admission systems will be in force

MAY 28
The cchool education deparment issues an official order on the procedure for the online admission system

JUNE 6
Education department says there is no change in its decision and there will be only online admissions

JUNE 1
Chief minister Ashok Chavan steps in, asks Vikhe Patil to consider manual admissions with the online system

JUNE 8
Vikhe Patil reiterates his stand again, insisting there will be only online admissions this year

JUNE 2
Vikhe Patil insists there is no question of considering manual admissions, and there will be only online admissions

JUNE 9
Chavan says demand made by elected representatives and students must be considered

JUNE 3
Chavan asks school education secretary Sanjay Kumar to ensure both the processes are in force

JUNE 9
Vikhe Patil accepts Chavan’s order, saying admissions this year will be both online and offline

Chief minister Ashok Chavan tests the online system with deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal and education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil

City youngsters all set for China trip to study solar eclipse

Srinivas Laxman | TNN

Mumbai: Ten star-crazed Mumbai youngsters, five of them physics and computer science students of Mumbai university, are all set for a trip to China where they will study the solar eclipse on July 22.

All of these “spaced-out’’ youths will study the sun under the banner of Helios Astronomy Group, a seven-year-old organisation. Chintamani Pai, a member of the group, told TOI that the focus of their research would be to study the solar corona and the “flash spectrum’’. The minimum cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 8 lakh.

The students will use equipment from the Western Regional Instrumentation Centre located on the university’s Kalina campus. Pai said the group had been divided into three units. The first will conduct the experiments, the second will provide computer and electronics support—that is handle data and deal with image-processing and trouble-shooting—and the third will handle the logistics. “Through our reserach, we hope tolearn more about the sun’s characterestics, solar flares and solar corona,’’ Pai said. Team leader Jatin Rathod said the group would study the eclipse from Wuhan, about 400 km west of Shanghai. “We have chose a remote place like Wuhan as there will be a few people and that way, we will be able to concentrate on work,’’ he said.

If the team is unable to make it to China, it will watch the eclipse from a North-eastern state, either in Arunachal Pradesh or Meghalaya. The solar eclipse will be visible from a narrow corridor spanning northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean. In India, the eclipse will be total in Surat, Varanasi and Patna and will last for six minutes—the longest in the 21st century

Parents arm themselves for battle even as non-SSC principals cry foul

Parents And Lawyers Say Proposal Is Unconstitutional And Goes Against HC Ruling On State’s 2008 Percentile System

Anahita Mukherji | TNN

Mumbai: If one has to go by past precedence, court cases may soon become a regular feature during admission time. A year ago, the state government was taken to court, bang in the middle of junior college admissions, after it introduced the controversial percentile system, which pushed up the scores of SSC students vis-a-vis those from other boards. This year around, with the state mulling over the possibility of 90% reservations for SSC students, once again other boards are seeing red.

There has been a great deal of discussion on the legal implications of the reservation policy, with many contemplating taking the matter to court. “Last year, while ruling against the percentile formula, the HC clearly stated that any new policy concerning admissions should be announced well in advance. We plan to bring to the court’s notice that the government’s latest announcement violates this order,’’ said Xavier Luis, the parent of an ICSE student who moved court against the percentile system last year.

“The state government had a meeting with the SSC, ICSE, and IGCSE boards a few weeks ago, and there was no mention of the 90% reservation policy,’’ said Gerry Arathoon, spokesperson of the ICSE board, adding that the 90% reservation policy was completely unfair.

It’s little wonder, then, that parents, students and principal are fuming over the government’s latest plan. “This is ridiculous. I’ve never heard of anything more unfair. This is one of the most horrific things that a democratically elected government could come up with. I don’t think any court in the country can uphold this,’’ said Meera Isaacs, principal of Cathedral and John Connon School, Fort.

Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of Rajhans Vidyalaya, a CBSE school in Andheri, points to a rather worrying possibility. “The parents of children who study at CBSE schools usually have transferable jobs. They have come to our city to provide us with a service. For instance, the parents of many of the students from my school are working on the Mumbai Metro project. If we are hostile to children from boards other that the state board, won’t we be discouraging talented professionals from entering our city?’’ asked Srivastava.

After celebrating a 92% score at the ICSE exams, Madhuri Sarma, a student from a South Mumbai school, is shaken by the government’s latest announcement. “I was planning to go to HR College, but now I doubt I’ll get in,’’ said Madhuri. As for the government’s contention that ICSE and CBSE students score more marks than SSC students, children like Madhuri feel that both the national board exam papers are more logical and analytical. “Our syllabus is harder than that of the SSC board,’’ said Madhuri.

Many, like Perin Bagli, principal of Activity School, which follows the ICSE board, feel that the government has meted out a rather step-motherly treatment to non-SSC boards. “All the top-notch officials in the city are opting for our boards. Why doesn’t the government upgrade the SSC board?’’ asked Bagli.

When TOI contacted advocate Navroz Seervai, one of the council who appeared on behalf of the ICSE schools in the percentile case in 2008, he said that, prima facie, the 90% reservation sounded unconstitutional. “As yet, the government has revealed very few details on the matter. From whatever they have announced, the policy is discriminatory under Article 14 of the constitution. A 90% reservation, per se, sounds excessive and arbitrary,’’ said Seervai.

He added that the government’s order does not gel with some of the landmark judgments passed by the Supreme Court.

Schools slam 90% SSC quota, minister unruffled

Anahita Mukherji | TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Even as education minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil awaits a final decision on his controversial move to introduce 90% reservation for SSC students in junior colleges, irate parents, students and principals are contemplating moving the court. “Once the GR comes out, they can go to court,’’ Vikhe-Patil said, adding that one option for non-SSC boards would be to start their own colleges. “This way, their students will have no problem. At a time when these boards feel they are superior to the state board, why do their students seek admission to our colleges?’’ he asked.

“This is ridiculous,’’ said Meera Isaacs, principal of Cathedral and John Conon School. “This (the 90:10 SSC:Non-SSC quota) is one of the most horrific things that a democratically elected government could come up with. I don’t think any court in the country can uphold this.’’

So, this year, too, parents and principals are arming themselves for a long legal battle. Lawyers have advised a wait-and-watch approach. “Unless the proposal is accepted and notified, it’s premature to challenge it legally,’’ said Mihir Desai, the lawyer who had appeared for SSC board students last year in the percentile battle.

HOW THE COLLEGES STACK UP
D G Ruparel College | MATUNGA Usual Intake: 60%-70% non-SSC students 2008: After the percentile formula was implemented, only 30% non-SSC students
St Xavier’s College | DHOBI TALAO Usual Intake: Approx 30% non-SSC students 2008 (post-percentile): 20% non-SSC
HR College | CHURCHGATE Usual Intake: Approx 50% non-SSC students 2008 (post-percentile): 40% non-SSC
Ramnarain Ruia College | MATUNGA Usual Intake: 75% non-SSC students 2008 (post-percentile): It dropped to 20%

Deemed univs fast-tracked

UGC, HRD Do U-Turn On Basic Requirements

Akshaya Mukul | TNN

New Delhi:How is a private educational institution that is found lacking in infrastructure or faculty by one University Grants Commission team considered fit for deemed university status a few months later by another? That’s a question the UGC and the HRD ministry will need to answer if the quality of higher education is to be maintained.

Investigations by TOI show that in many cases, the UGC’s committee that visited these private institutions did not give a positive report, citing either lack of infrastructure or faculty. Even so, the authorities ordered a second inspection and this time the review committee found that the institution had everything needed to qualify for the ‘deemed university’ tag.

Recognition promptly followed. Examples include Periyar University in Tamil Nadu, Shobit University, Meerut, Sumandeep Medical University, Ahmedabad and Priest Punnaya Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology, TN. In all these cases did the UGC change its mind within a few months or was recognition given at the instance of the HRD ministry?

Another method used was the institutions’ claims that they were ‘de novo’ (working in new areas of knowledge like nano-or bio-technology) institutes. It helped them subvert the criteria of getting deemed status, which ranges from ten years of outstanding research or having five post-graduate departments.

MEDICAL MALADY
In many cases, a UGC committee visited private institutions and gave a negative report, citing either lack of faculty or infrastructure

But the authorities ordered a second inspection. The review panel then cleared the institutions for ‘deemed univ’ tag

Many colleges claimed they were de novo (working in new areas of knowledge like nano or biotech) institutions

This helped them subvert criteria for deemed status, which includes 10 yrs of outstanding research or 5 PG departments

UGC blames HRD ministry for spate of deemed univs
New Delhi: Although UGC secretary R K Chauhan claimed that only 15-16 of the 100 private institutions granted deemed status in the last five years fall in the ‘de novo’ category, sources in the commission said at least 60% of them were in this category. “It helped the UGC as well as the institution,’’ a source said.

Chauhan blames the HRD ministry for the spate of deemed universities. He said, “The UGC has only an advisory role and deemed university status is given by the HRD ministry. The decision to send a review committee is taken by the full commission and the chairman has no role in it.’’ To add to his point, he said, “Even the secretary, higher education, and the expenditure secretary are members of the UGC.’’

Take the case of Periyar University in Tamil Nadu. The first committee went to inspect the campus in 2007 and found it lacking in certain areas. But in July the same year, the UGC decided to send a review committee that found that everything was fine with the institution. Result? In August 2007, it became a deemed university.

Shobit University, Meerut, is another case. In January 2006, a UGC committee, according to Chauhan, gave an overall positive report but “there were some negative areas also’’. In April 2006, the UGC decided to send a review committee and by January 2007 Shobit had deemed university status. Chauhan had no idea about the negative areas and how these were overcome.

As for the ‘de novo’ category, the most glaring is the case of Sumandeep Medical College, Ahmedabad. In August 2006, it was found lacking in certain criteria but by January 2007 it became a deemed university. Chauhan said it was under the ‘de novo’ category but did not remember which new areas of knowledge it was catering to. “It has a medical college, a physiotherapy centre and even does research,’’ said Chauhan.

In April 2005, a UGC committee rejected its proposal to become a deemed university. In June 2005, a revised proposal was received and a review committee visited it. And by early 2006, it got deemed status. Chauhan did not remember the grounds on which the status was denied in the first round and these were overcome within a few months.

The eagerness on the UGC’s part to grant deemed university status has landed it in trouble, at least in one case. In the matter of Graphic Era University, Dehra Dun, the commission has been dragged to court by the Uttarakhand government. The state government granted land to this institution on condition that it would give priority to local students. The UGC, without crosschecking, gave it deemed status.

Students protest in Chennai against capitation fees in medical colleges

After scam, mad rush for govt med colleges

14K Applications Sold In TN In 5 Days

Pushpa Narayan | TNN

Chennai: In a record of sorts for a government-run medical university, the directorate of medical education has sold more than 14,000 application forms for seats in medical and dental colleges affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University in five days. This is much more than what the colleges sold for the entire admission period last year. The rush for admission in government medical colleges follows the seat-for-cash scam in private-run MBBS courses exposed by TOI earlier this month.

On Day One, 6,000 applications were sold across the counter at 15 government colleges in the state. Last year, the colleges sold only 3,500 applications on the first day and 9,000 at the end of the fifth day. “In all we sold only 12,732 applications last year. This year, we have already sold more than 14,000. We have 4,000 more and have ordered 5,000 more. They will be available till June 17,’’ said selection committee secretary Sheela Grace.

The sale surprised even the selection committee, which had printed 18,000 applications
forms, 2,000 more than in 2008. Chennai tops the sale in application forms, with Kilpauk Medical College and Madras Medical College selling 2,500 and 1,500 application forms respectively followed by Salem Medical College (1,115), Coimbatore Medical College (1,183) and Madurai Medical College (1,110). Most of the government medical colleges have sold more than 800 applications.

Though there was no increase in the number of seats in the government medical colleges, officials at the selection committee said a market survey predicted a rise in aspirants for the government-run medical colleges.

“Lack of campus interviews and joblessness among other graduates due to the economic slowdown may have contributed to this increase in demand for medical education,’’ says director of medical education Dr S Vinayagam.

The selection committee offers 1,483 seats in 15 medical colleges for counselling, after offering 262 seats to the all-India quota. The admission to Dharamapuri Medical College, which has 100 seats, will be processed, but it is subject to clearance by the Medical Council of India. “The college was launched last year. The MCI has to approve it for the second year too. They have completed the inspection but we are waiting for a formal letter,’’ he said.

UGC forms panel to probe capitation fees
New Delhi: The UGC on Monday appointed a committee to probe into the allegations of huge capitation fees demanded by two TN-based institutes, including one said to be run by a Union minister. The five-member panel, headed by former AIIMS director Sneh Bhargava, will look into reports that officials of Shree Balaji Medical College and Sri Ramachandra University allegedly demanded capitation fees in the range of Rs 12-20 lakh to give admission to students. AGENCIES

On Day One, 6,000 applications were sold at 15 TN govt colleges. Last year, the colleges sold only 9,000 in 5 days