AGRICULTURE

Fresh arrivals will add to storage woes
K. S. Chawla

Ludhiana, March 18
As the Punjab Government is preparing for wheat procurement from April 1, the storage of foodgrains is likely to pose a serious problem for it.

More than two crore tonnes of wheat and rice are already lying in the godowns of the state. The value of the present stock of wheat and rice in the godowns is estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crore. According to information available, as many as 1.10 crore tonnes of wheat are lying in the godowns of the state. Out of this, 60 lakh tonnes of wheat belong to the period of 2001-2002, 37 lakh tonnes to 2000-2001 and 14 lakh tonnes to 1999-2000. Besides, there are three lakh tonnes of wheat that was procured even before 1999 and has become unfit for human consumption. The value of the same is worth several crores.

Similarly, 80 lakh tonnes of rice are lying in the godowns of the state and the milling of the paddy procured during the year 2001 and 2002 is still in progress. It is estimated that another 35 lakh tonnes of rice will be added to the stocks of the state.

As the wheat procurement starts from April 1, the fresh stocks to the tune of more than one crore tonnes will be add to the already difficult storage position. The state will have foodgrain stocks to the order of three crore tonnes by the end of May. This will be more than what the buffer stocks of the country are. The movement of foodgrains from Punjab to other states is very slow as a result of which the space for storage does not become available for the fresh arrival.

As a matter of fact, the Railways are not moving more than five to six lakh tonnes of wheat and rice from Punjab every month. A senior official of the state government confirmed that the problem with regard to the movement of wheat to other states was pretty bad.

Punjab has been facing storage problems for the past many years and all efforts to increase storage capacity have failed. On an average, the foodgrains stock swells by one crore tonnes every year. The state needs to create storage capacity for one crore tonnes of foodgrains every year to meet the needs of providing scientific storage facilities.

Meanwhile, the state government is making all arrangement for the procurement of wheat which will officially start from April 1. However, the arrival of wheat is expected to begin in the middle of the month as traditionally the harvesting begins from Baisakhi.

Mr Lal Singh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, said the state was fully geared up to meet the procurement needs. He assured that the farmers would not face any problem in selling their produce.

The state government, he said, was making arrangement for finances too and the RBI had been approached to sanction a cash credit limit of more than Rs 6,000 crore for wheat procurement. The sanction was likely to be received soon.

Exhibition of teaching aids
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 18
The Maths Association of GHG Khalsa College of Education, Gurusar Sudhar, organised on exhibition of innovative aids for teaching mathematics. About 30 teaching aid, related to topics of secondary level, were presented in the exhibition. Dr Khushviner, patron of the association, said science exhibitions were common, but not much efforts were being made in the field of mathematics. “Students consider that mathematics is a tough and boring subject as it involves complex and abstract concepts. Teachers can make this subject seem interesting by using such teaching aids. There can be so many models and teaching aids related to mathematics that a teacher can prepare with little effort. To prove this concept members of the association presented some new concepts,” he said

Mr Harbans Singh, Principal Dashmesh Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Heran, Mr Jagraj Singh, Principal , GHG Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Sudhar, and Mr Pardeep Kapoor, lecturer, Teachers’ Training Centre, Ludhiana, visited the exhibition as subject experts. Team of Vanita, Karamjit and Jatinder was adjudged winner. Mathematics teachers from various government schools of the areas also visited the exhibition. They appreciated the effort of the association and suggested that from the next year, school students should also be invited to such exhibitions. Dr Harnek Singh Kaile, Principal of the college, praised the association for such an effort.

PAU ex-Comptroller felicitated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 18
The PAU Supervisory Staff Association organised a felicitation function to honour Mr S.K. Bhatia, ex-Comptroller for his distinguished services to Punjab Agricultural University. The function was presided over by Mr Gopal Dass, Comptroller, PAU.

Mr R.C. Sudan, secretary of the association, giving this information, said that the members of the association had taken a decision to arrange such farewell parties to the outgoing Comptrollers and Registrars of the university in future also as both these positions belonged to the non-teaching cadre being of financial and administrative nature. Moreover, the incumbents of these posts were non-teachers, having close working liaison with the supervisory staff.

The association urged upon the university authorities and the state government to fill the post of Registrar of the PAU from amongst the non-teaching staff of the university and also made an appeal to the faculty members of the PAU to extend their full cooperation on this issue in the larger interest of the university.

Colourful show by tiny tots
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March18
The annual prize distribution function of Love Dale Montessori, Sarabha Nagar, was held here last evening.

School students presented a colourful programme on this occasion which began with a welcome song. A patriotic song ‘Mera karma tu’ was presented by tiny tots of Nursery class. They were dressed in white ‘kurta pyjamas’ and carrying National Flags. A Rajasthani dance was also performed on the song ‘Resham ka rumaal’. A choreography based on old songs like ‘Mera naam chinchinchu’ enthralled the audience. ‘Chatter box’, a skit based on the novel of Enid Blyton, was also staged. Pre-Nursery girls presented dance on ‘Main pariyon ki shehzadi’.

All the 125 students of the school were given prizes by Mr Rohit Chaudhary, DIG, who was the chief guests on the occasion. Ms Pritima Behl, in charge of the school, said all the kids were made to participate in the function to boost confidence in them.

Plans for Hola Mohalla
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 18
The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle of Ludhiana Zone plans to celebrate Hola Mohalla at three places in the district, according to a press note issued here today.

Mr Surjit Singh, general secretary of the study circle, said the celebrations would be held in Guru Nanak Public School of Sarabha Nagar, Gurdwara Sukhmani Sahib of the Phase II Urban Estate at Dugri and Government Primary School of Narangwal village.

Mr Surjit Singh said all gurdwara management committees of the area, women’s ‘satsang sabhas’ and Naujawan Sewa Societies, besides managements of schools and colleges were partners in this effort.

Forum penalises Dakha cooperative society
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 18
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Dakha Cooperative Agriculture Service Society Limited, Dakha, Ludhiana, to pay Rs 10,305, Rs 13,264 and Rs 50,000 to Mr Balbir Singh, a resident of Dakha, Patti, Boora. The forum has further directed the society to pay the interest at the rate of 12 per cent on the amounts of Rs 50,000 and Rs 13,264 from the date of deposit till the actual payment and to pay an interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum on Rs 10,305 from July 7, 1998, till the payment. The forum has also directed the respondent to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the consumer.

According to the complaint, the consumer had deposited Rs 10,305 in his savings bank account on April 4, 1995. The consumer had stated before that he had been demanding the payment of the said amount since July 30, 1997.

The consumer disclosed that besides the said amount, he had also deposited Rs 13, 264 on January 12, 1998, and Rs 50,000 on June 18, 1998 with the respondent as fixed deposit, respectively. He further disclosed that he had filed a complaint against non-payment of the amounts before this forum and vide order dated October 28, 1999, the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, had been directed to effect the recovery from the member and to make the payment to him. He said that it was mentioned that in case payment was not made, the consumer could approach the forum. He alleged that no payment had been made so far. He demanded from the forum that the society should be directed to pay the said amounts.

The respondent stated that the complaint was maintainable and the complainant was barred under Section 82 of the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act. It further stated, “The complainant has not got an alternative remedy under the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act and under the Act, only the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, or subordinate to him has got the power to decide the matter.”

The society maintained, “the complainant has got no cause of action to file the complaint and the complaint having been filed without proper power of attorney is liable to be dismissed.”

The forum observed that it was an admitted fact that the consumer had deposited the said amounts on the said dates. The forum further stated that the objections made by the respondent were not maintainable under Sections 82, 55 and 56 the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act .

The forum said that the objections were not sustainable at all in view of the judgement of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, in the case of Kalawati and other versus United Vaish Cooperative Thrift and Credit Society Limited. The forum said, “in the said judgement, it has been clearly mentioned that the provisions of the Cooperative Society Act regarding the bar of jurisdiction against the civil court do not bar the jurisdiction of the consumer forums as the member of cooperative society is a consumer.” The forum held that the amounts deposited by the consumer was payable by the respondent along with interest.

‘Lyrics in colours’ by Harparkash
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 18
An exhibition of paintings by Harparkash Jingal, a Canada-based artist, is currently on at Students’ Home, PAU. The exhibition will continue till March 21. After retiring from services, the artist migrated to Canada in the year 1982 where he devoted his entire time to painting.

About 30 paintings focusing on landscapes and captivating still life are displayed in the exhibition. The landscapes and some seascapes are painted in flamboyant colours. He has captured nature in its various hues and these paintings rightly can be termed as ‘Lyrics in colours.’

His works are a simple study in nature. There is no sombre touch visible in his landscapes. He has exhibited only two portraits and these are very realistic. The artist seems to be expressing himself through his paintings.

When asked his views regarding future of art in India, he said, “The future seems bleak. People just give a cursory glance and do not even register any remark. The silver lining is that younger generation is more interested in art. I was pleased when some students asked me to extend the exhibition for a few more days.”

About 35 of his works, are on display in the Museum and Art Gallery, Punjabi University, Patiala. The chief guest, Mehar Singh, an artist, termed Jingal’s works as masterly. J.S. Bedi, a journalist, said his paintings should be a source of inspiration for the young artists.