01 July,2011 07:35 AM IST | | Astha Saxena
Air conditioners at the men's hostel have been switched off during the day due to shortage of power at the institute
While temperatures in the city have dropped a bit with the onset of monsoons, the humidity is not very comforting. Adding to the woes of doctors at AIIMS, the air conditioners at the men's hostel have stopped working for the last one week. Reason: insufficient electrical supply at the institute.u00a0Apparently, the problem started on Saturday night, when the ACs were switched off. Doctors tried to approach local engineers, but no solution could be found for the problem.
Feelings of hostel-ity: The men's hostel at AIIMS in Delhi.
PIC/Subhash Barolia
Warm feeling
"On Saturday night, ACs at gents' hostel were suddenly switched off. Next day, we approached the engineers, but there was no one to address our complaints. Later, we were assured that the services will be resumed," said Dr Debjyoti Karmakar, president, Resident Doctor's Association (RDA), AIIMS.
According to the doctors, there have always been problems of shortage of electricity at the institute. AIIMS has submitted a project with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) asking for supply of electricity to the men's hostel separately in 2007; sadly it was refused by NDMC. So, the hostel is connected with CN Centre and Masjid Moth for power supply.
"Whenever, there is more load at CN centre and Masjid Moth, automatically, we have to suffer. Why don't they find a permanent solution to the problem? Looking at the temperatures in Delhi, AC is a necessity and not a luxury item," said a resident doctor on the condition of anonymity.
Hot topic
Doctors are so upset with the issue that it is being highlighted on social networking sites like Facebook.
"The hostel administration and engineering section are citing a new reason every day. Till yesterday it was a technical glitch but today it is virtue of an order which is two years old and had never been implemented," said one of the posts.
"It's very unfortunate our administration is still harbouring the thought that 'AC is a luxury'. The rules of 1960s are not amended till date. We are trying to make them feel the heat. AC is not a luxury anymore but it is a necessity," said another post.
Nightmares at day
Currently, residents at the hostel are allowed to use air conditioners only between 5 pm and 7 am. But the doctors have raises concern as the authorities have refused to provide the facility in the day time. There are 100 rooms in the men's hostel, out of which more than ten rooms need AC during the day. "It's too hot in the day and they are not providing the facility at that time. It is really difficult to survive without ACs these days. And it's really shameful that the country's biggest medical institute cannot even provide such a basic requirement," said another doctor.
No easy answers
The administration has now promised to find a solution to the problem. "We are promised that we will be given extra electricity sanctioned from NDMC. And they are also planning to rethink about that scrapped proposal as it is an important issue,' added Dr Karmakar. "Our superintendent engineer is looking after the matter. The issue will be resolved soon," said Professor Dash, Acting Director, in-charge of Hostels, AIIMS.
Nosedive
Last month, there was no electricity at the AIIMS junior residents' hostel. The students got so irritated with the administration that they vandalised the nearby circuit board. "Whenever we went to swimming pool, all the students were in the water, as there was no electricity at the hostel," added another resident who wished to remain anonymous.
