Environment ministry rejects proposal for IIT in Indore

New Delhi: A proposal for the setting up of anIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Indore has been put on hold by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the time being.

Indore currently is also home to an Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

The government of Madhya Pradesh had sought permission from the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the environment ministry for acquiring 80 hectares of forestland for the establishment of the proposed IIT. 

The proposed IIT had been sanctioned to the state of Madhya Pradesh by the Human Resource Development ministry in the eleventh five year plan.

The approval of the government under the Forest Conservation Act is required for the diversion of forestland for any purpose, except for one hectare of forestland for the construction of building that are of public importance such as schools, hospitals, community halls and dispensaries.

The proposal for acquiring the land for the IIT in Indore was rejected by the FAC as it said that the diversion of too much of forestland will damage the ecological balance in and around the area of Indore. 

Had the proposal been accepted by the environment ministry, Indore would have acquired the distinction of being the only city in India to have both an IIM as well as an IIT.

The FAC stated in its report that the proposal for diverting the forestland situated in the vicinity of an important city for the establishment of a non-specific project such as an IIT without taking up a detailed exercise for examining all feasible alternatives would be rejected.

The proposal would have meant the cutting down of around 7,164 trees in the forestland that has a density of 89.55 trees per hectare. An official informed that the area where the proposed IIT would have been set up is a reserved forest land of good quality and there is not much good forestland around Indore.

Another reason for the proposal being rejected was that the committee found that the land in Hasalpur village that was indicated in the proposal for compensatory afforestation was found to be not suitable for raise plantation and no alternative land for afforestation had been mentioned in the proposal.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/IIT/Environment_ministry_rejects_proposal_for_IIT_in_Indore_13575/

Human values and professional ethics to be part of PTU curriculum

Chandigarh: Similar to the model that had been implemented by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in Delhi and Kanpur, around 306 colleges affiliated with the Punjab Technical University (PTU) have decided to teach "human values and professional ethics" as part of their curriculum. Out of the 306 colleges, 49 of them are in theChandigarh region alone. PTU Vice Chancellor Rajneesh Arora was at the Panjab University campus for the valedictory function of and international conference that had been organized by students of the varsity. He said that the inculcation of values was important for students in order for them to apply their technical knowledge in the right direction. He said that the academic council at the university had resolved that it would be necessary for students who had enrolled after the year 2011 to study thefoundation course in human values and professional ethics that is being introduced at the university. "The inspiration for the introduction of the course had been drawn from the National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering (NRCVEE) at IIT-Delhi. Several technical institutions now have already realized the importance of inculcating such a course as part of the curriculum such as IIT-Kanpur, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)-Hyderabad and UP University," Arora stated. Apart from value education, the foundation course would include topics such as harmony in nature and society and widening the vision of students from a family order to the world family order. Seven chapters of the course would be devoted to harmony with self, family, body, nature, society and existence. The new course would also be involving subjects such as self-exploration and would focus on the importance of right understanding and other topics such as professional ethics in light of right understanding. Coordinator for the value education cell at PTU, R.P. Bhardwaj emphasized on the need for the introduction of such a course and said that the syllabus for thefoundation course in human values and professional ethics would be framed not only in English, but also Hindi, Punjabi and other languages. "The purpose for the introduction of the course is to address the real purpose of education. A series of workshops have been organized by PTU commencing in May 2011 along with eight-day workshops for teachers and students.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Punjab/Human_values_and_professional_ethics_to_be_part_of_PTU_curriculum_13557/

MMST programme under IIT,kharagpur

The School of Medical Science and Technology under the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has invited applications for admission to the three-year Masters in Medical Science and Technology (MMST) programme. MBBS degree holders with 55 per cent marks in aggregate who have studied mathematics at the Plus Two level may apply. Applicants should have aptitude for interdisciplinary medical research and application of technology in medicine. All admitted students are eligible for an assistantship of Rs.15,000 a month. Apply online from February 1 to March 4 on http://gate.iitkgp.ac.in/mmst.

source: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/02/01/stories/2011020150070200.htm