Hassan, August 28, 2011Course not recognised, says veterinary council
Staff Correspondent - G T Sathish
With the Veterinary Council of India refusing recognition to courses offered by the Government Veterinary College here, students are a worried lot. The council recently issued a statement that the Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry course offered by the college was not recognised. It directed the college not to admit students in 2008 and the admission was stopped. However, the State Government admitted students from 2009-10.The council said its stand remained unchanged, as the college did not have the required infrastructure on its campus.
The college was set up in 2007, and the first batch of students will complete the course in mid-2012. Since its inception, the college has been functioning in a building owned by the Sericulture Department.
“We have shifted the first batch of students to the Government Veterinary College, Bangalore,” Dr. Vasanth Shetty, Dean, said. He said the Government had taken steps to improve infrastructure on the campus. The new building would be completed in 2012.
Hassan Veterinary College yet to get its own building
Sathish G.T.Snail's pace: The first phase of construction of the building is expected to be complete in 2012.
With the new batch of 50 students set to join the veterinary college here on August 1, the authorities are a worried lot as the construction of the new building is yet to be completed.
Thus, the newcomers will have to study in congested rooms on the premises of the Sericulture Training Centre, where the college has been functioning since it was set up in 2007.
Now, the college is functioning in a 54.32-acre plot and the space is insufficient for a veterinary college, as per the guidelines of the Veterinary Council of India. According to the council, a veterinary college should function on a 150-acre campus. Also, the college is yet to get recognition from the council. It could not admit students in 2008-09 as the council said it did not have proper infrastructure. Dr. Vasanth M. Shetty, dean, said: “We are hoping to get recognition by August 2012.”
Congested rooms
Now, 109 students are studying in congested classrooms. There are no separate rooms for many departments. The buildings allotted for hostels also don't have proper facilities, prompting students to look for private buildings in nearby villages.
Against the requirement of 91 teaching staff, there are only 23 people working there.
The State Government has allotted 76 acres for a building and other infrastructure for the college near Chikkanhonnenahalli in Hassan taluk. Dr. Shetty said the first phase of construction, which included the main building and hostels, would be completed by August 2012.
However, the dean said at least Rs. 30 crore more was needed to complete the first phase of construction and the Government had allocated only Rs. 5 crore in the budget this year. Dr. Shetty said the Government should release more funds for completion of the work.
The college is now functioning on the premises of the Sericulture Training Centr
New batch of 50 students will join the college on August 1
It is twilight for these rescued animals
STAFF REPORTER
Bannerghatta Biological Park says 55 big cats seriously ill
safe and sound: White tigeress Preetha,19, who has a growth in her eye, was successfully operated upon on Monday.
A special “clinical” and “biological” observation carried out by Bannerghatta Biological Park's (BBP) Rescue Centre has revealed that many of its 55 lions and tigers — most rescued from circuses and quite old — are seriously ill, some in terminal stages.
As many as 21 of the big cats had serious health complications such as malfunction of liver and kidney and are now under immediate intensive care and medication, said a press release from BBP.
The situation is “not satisfactory but manageable for the time being,” it said. Of the 55 animals (53 lions and 2 tigers), aged between 15 and 24 years, most have lived well above their natural lifespan, sources said.
In their natural habitat, lions and tigers live from 15 to 18 years, while in captivity, their life span increases to 18 to 22 years. Three of these animals were successfully operated upon on Monday and are being closely monitored.
They include a 20-year-old male lion named Gemini suffering from suspected fibroma; 19-year-old lioness Jamuna, suspected to suffer from cystitis; and a white tigress Preetha, also 19, who has a growth in her eye.
Another lioness, Priya, aged 24, is suffering from senile atrophy of organs and is also under intensive care and management. “It appears she is heading to the natural end of her life due to old age,” said the note.
The team of experts attending to the animals is headed by Vasanth M. Shetty, Dean of Veterinary College and B.C. Chittiappa, Assistant Director (Veterinary Service), Bannerghatta Biological Park.
Congratulations Dr. Vasath M. Shetty and Team of Experts