cmyk
2 Chennai ● Tuesday ● 8 February 2011
Mayor to inau-
gurate testing
laboratory for
electrical
equipments.
Photo IDs
a must on
trains
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI
Feb. 7: The ministry of rail-
ways has decided to re-
introduce the need for car-
rying identity proof in orig-
inal during a train journey
in tatkal scheme in view of
the complaints received in
recent past regarding
alleged irregularities.
According to a press
release from Southern Rail-
way this provision will
come into effect from Feb-
ruary 11, 2011. Passengers
are supposed to produce
one of the following eight
identity proofs in original
during the course of jour-
ney. Voter photo identity
card, passport, PAN card,
driving licence, photo iden-
tity card issued by
central/state government,
student identity card with
photograph issued by
recognised school/college
for students, nationalised
bank passbook with photo-
graph, credit cards issued
by banks with laminated
photograph
The following special
trains will be run in order to
clear the extra rush of pas-
sengers. Howrah – Chennai
Central Weekly Special will
leave Howrah at 4.10 pm on
Wednesdays from Feb. 9 to
June 29 and arrive at Chen-
nai Central at 7.50 pm the
next day. Chennai Central –
Howrah Weekly Special
will leave Chennai Central
at 2.35 pm on Fridays from
Feb. 11 to July 7 and arrive
Howrah at 7.05 pm the next
day.
Koyambedu parking lot overflowing Census chief cautions
S. SASIDHARAN
DC | CHENNAI
Feb. 7: The two-storied
basement parking space at
Koyambedu mofussil bus
terminus (CMBT), inaugu-
rated by deputy chief minis-
ter in December 2010, is
already cramped. Vehicle-
owners complain that they
find it difficult to park their
vehicles during weekends
and on festival days.
“It is not even 50 days
since the new facility was
opened but there is already a
space crunch in the parking
lot. Due to congestion, vehi-
cles often get damaged dur-
ing parking and retrieval,”
says S. Kamalakkannan, a
Hundreds of students in the city thronged the UK Education roadshow on
Monday. A group of students getting their doubts clarified with one of the rep-
resentatives from Loughborough University, UK.
More in UK take biotech
after Venky gets Nobel
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI
Feb. 7: After India-born sci-
entist Venkatraman Ramakr-
ishnan was awarded the
Nobel prize, the number of
Indian students joining
biotech courses in United
Kingdom has gone up from
12 to 18 per cent this year.
Speaking to Deccan
Chronicle on Monday on
the sidelines of the educa-
tion roadshow organised by
● TEACHERS STAGE PROTEST AGAINST METRO RAIL IMPACT ON PACHAIYAPPA’S COLLEGE
Victorian buildings show red flag to Metro
GEORGE ADIMATHRA
DC | CHENNAI
Feb. 7: Chennai Metro Rail,
propounded as the ‘saviour’
for the traffic-congested
city, has started receiving
the ire of some Chennaiites
who believe that the project
is planned in a manner that
will threaten the decades-
old public and private insti-
tutions in its path. On Mon-
day, members of the Associ-
ation of University Teachers
(AUT) staged a protest to
highlight the damage Chen-
nai Metro Rail Project
(CMRL) will cause to
Pachaiyappa’s College on
Poonamallee high road, one
of the premier institutions of
the country.
According to the protest-
ers, CMRL plans to take
3.194 acres of land belong-
ing to the college to con-
struct a metro rail station
inside the college premises.
“We are not against CMRL
constructing an under-
ground path or even an ele-
vated path through the col-
lege premises as we wel-
come the idea of a station
near the college. But con-
structing a station inside the
premises can only be
achieved by cutting down at
least 500 trees, which are 40
to 50 years old. The pro-
posed site is also where stu-
dents sit for relaxed study
and we cannot just stand and
watch the whole serenity of
the college being ruined.
There is enough scope for
CMRL to review the project
and relocate the station and
save the green space for the
student community of Chen-
against giving false info
Two-wheelers parked at the underground parking lot
at the Koyambedu bus stand.
resident of Anna Nagar,
working in a company in
Sriperumbudur. Parking has
flying high
Education UK, Mr L.
Dhanasekaran, head, Educa-
tion UK (South India) said
with Dr Venkatraman
Ramakrishnan being award-
ed Nobel prize several stu-
dents applied to join biote-
chnology course in various
universities in United King-
dom.
“Last year about 12 per
cent of the total number of
students who applied, joined
biotech but this year the
number went upto 18 per
Unemploy-
ment is
increasing in
the state: MLA
Ramasamy.
concerns
◗ Monday’s protest has
also triggered anxiety
among heritage-lovers
about the safety of cen-
turies-old public institu-
tions on Poonamallee
high road.
◗ According to the pro-
testers, CMRL plans to
take 3.194 acres of land
belonging to the col-
lege to construct a
metro rail station inside
the college premises.
nai,” said Mr Prakasam,
AUT chairman.
Mr P. Arulmozhichelvan,
joint secretary of the associ-
ation, pointed out that there
were several acres of vacant
land and government land
on both sides of the pro-
posed line for CMRL use.
“Already, 6,000 students
study in our college and the
small place would not be
able to accommodate the
rail passenger rush.”
Monday’s protest has also
triggered anxiety among
heritage-lovers about the
safety of centuries-old pub-
lic institutions on Poona-
mallee high road. Buildings
like Southern Railway head-
quarters, Memorial Hall,
Victoria Public Hall and
Ripon Buildings adorn the
stretch, all of which are like-
ly to get affected once the
CMRL path is laid. As per
CMRL sources, there are
plans to build access ways
on the lawns of Ripon
Buildings and in front of
Victoria Public Hall.
CMRL officials were
unavailable for comment.
—DC
become tough even on nor-
mal days, he elaborated.
S.V. Radhakrishnan from
—DC
cent which shows that Indi-
ans are interested in pursu-
ing applied science courses
in UK,” he said.
Pointing out that the num-
ber of students going to UK
for studying higher educa-
tion had also increased con-
siderably, Mr Dhanasekaran
said that last year about
40,000 students flew to UK
and this year about 51,000
students enrolled in various
higher education institutions
in the country.
V. Sivapunniyam:
Cong will suffer
for its inaction in
protecting TN
fishermen.
Members of the Association of University Teachers stage a protest against the
construction of metro rail on the Pachaiyappa’s College premises.
on fast track
Heritage Buildings likely to get affected
by Chennai Metro Rail on the
Poonamallee High Road
◗ Memorial Hall
◗ Madras Medical College
◗ Southern Railway Headquarters
◗ Chennai Central
◗ Victoria Public Hall
◗ Ripon Buildings
Ayanavaram said, “During
Pongal festival, I came here
to park my vehicle. Since
there were double the num-
ber of vehicles than on nor-
mal days, I parked my vehi-
cle on the ramp.”
Agreeing that there is a
space crunch, a senior offi-
cial of CMDA said the facil-
ity was developed at a cost
of `17 crore and the roof has
been developed as a garden.
The parking lot was
planned in 2008, but vehicle
flow has increased manifold
since then. It can now
accommodate 2,000 vehi-
cles and an additional 500
vehicles can be squeezed in,
he added.
Stating that there is not
NUCLEAR SCIENCE SUMMIT
Indians cold shoulder ‘cold fusion’
KUMAR CHELLAPPAN
DC | CHENNAI
Feb. 7: Top Indian scientists
have cast doubts on the pos-
sibility of low energy nucl-
ear reaction (LENR) popu-
larly known as ‘cold fusion,’
despite the decades long
research work behind it.
Three scientists including
one from India have claimed
that it is possible to design
LENR devices capable of
producing cheap and green
energy. But the mainstream
scientific establishment
seems to be sceptical.
Mr Sreekumar Banerjee,
chairman of the Atomic
Energy Commission, failed
to turn up for the inaugural
ceremony of the Interna-
tional Conference
Condensed Matter Nuclear
Science which began here
on Monday.
on
India is hosting this meet
for the first time and more
than 60 eminent scientists
from countries such as the
US, UK, Russia, Italy, Ger-
many, Japan, South Korea
and Israel, have assembled
in Chennai to share their
experience, findings and
knowledge.
The conference is being
held in the backdrop of a
path breaking research pa-
per authored and published
by Prof Yogendra Srivasta-
va, (University of Perugia,
Italy), Allan Widom (North
Eastern University, Boston)
As per CMRL sources,
there are plans to
build access ways on
the lawns of Ripon
Buildings and in
front of Victoria
Public Hall
much space for car parking,
A. Balakannan of Chrome-
pet pointed out that more
space should be allotted for
car parking also.
The official said, “It is
designed in such a manner
that an additional two floors
could be constructed in
future by removing the roof
garden. But we have to get
permission from the housing
department.”
“Besides, we have been
asking the government to
allot the 10 acre land of
Chennai Metro Water
Board, located near CMBT,
and we have to wait till the
metro rail project’s comple-
tion to decide about provid-
ing additional space.”
The delegates interact at the International Confer-
ence on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science. — DC
and Lewis Larsen (President
and CEO, Lattice Energy
LLC, Chicago) explaining
the science behind the gen-
eration of abnormal heat at
room temperature.
It has been established by
several scientists that one
does not require big reactors
costing billions of rupees
and highly dangerous
radioactive materials to gen-
erate power. But orthodox
scientists refuse to believe
the possibility of such a
technology.
“The attitude of our scien-
tific establishments reminds
me of the sufferings of
Galileo Galilei, the founder
of modern science,” said
Prof Bikash Sinha, Homi
Bhabha Professor, VECC,
Kolkata, who delivered the
keynote address. “India
—DC
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI
Feb. 7: Public who submit
fake details to queries raised
by census officials will be
subjected to legal action,
warned S. Gopalakrishnan,
director of census opera-
tions, Tamil Nadu. Address-
ing a press conference, the
top official said that the cen-
sus details will be main-
tained confidential and non-
cooperation with officials
would attract punishment.
A total of 1.5 lakh person-
nel will be involved in the
must work vigorously in this
field.”
He added that India was
spending millions of rupees
for research on hot fusion
which was still far away.
“We should give equal pri-
ority to cold fusion also,”
said Prof Sinha.
Mr Mustansir Barma,
director of the Tata Institute
of Fundamental Research
(TIFR) who inaugurated the
conference opted not to
mention anything about the
country's research pro-
grammes in LENR.
“This could be the reason
behind Mr Banerjee's
pulling out in the last
minute,” said one of the par-
ticipants. “He does not want
to antagonise people in
higher places who have an
aversion for LENR.”
cmyk
DC
City
MORE OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
MU to change
exam pattern
N. ARUN KUMAR
DC | CHENNAI
Feb. 7: The 153-year-old
University of Madras will
be revamping its question
paper pattern for
undergraduate and
postgraduate courses with
50 per cent marks for
objective-type questions
and the remaining for
subjective questions.
According to university
vice-chancellor, Prof G.
Thiruvasagam, this move
will help eliminate learning Prof G. Thiruvasagam
by rote among students,
besides increasing the “At present, we
possibility of a student have only descrip-
passing the university
examination. tive-type questions
With the new system, asked in the
students of all arts and
science colleges affiliated to examination for
Madras University need to both undergrad-
study their subject books
fully to score more marks in uate and postgrad-
the objective-type uate courses. We
questions.
“At present, we have only are of the opinion
descriptive-type questions that this move will
asked in the examination for
both undergraduate and make students
postgraduate courses. We study their
are of the opinion that this subjects in detail”
move will make students
study their subjects in detail meeting of student
and read their book fully as representatives from
without that they will not be affiliated colleges, industry
able to answer objective- leaders and chairman of
type questions,” said Prof board of studies in the
Thiruvasagam. university which design
The vice-chancellor also curriculum for students,
said the university would be during the third week of
introducing new courses February to revamp our
apart from revamping the syllabi according to the
existing ones. “We are needs of industry and
planning to convene a students,” he said.
census exercise, starting on sus a success.
February 9 and the munici- In Chennai, the public who
palities and local bodies were let without any enu-
across the state are in the meration can contact the
enumeration process. corporation helpline 1913,
The census officials will corporation commissioner
seek 29 details including D. Karthickeyan said.
name, age, sex and physical A toll free helpline number
disability of the members in 18003450111 has been
a particular family will be introduced to receive public
sought. grievances and to ensure
The exercise will go on till early completion of the cen-
February 28 and enumera- sus enumeration operation
tion of the homeless and within two years certain
those residing on road-sides new features including intel-
will be done after that, he ligent character recognition
said seeking the public co has been introduced,
operation to make the cen- sources said.
Differently-abled
but a star scientist
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI
Feb. 7: What will happen to
a person born a paraplegic
and is not able to coordinate
body movements? In nor-
mal circumstances, the per-
son will end up in a school
for special children if he is
economically better off.
Fulvio Frisone (45) from
Italy, a theoretical physicist
attending the International
Conference on Condensed
Matter Nuclear Science,
being held in Chennai, is a
miracle man. Confined to a
wheelchair and speaking
through translators with the
Fulvio Frisone with his
mother. — DC
his studies,” said mama
help of specially-made
computer software, this
Sicilian has already become
Lucia. “Theoretical physics
was his favourite subject.
He learnt everything by
a legend in his field of work, himself,” she said.
thanks to Lucia Colletta, his In 1992, he was awarded a
octogenarian mother who Ph.D. in physics by the Uni-
pushes his wheelchair. versity of Catania for his
“Fulvio was born with research in theoretical
tetraparesi spastica, a med- physics. “A specially
ical disorder which makes designed helmet helps him
coordination of body move- work on his computer
ments impossible,” said Ms though he is handicapped
Colletta. She brought him because of weak body
up like any other boy. “He movements. Now that he is
went to a public school with into full-fledged research, a
other children. I did not give team of five persons is
him any special considera- always in attendance on
tions. Fulvio was good in him,” she said.