Citygritty -- Pune

Namita and Shaan

Better late than never
The Pune Municipal Corporation is in the eye of a storm again. This time on account of the death of its employee who went to seek medical attention at the municipal Kamala Nehru Hospital. A certain Mr Randive collapsed in the hospital's OPD, situated on the ground floor and had to be moved to the emergency ward on the fourth floor. But, unfortunately, the lift was not working. So Randive, who had a cardiac arrest, was carried on a stretcher and taken up those four floors. By then, however, it was too late. Says Additional Commissioner Deepak Kapoor, ``We agree that the lift was not working. But according to the reports I received, his pulse, blood pressure and respiration had stopped on the ground floor itself when he collapsed''. But nevertheless, to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur, Kapoor has instructed for work on a new lift at the hospital to be expedited; he has also started an emergency room at the ground floor itself, asked the maintenance people to install a repairman from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.at the old lift and plans to float tenders for major repairs of the old lift. Patients can now take heart.

To Nature's rescue
Green Thumb, the NGO that works towards a better environment, has been on its toes recently. October 24 had its members up all night, trying in vain to save a 300-year-old banyan tree next to St Vincent's High School. The next day, they put up placards protesting against the killings of the black bucks by some film stars. Says Suresh Patil of Green Thumb, ``It is unfortunate that people take the generosity of Nature for granted. Fifty years ago, the banyan trees in Pune used to provide 50 per cent of the oxygen required by us. Now, we are losing at least 20 to 30 such trees every year.'' Patil hopes to create awareness among children so that at least they become more conscious of the tragedies of development.

Honest to goodness
Sometime back, there was a report about an auto-rickshaw driver returning the handbag of a lady who had forgotten it in his vehicle. Here is another such incident. An employee of Burroughs Welcome dropped a briefcase near Alankar theatre which contained a few blank cheques, demand drafts, invoices and a calculator. Shaukat Ladham, a rickshaw driver residing at the railway quarters, found this briefcase and promptly called up Burroughs Welcome. Honesty, it seems, is fast becoming the best policy with some rickshaw drivers.

Tune in
Amol Nisal is performing in a programme arranged by Balgandharva Rasik Mandal at the Bharti Nivas Colony Hall, Income Tax Lane, Karve Road on October 26, at 6 p.m. A disciple of Pandit Gangadhar Pimpalkhare, Nisal has been learning music since he was three. And at 21, he has already performed in India and abroad. Definitely a vocalist who is going places!

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