Latest news with #ManishTewari
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chandigarh heritage conservation panel ‘has no basis in law,' says MP Manish Tewari, citing Culture Ministry
Congress MP Manish Tewari has questioned the legal authority of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC), saying that a recent reply in Parliament confirms it is 'purely an administrative fiction created by an executive order' and not backed by any statutory enactment. Responding to his unstarred question in Lok Sabha on Monday, the Ministry of Culture stated that the CHCC was set up by the Chandigarh Administration through a notification on April 20, 2012, after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved its creation in response to an Expert Heritage Committee report. Chandigarh, the reply clarified, is not a declared heritage city, though 13 heritage zones in Sectors 1 to 30 have been identified for their historical and architectural significance, along with heritage buildings graded in three categories. Tewari said the answer makes it 'evident' that the committee was not constituted under any law like the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, or the Punjab Act of 1964. 'It has no basis in law and has not been constituted pursuant to any parliamentary enactment,' he asserted. The reply also cited a Supreme Court judgment which, it said, strengthened the CHCC's legal status for approving matters like re-densification of government housing pockets in Phase I and framing of heritage-related rules. Tewari, however, pointed out that the answer did not specify which judgment was being referred to. According to the MP, even the Expert Heritage Committee's report recognised no heritage site beyond Sector 30. 'From Sector 30 onwards there is nothing that is heritage…the remit must be circumscribed to the conservation of the 13 heritage zones,' he said, adding that the CHCC 'cannot become the final arbiter of Chandigarh's progress and development.' Since its inception, the committee has held 25 meetings and reviewed projects ranging from the UNESCO-listed Capitol Complex to masterplans of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Panjab University, and restoration of the Le Corbusier Centre. Tewari maintained that while conservation is important, the committee's jurisdiction should be 'clearly defined and legally sound.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress leader Anand Sharma resigns as chairman of AICC Foreign Affairs Department
Congress leader Anand Sharma resigns as chairman of AICC Foreign Affairs Department Former union minister and Congress leader Anand Sharma has resigned from the post of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), although he continues to be a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma was part of an all-party delegation that visited multiple countries as part of India's big diplomatic outreach Operation Sindoor . Anand Sharma was part of the delegation led by NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule. The delegation also included Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), V Muraleedharan (BJP), and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. Congress MP Manish Tewari conveyed his deep respect and admiration for Anand Sharma, highlighting his exceptional understanding of foreign affairs. The Congress MP further noted that he and Anand Sharma were part of the same group of all-party delegation, where members of the group considerably benefited from Sharma's insights. In a social media post on X, Tewari wrote, "Had the pleasure and honour of working with @AnandSharmaINC for over four decades. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How much do dental implants cost in 2025 (check prices) Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Undo His understanding of Foreign Affairs is astute. Especially on Africa the depth of his knowledge is incisive. As we were together on the same politico- strategic delegation together in End May - early June 2025 we were greatly benefited by his insights. He has spent close to five and a half decades of his life in the service of @INCIndia. Wishing him a very healthy and fulfilling life." Had the pleasure and honour of working with @AnandSharmaINC for over four decades. His understanding of Foreign Affairs is astute. Especially on Africa the depth of his knowledge is incisive. As we were together on the same politico- strategic delegation together in End May -... - Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 10, 2025 It is noteworthy that Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, and Manish Tewari, who were part of the Operation Sindoor Outreach delegations India sent to partner countries to highlight its stand against cross-border terrorism, were not among the Congress speakers during the debate after Operation Sindoor in Parliament. According to the sources, Manish Tewari had sent a request to the party to speak during the debate, Tharoor apparently conveyed unwillingness as his stance during the visit abroad of the delegation would be at variance with the party's strong stance against the government on aspects related to the military operation to hit target infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. Tharoor led one of the all-party delegations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
13% equipment out of order, PGI faces patient care crisis
1 2 Chandigarh: A recent reply from the Union ministry of health and family welfare in the Lok Sabha has revealed a critical lapse in patient care infrastructure at the PGI. According to the data, 13% of the medical equipment procured by the institute since 2020 is non-operational, a detail that came to light in a reply to a question raised by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. The findings highlight significant challenges in several key depts, raising concerns about potential delays and compromised treatment for patients. The issue is particularly acute in depts that cater to a high volume of critically ill patients from across the country. The neurosurgery department, a tertiary care centre that receives referrals nationwide, is among the worst affected. The reply detailed that out of 479 pieces of equipment in the department, 55 are not working. This implies that out of 9 pieces of equipment, 1 is not functional. This poses a serious threat to the timely treatment of neurosurgical patients, especially given the existing acute shortage of neurologists and neurosurgeons in the country. Similarly, the Advanced Paediatric Centre, which experiences the maximum patient footfall in the hospital, is also grappling with equipment shortages. A total of 20 out of its 46 medical pieces of equipment are non-functional, impacting the care of children admitted to emergency and general wards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee pain prices might surprise you Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo Perhaps the most alarming revelation came from the Anaesthesia department, which is considered the backbone for all surgical procedures. The data showed that a critical one out of two pieces of equipment in the department is not operational. This severely impacts the institute's surgical capacity and patient safety, as anaesthesia is a prerequisite for every surgical procedure. The question asked in the Lok Sabha by Tewari specifically sought details on equipment procured for the Mother and Child Centre and other depts since 2020, along with a list of those that are either unutilised or non-functional. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
147 medical equipment at PGIMER lying unused: Health ministry
As many as 147 of the total 1,096 medical devices purchased by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in the last five years have been lying unused, the Union health ministry informed Parliament in response to an unstarred question from Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. In the last five years, the grant-in-aid for PGI to create capital assets has increased from ₹ 250 crore in 2021-22 to ₹ 350 crore in 2024-25. (HT File) The MP had asked whether medical equipment worth crores, including those procured for the Mother and Child Care Centre, was lying non-operational due to incomplete infrastructure. The Ministry revealed 93% of the Mother and Child Care Centre's civil works are complete, and delays were caused due to Covid-19, revision in building plans to meet site and user needs, and compliance with fire safety norms. The Ministry revealed that the highest number of idle equipment are in the neurosurgery (55) and paediatrics (33) departments, followed by the advanced paediatric centre and anaesthesia which have 20 each. In neurosurgery, the unused devices include intensive care unit (ICU) beds costing ₹2–3 lakh each. The neurosurgery purchased 479 devices in all while the paediatrics department bought 110. The Ministry did not reveal the total cost of the unused equipment. In the last five years, the grant-in-aid for PGI to create capital assets has increased from ₹250 crore in 2021-22 to ₹350 crore in 2024-25. There was no response from the PGI administration despite multiple attempts to reach them.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Over Rs 1,607 crore released for digital health infrastructure at PGIMER, Chandigarh in 5 years: Centre
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revealed Friday that over Rs 1,607 crore was allocated and released for digital health infrastructure at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, during the last five years. The government's response came in the wake of a question raised by MP Manish Tewari in Parliament on critical issues and developments in digital infrastructure at the institute. The fund, released under 'Grants for Creation of Capital Assets', was incrementally increased to Rs 350 crore during 2024-25, the Centre stated. Despite these investments, Tewari's query appeared to reveal infrastructural gaps affecting patient care, notably in core facilities and digital systems upgrades. An annexure presented to Parliament also listed the medical equipment procured by PGIMER since 2020. Out of 1,096 items procured for various PGIMER departments, 147 remain non-operational or underutilised, including a significant number of items in neurosurgery and paediatrics. The government acknowledged that 93 per cent of civil works for critical centres — including the Mother and Child Care Centre — are complete but cited delays due to building plan revisions, pandemic-related disruptions, and shifting of service blocks for safety compliance. To address these challenges, approvals have been granted for an Advanced Neurosciences Centre and a Critical Care Block under the PM-ABHIM scheme. Moreover, digital upgrades for PGIMER, such as the transition to Hospital Information System (HIS) 2.0 and the establishment of satellite centres in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, are underway. MP Tewari emphasised the urgent need for a dedicated PGIMER facility for Chandigarh residents, given the massive patient footfall from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to local residents. Referring to recent developments in land allocation for the PGIMER extension in Sarangpur, he urged the Centre to consider a Chandigarh-exclusive facility to fulfil the city's unique healthcare requirements—a proposal he intends to pursue further with Union Minister of Health J P Nadda. Tewari also called for targeted expansions and modernisations at the leading medical institute to ensure world-class healthcare for Chandigarh residents.
