Chandigarh Diary: From PGIMER seeking help for glass waste to Chandigarh-Shimla's helicopter service
PGIMER seeks help for tackling glass waste
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has written to the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee to help it deal with glass waste. While biomedical waste is being destroyed in an incinerator, the hospital is facing a problem in disposing of glass waste that includes bottles containing medicines. It wants the panel’s permission to take the waste to a common disposal facility, or to be allowed to hire a company that could dispose of the biomedical waste. As per the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, no occupier shall establish on-site treatment and disposal facility, if a common biomedical waste facility is available at a distance of 75 km.
Artificial habitat for birds
A mini bird aviary will come up in the city as a project has been finalised by the Chandigarh administration. Work will begin from the coming week. Officials visited the Chennai Zoo to learn about such structures. The UT administration and the Central Zoo Authority have already held talks. A habitat for birds will be constructed with a small stream to attract the winged creatures. Bushes and trees with nests will be constructed with feed for the birds so they feel that they are in their natural environment. The project is estimated to cost around `50 lakh and it will come up in 10 to 15 acre of land, which has already been identified in the forest area of the city.
Chandigarh-Shimla helicopter service
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur will flag off a Chandigarh-Shimla helicopter service on June 4. The Pawan Hans will run the helicopter service. To start with, the service will be available on Monday and Friday, and the minimum fare will be I2,999. Sorties can be increased depending on response from passengers. It will be 20-minute flight as the helicopter will take off from Shimla at 8 am and reach Chandigarh at 8.20am. From Chandigarh, it will fly back at 9 am and reach Shimla at 9.20 am.
Summer blues: Cycling days stopped
The order issued few months ago reserving Wednesday as cycling days for employees of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has been temporarily suspended by the new municipal corporation commissioner KK Yadav. This was done keeping in mind the extreme weather condition prevailing now. The cycling days will be revived once the summer heat comes down after rains.
Bus, e-rickshaw service at varsity
Panjab University has finally implemented a plan to decongest traffic on its Sector 14 campus as a round-the-clock shuttle bus service and e-rickshaws service at I10 per ride has been started. Free bicycles will be provided to hostellers, with 20 each in every hostel to promote cycling. The option of bicycle sharing is also being explored. Entry of two- and four-wheelers without university stickers will be stopped at all three gates. Vehicles going towards residential area and the PU guest houses will only be allowed to enter from gate number 3. New students will not be allowed to come on four-wheelers.
Harpreet Bajwa
Our correspondent in Chandigarh
hsbajwa73@gmail.com