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| Monday,
March 12, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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“Diversify to offset WTO impact” DRDA spends 91 pc funds on rural
areas Wheat support price to be raised soon:
Dhindsa Sirsa areas face water
shortage KU re-introduces 5-year law course |
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Ex-MP
assails Bhajan supporters 50 injured in Holi
revelry Man killed, sons
hurt in road mishap
College convocation function
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“Diversify to offset WTO impact” Karnal, March 11 Dr Borlaug, who contributed immensely to bringing in wheat revolution in Punjab and Haryana was here to visit institutes of The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). During his two day visit, he interacted with the farmers of Bhaini village, scientists of the NDRI, CSSRI, DWR and IGABR etc. Addressing a press conference, Dr Borlaug expressed the view that prices of wheat and rice could go down in the region because of the WTO as wheat and rice stocks were piling up. He expressed the doubt that it might not be possible for the Government to buy all surplus marketable wheat and rice stocks. He, therefore, suggested diversification of cropping pattern in the area. The Nobel Laureate suggested that farmers should diversify some areas to maize, gram and soyabean. He felt that as India had shortage of edible oils, soyabean could be a profitable and suitable crop for the farmers. It would help meet the oil deficit. Soyabean was also rich in protein. It could be useful in cattle and poultry feed which required protein rich feed. Addressing agricultural scientists at the NDRI auditorium, Dr Borlaug came down heavily on protagonists of environment. He was critical of the little knowledge of so-called environmentalists on how to grow more food and be able to feed the hungry by 2020. He maintained that they opposed the new technology without knowing its real impact. He cautioned the farmers and agricultural scientists and asked them not to go in for total diversification of wheat and rice as both were a staple food. He was of the view that between one to two million hectares of area under wheat and rice cultivation in the region could be diversified slowly to offset the ill-effects of the WTO. He hoped that this would not affect the production of wheat and rice as the yield of both crops in the region was rising. Dr Borlaug dwelt upon the importance of agriculture extension for the transfer of technology to the fields of farmers. He was happy to see the growing interaction between the farmers and scientist in Haryana. The farmers in Bhaini village told Dr Borlaug that after adopting Zero Tillage technology, they had been able to get rid off the problem of “phalaris minor” which hitherto affected wheat crop on a large scale. The technology was more economical. It saved up to Rs 1200 per acre to the farmers. The farmers were told to adopt resource conserving technology for wheat sowing as it conserved between 40 to 50 per cent of water. But, it was felt that this technology is in nascent stage. Mr Naseem Ahmed, Financial Commissioner and Secretary Agriculture, Government of Haryana disclosed that one lakh acres of area was already under Zero Tillage in Haryana. Speaking on the shortage of capacity, Mr Naseem Ahmed maintained that the state government had made elaborate arrangements for shortage for the coming Rabi crop. The Government has made arrangements for procuring and storing 50 lakh tonnes of wheat as against 40 lakh tonnes last year. He expected that wheat production would touch 96 lakh tonnes during this Rabi crop. He also expressed the view that farmers were unlikely to keep back wheat stocks during this season. |
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DRDA spends 91 pc funds on rural
areas Faridabad, March 11 According to details available, the DRDA had about Rs 58.07 lakh available for providing loans to poor families under the restructured Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY). Of the total amount Rs 57.99 lakh was utilised for extending loans to 676 families. A total of 112 self-help groups were formed and revolving funds to nine such groups were released. Under the Employment assurance scheme about 80 per cent of the Rs 140.04 lakh was used for giving wages and non-wages. As many as 63000 mandays were generated. The funds were used for construction of school rooms, paving of streets, construction of retaining walls and digging of ponds. The agency utilised Rs 208.12 lakh out of total of Rs 228.15 lakh under the Jawahar Gram Smridhi Yojna (JGSY) according to which amount was utilised for improvement of basic amenities in villages. But the Indira Awaas Yojna could not prove successful as only 290 out of targeted 480 houses were constructed during the year, while 96.62 per cent of available funds (Rs 60.03 lakh) were used. In matter of upgradation of houses about 133 houses got upgraded against the target of 240. In the bio-gas programme 92 bio-gas plants could be installed against the target of 150. Almost 84.33 per cent of Rs 3.83 lakh were used in the integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) while only Rs 90,000 were utilised under the credit-cum-subsidy scheme for rural housing. The scheme was launched to benefit those households in rural areas which did not get covered under Indira Awaas Yojana. The scheme could provide loan of Rs 90,000 for construction of nine houses. The special Live stock Breeding Programme (SLBP) which had only Rs 1.34 lakh for the scheme utilised Rs 1.09 lakh. The physical target of calf rearing met was about 81 per cent. |
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Wheat support price to be raised soon:
Dhindsa Yamunanagar, March 11 Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Chemical and Fertiliser Minister, while talking to newsmen here last night, disclosed that he had a meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, recently in this connection. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his Haryana counterpart, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had also met the Prime Minister twice on this issue. Mr Dhindsa stated that the Prime Minister had assured that the increase will be substantial. The Minister was here to attend the Hola Mohalla function at Gurdwara Thera Sahib. To another query Mr Dhindsa stated that the alliance between the Akali Dal and the BJP would continue in Punjab. He claimed that the Government of India’s decision to extend the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir had got a positive response from Pakistan. A six-day Hola Mohalla function concluded last evening at Gurdwara Thera Sahib. An impressive procession was taken out on the occasion. |
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Sirsa areas face water
shortage Sirsa, March 11 According to the some farmers of the Kagdana village there has been little water in the public water tanks in the village. And sometimes the hard water of the tubewell is supplied for drinking, which is unsuitable for human consumption. People have to fetch water from their tubewells. Employees of the Public Works Department say that the water cannot be supplied because of the non-availability of the electricity. Residents of Kumharia village complain that the administration has paid little heed to the complaints of non-availability of water supply. According to sarpanch of the village, money is being raised through individual contribution form each house of the village to pay for the filling of public water tanks through tubewells on paid basis. The reports of water shortage from other villages, including Jasania, have also been received. Not only the villages but the city is also affected. Some residents of the centrally located RSD Colony have also reported the shortage of drinking water supply. According to a resident Mrs Bali, many of the residents had to get their water tanks filled through tankers. There are also reports of polluted water supply from various parts of the city. Mr Kamal Relhan of local Gobind Nagar said that they have been getting dirty water for the past week. Only recently due to polluted water supply in the mandi area many jaundice cases have been reported. Though the Health Department has made surveys and distributed chlorine tablets, seven teblets a house are not going to last even a week. It is high time that the administration takes effective steps to ensure smooth and properly treated water supply in the district. |
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KU re-introduces 5-year law course Kurukshetra, March 11 Mr Chaudhry further disclosed that the course contents would be quite comprehensive as well as in consonance with the present-day computer age of satellite information and technology. Accordingly, many new subjects papers which mainly include cyber law, intellectual property, service law, women and law, international humanitarian law and refugee law, arbitration, conciliation and alternative dispute resolution system have been introduced. The course contents and scheme of the course have been passed by all competent bodies, including the Academic Council, in its meeting held on March 1, 2001. |
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Ex-MP assails Bhajan
supporters Sonepat, March 11 Dr Sharma said the party would hold such rallies to awake people against the anti-people policies of Mr Chautala. |
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50 injured in Holi
revelry Hisar, March 11 At least 12 persons who were seriously injured, were admitted to the local Civil Hospital while those with minor injuries were discharged after first-aid. The seriously injured were Mr Narayan Singh, Mr Parmod Kumar, Mr Ajmer Singh and Mr Darshan Kumar, all local residents, Mr
Satyawan, Mr Prakash, Mr Suresh and Mr Looti singh, of nearby Sarsod village, Mr Rajbeer and Mr Krishan Kumar, of Burak village, Mr Jeevan Prakash of Dabra village and Mr Dharamvir Singh of Mangali village. |
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Man killed, sons
hurt in road mishap Faridabad, March 11 According to information, the victim Sushil Kumar, a resident of Ajhi colony of Ballabgarh, was returning to his home with his two sons after some purchases for Holi festival. His scooter was hit by a Tata-407 vehicle on the Mathura road. While Sushil died on the spot due to head injuries,his sons Rajesh and Ashu were injured. They have been admitted to the Escorts Hospital. The driver of the vehicle fled away after the incident. |
College convocation function Ambala, March 11 The degrees were given for the courses of MBA, MA (Economics) and M.Com. It was the first annual convocation of the AIMT. The president of the college managing committee Kuldip Kumar Jain welcomed the chief guest and presented him an abhinandan patra. Mr Kuldip Kumar Jain informed that S.A. Jain College had progressed a lot over the years. Efforts are being made to start MCA course from the forthcoming academic session. In his convocation address, Dr Suraj Bhan said it was a great pleasure for him to visit his alma-mater. He said it was with the blessings of the teachers of this college that he had achieved success and glory in his life. Dr Bhan emphasised the necessity of education and said that it is only through education that people can develop positive and growth-oriented attitude. |
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