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Obscene messages being circulated after move on offline exams: Calcutta University vice-chancellor

Obscene messages being circulated after move on offline exams: Calcutta University vice-chancellor

The authorities of the college concerned said the student has been 'identified' and the strictest action will be taken against him on completion of an internal inquiry.

Published: 09th June 2022 04:55 PM

Calcutta University (Photo | Calcutta University Website)

By PTI

KOLKATA: Calcutta University vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee has alleged that some "obscene and misogynistic" messages and social media posts are being circulated against her following the varsity authorities' collective decision to conduct semester exams in the UG level on offline mode, and said such abuses cannot be tolerated.

The VC did not want to elaborate on the matter when contacted, while a university official said she was sent a screenshot of a "message of a student of an affiliated college, asking all friends and class mates to rush to the CU College Street campus with arms to vandalise properties of the institute as the authorities did not give in to their demand for online tests".

The authorities of the college concerned said the student has been "identified" and the strictest action will be taken against him on completion of an internal inquiry.

Several students had on June 7 demonstrated outside the varsity's main campus at College Street, claiming that classroom teaching for two months was not enough for finishing the syllabus of a six-month semester and holding offline examinations.

Several messages and social media posts against the VC have been circulated in the public domain by a section of protestors in the last few days after the university syndicate unanimously decided to hold offline tests and take special classes for certain subjects if the syllabus was not completed, the official said.

The VC in her statement said, "Some of the messages/social media posts that are circulating in the public domain and/or coming to me from/on behalf of some persons who are against the university's collective and consensual decision to conduct examinations offline, are nothing but violent and hateful, and some of them are also obscene and misogynistic. I condemn such illegal and unethical and foul tactics."

The VC pointed out that she should not be singled out for any decision taken by the varsity authorities. The decision to conduct offline tests was taken by members of all faculty councils, all chairpersons of the undergraduate board of studies and most of the principals, she said.

Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankur Bhattacharya said, "Such abusive language cannot be the expression of a student. We strongly condemn such words. We would urge those indulging in such behaviour to concentrate on studies and be prepared for exams. We would urge them not to take any confrontationist path."

Land pooling scheme to be delayed as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority mulls revising rules

Land pooling scheme to be delayed as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority mulls revising rules

After the State government announced the scheme in 2012-13 budget session, the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, was amended in 2018 to implement it.

Published: 16th June 2022 04:47 AM

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The much-touted land pooling scheme mooted in 2012, aimed at ensuring better infrastructure development through gifting of a part of land to government by owners and good value of assets for the donors, may be delayed for some more time as the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is revising the Land Pooling Area Development Scheme (LPADS) rules framed in February 2020 to incorporate best practices of different States, modern concepts and feedback from citizens.

After the State government announced the scheme in 2012-13 budget session, the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, was amended in 2018 to implement it.

Under the scheme, owners voluntarily accept plot reconstitution and give a part of their combined land to government for developing public infrastructure like access roads, sewage lines and treatment plants, streetlights, water supply network, electricity lines, schools, playgrounds, and open spaces.

While the land portion used for development of amenities is gifted to the government, landowners get back a portion of developed plots that command better market value because of these new amenities.

Interestingly, Chennai is one of the 25 cities chosen for pilot land pooling under AMRUT scheme. The pilot scheme area comprised of three villages - Agaramthen, Madambakkam, and Kovilancheri - spanning 240 hectares.

Located on the outskirts of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, the scheme area has seen rapid development making it prone to unorganised and chaotic growth.

Though Tamil Nadu officials are tightlipped about the new changes to rules, Delhi government has recently made land pooling mandatory and all landowners in NCR must compulsorily pool their assets for joint development once 70 per cent owners agree.

According to officials, the AMRUT project is in initial stages. Multiple site visits and preliminary field surveys have been conducted to assess existing ground conditions, and local communities' feedback was taken to understand their needs and to evaluate the condition of existing roads and water bodies.

Incorporating the findings and through consultation with other State development authorities, a draft plan was developed using GIS. Currently, final consultation with the local communities is under way to get their input and feedback on the pilot, sources said.

For better development

How does land pooling benefit the people?

The land remains with the owners

Plots are regularised with access to better infrastructure

The real-estate value of the land increases

Development of the area incorporates public spaces like playgrounds and schools

Better quality of life and access even in the outskirts of the city

How does it benefit the city?

Less capital- and time-intensive than land acquisition

Allocation of land for housing of socially and economically weaker sections, right at the initial stages of development

Creation of sustainable neighbourhoods in the outskirts with better amenities and infrastructure