Despite crocodile threat,NDA to restart training

The presence of the crocodile had affected the watermanship activities of the NDA .

The presence of the crocodile had affected the watermanship activities of the NDA .Though the crocodile has been captured,the NDA will continue to conduct its training activities with adequate safeguards as the NDA is unable to ascertain how many crocodiles have been released by the forest authorities,said a press release issued by the NDA on Monday.

The crocodile had found its way into the Khadakwasla Lake due to the careless attitude of the forest authorities. A number of training activities like sailing,kayaking,lake swimming etc are conducted at the Peacock Bay which is under the jurisdiction of the NDA, the press release said.

Meanwhile,NDA Commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh complimented the Naval Training Team,which played a major role in capturing the crocodile that was caught at the canal gate of the Khadakwasla dam.

On receiving information from the forest department about the entrapped crocodile,the officer in charge of the Watermanship Training Centre (Peacock Bay) Lieutenant Commander DK Shirsat mustered men and material and reached the spot. The reptile was in an open area and restricted to the shallow water end after the dam authorities had shut the canal gate (sluice gate). Till then ,the Katraj Zoo personnel along with forest trainees and local youth had repeatedly tried to capture the crocodile in vain. During the entire operation,the NDA team under the leadership of Lt Cdr DK Shirsat conducted itself as a cohesive unit with consummate enthusiasm,proper coordination,alert movements and meticulous planning, the press release said.

Science fair

High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL),celebrated National Science Day on February 28th 2012 with zeal and enthusiasm. On this occasion events such as Crossword,Science Quiz,Presentations,Idea write-up was held. Seema Kakade,Coordinator of the national Science Day presented the report. The winners of all the competitions were awarded by B Bhattacharya,director,HEMRL.

He also felicitated 11 scientists and staff of HEMRL for their contributions in their respective fields of work.

The main theme of this years National Science Day celebrations was go green considering the most crucial and vital challenges of environmental pollution faced by the scientific community worldwide. Bhattacharya delivered a lecture on Chronology of Propulsion Development and Limitations.

Protest against President bungalow

Story continues below this ad

City-based Justice for Jawan and Indian Ex-servicemen movement have been protesting the ongoing construction of President Pratibha Patils post-retirement bungalow in the city. The organisations recently held a press conference to convey their reservations against the President being given a land originally belonging to the Ministry of Defence. No retired President is entitled to any land as per information based on references given to our RTI query, said Lt Col Suresh Patil of justice for Jawans.

In the past,we have carried out a country vide signature campaign and a memorandum demanding that this land be handed over for welfare of veterans,with these signatures has been handed over to Archana Datta,OSD,in Rashtrapati Bhavan. As per letter from Archana Datta the land is on lease and will remain the property of defence estates.

It is now to be believed that one department gives land on lease to another?

There was no need for any lease of land,if available Government residence was to be allotted to a retired President.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories