AGRICULTURE

Session on rice-wheat cropping pattern
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 30
‘‘To solve the problems created by the rice-wheat cropping pattern in the North-Western region of the country, an activity oriented programme is the need of the hour,’’ opined Dr C.R. Hazara, Agricultural Production Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, while inaugurating a session on “rice-wheat cropping system and its management,” held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), here yesterday.

Dr Hazara further said the problems of depletion of underground water and de-generation of soil health need to be given priority in order to sustain the present level of production. Dr Hazara also suggested region-specific cropping patterns in order to diversify agriculture in the rice-wheat predominant areas.

In his presidential remarks, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, stressed the need to bring down area under rice cultivation by at least 33 per cent by shifting to other crops like sugarcane, oilseeds, pulses, agro-forestry, maize, vegetables and fruits. He further said that in order to ensure parity and equity of these crops with rice in terms of remunerative returns, the farmers should be compensated by giving direct subsidy for the losses suffered as a result of shifting to these crops.

Dr Aulakh also said that as a result of the problems created by the rice cultivation in the state, it had become a condemned crop. Elaborating his contention, Dr Aulakh said that more than 80 per cent area is threatened with decline in watertable. He said that the currently used centrifugal pumps would have to be replaced by submersible pumps. The area under rice cultivation could be brought down by maintaining proper plant population of 33 plants per sq meter, he suggested.

Dr M.S. Bajwa, Director Research, PAU, suggested that the diversification was not sufficient by growing different crops but there should also be varietal diversification in different crops to minimise the risk of development of susceptibility to different pests.

Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, suggested that specific recommendations should come from the present session so that the clear cut guidelines can be given to the field extension workers for educating the farmers. The session was also attended by research scientists and senior officers of the departments of agriculture of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi.

EDUCATION

Embroidery contest held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 30
The Vardhaman Spinning Mills organised an embroidery contest for the students of middle and senior sections of Kundan Vidya Mandir here yesterday.

Among the Class VI students, Komal Sabharwal, Praneet Dhaliwal and Suchi were declared first, second and third, respectively.

Sangeeta Behl, Kavya Berri and Geetika Gupta were declared first, second and third, respectively, among Class VII students.

Among Class VIII students, Tanu Sharma, Nupur Madaan and Mehak Ramdev were declared winners. Yammi Kalra, Pallavi Bhakoo and Isha Sharma were declared first, second and third, respectively, among Class IX students.

Parika Rawal, Reema Khurana and Shruti Chopra of Class X were declared winners. Sonia Kalra, Sakshi Bhasin and Sonam Malik were declared first, second and third, respectively, among Class XII students. Ms Paramjit Kaur and Ms Bakshi, both craft teachers, pronounced the judgement.

COURTS

Forum directs finance company to pay Rs 3,00,000
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 30
The District Consumer Forum has directed M/s Hoffland Finance Limited, a Delhi-based company, to pay Rs 3,00,000 to the heirs of late Surjit Singh, a resident of Model Town. The forum further directed the company to pay interest at the rate of 18 per cent from the date of deposit till actual payment along with Rs 500 as cost of litigation. According to a complaint, late Surjit Singh had deposited Rs 3,00,000 with the company on the suggestion of Col Harbakash Singh (retd) who was the manager of the company at its Ludhiana branch.

The complaint was filed by an heir of the deceased after his death. The complainant stated before the forum that the deceased was promised a handsome interest on the deposit and after deposit, the respondent had issued cheques for the refund of the principal amount. The complainant further stated that one cheque of Rs 1,00,000 was issued on June 3, 1998, while the cheque of Rs 2,00,000 was issued on June 11, 1998, and along with the cheques, the cheques for the payment of interest were also issued to Surjit Singh on May 1 and June 1, 1998, of Rs 20,000. But after that the company did not pay the interest which was a clear deficiency on the part of the respondent, the complainant added.

Col Harbakash Singh pleaded before the forum that the complaint was not maintainable against him as he had ceased to be in service of the company since November 30, 1997. He further maintained that it was the duty of the company to pay the principal along with interest and he could not be held responsible for non-payment of the principal and interest by the company.

The forum observed that according to the document produced, the deceased had deposited Rs 3,00,000 with the company and the respondent had issued the cheques for the payment of principal and interest which were dishonored. The forum further stated that Col Harbakash Singh was working with the company as manger as such his personal liability was not there. The forum held that keeping in view the fact that no payment had been received by the complainant, it was desirable that penal interest at the rate of 18 per cent should be allowed on the principal from the date of deposit till the date of payment. 

Bar flays police action
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 30
The District Bar Association has condemned the high-handedness of the Jalandhar police and opposed the registration of a criminal case against two senior advocates, Mr Dalip Garg and Mr Krishan Lal Kochar of Ludhiana, at Division No 4 police station, Jalandhar.

According to a press release issued here today by Mr Rajiv Duggal, Secretary, District Bar Association (DBA), Ludhiana, the advocates were arrested by the Jalandhar police on May 25 and detained. He said the advocates were released in the evening when members of the body approached the police.