PAU to launch mungbean project
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 29
Punjab Agricultural University has got an international mungbean project on improving income and nutrition by incorporating short duration summer mungbean in rice-wheat cropping system.

According to a press release, the total cost of the project which will be funded by the Department for International Development, United Kingdom, will be Rs. 38 lakh, which will be part of Rs 2 crore international project covering five countries, including U.K., Taiwan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Dr S. Shamugasundram, Director, Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan, will be the project manager and investigator of the international project, and Dr G.S. Nanda, Director of Research, PAU, will be the principal investigator of the PAU part of the project.

Dr Nanda disclosed that an inter-disciplinary team of eminent pulse scientists, including Dr J.S. Brar, senior pulses breeder, Dr H.S. Sekhon, senior agronomist, Mr B.S. Kooner, entomologist and Dr A.S. Khurana, senior microbiologist led by Dr Gurdip Singh, senior plant pathologist-cum-incharge. pulses section, has already been actively collaborating with international institute, AVRDC, Taiwan and released short-duration summer mungbean variety SML 668.

It is a high-yielding, bold seeded, synchronous in maturity and tolerant to mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV). This is the only variety which can be grown after wheat harvest. If wheat is harvested in the third week of April, then this variety can be grown in these fields. It will mature in 55-60 days and rice crops can be planted in time.

It will help in increasing the income of the farmers by getting an additional crop between traditional wheat and rice cropping system. It will solve several problems relating to soil health, diseases, insect-pests and increase the soil fertility. The implementation of this project in collaboration with other South Asian countries will further help in identification and release of better mungbean varieties in respect of higher yield, good nutritional quality, resistant to mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) and well suited to wheat-rice cropping system.

A painting exhibition by school students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 29
A painting exhibition in mainly oils by the commercial art students of plus one and two of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar Chowk, was on display at Master Tara Singh College today. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Rakesh Pandey, Minister for Printing and Stationary. Along with Mr Pandey, Mr R.L. Kalsia, Municipal Commissioner, went round admiring the landscapes done in vibrant colours.

Both Mr Pandey and Mr Kalsia praised the artists for the beautiful works of art.

Babbly Singh was awarded with Bhagat Puran Singh award. Mr Jaspreet Mohan Singh, teacher in charge, said that these students were a talented lot.

The students had mainly chosen landscapes as subject A single still life looked appealing. The students gave the credit of their fine finish and flamboyant colour schemes to their teacher. The teacher along with the participants were awarded prizes courtesy Master Tara Singh College. The awards were presented by both Mr Pandey and Mr Kalsia.

In the next room under the guidance of Mr Kewal Singh, Head of the Computer Department, students of Master Tara Singh College had made charts explaining about computer, its different parts and varied functions. The charts explaining the cpu, input devices; key board, mouse and other parts of computer, were neatly drawn and put up. These charts made the first time user of computers familiar with components of computer. Both Mr Pandey and Mr. Kalsia appreciated the efforts.

Union members gherao PAU Dean
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 29
Dr M A Zaheer, Dean (Basic Sciences) Punjab Agricultural University, was gheraoed by activists of the Punjab Agricultural University Employee Union at his office on the campus here today in protest against transfers of four non-teaching employees.

The activists lifted the gherao only after about an hour when Dr Zaheer agreed to their demand of cancelling the transfer orders. The transferred employees were Gurdev Singh, Rajinder Kaur, Darshan Singh and Rajinder Kumar.

Mr Amrit Pal, general secretary of the union, said that resentment prevailed among the employees for the ‘arbitrary’ transfers. 

Power struggle continues in Arya College
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 29
Power struggle in Arya College continues unabated the faction led by Lala Lajpat Rai, who was earlier the President of the managing committee, and Mr H.L. Sethi, secretary of the committee, alleged that the administration was biased against them.

In a written statement in the press yesterday, Mr Sethi claimed that the Managing Committee of Arya College, headed by Lala Lajpat Rai was still managing the college affairs. Mr S.S. Verma, acting Principal, Mr Rai and Mr Sethi had not given the charge to anybody. They alleged that police force was used to take Mr Vijay Sathi, Mr S.K. Syal and Mr J.K. Ahuja into the Principal’s office forcibly where they got them photographed to show that the charge had been taken, he said.

He alleged that some officials had told them that they had orders from the top. He further said that it was wrong on the part of the Congress to interfere in the management of colleges.

According to him, elections of office-bearers of Arya Vidya Parishad, Punjab and the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, were held on December 17 at Jalandhar, in which Dr K.K. Pasricha was elected senior vice-president-cum-working president of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab. Harbans Lal Sharma was elected president. He alleged that later, Mr Harbans Lal Sharma started working against the interests of the sabha. He was expelled from the sabha on February 23. The expulsion was ratified by general house on March 3. “Thus Harbans Lal Sharma has ceased to have any say or interest in the affairs of the Arya Vidya Parishad, Punjab, and the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab. As such he has no right to constitute Managing Committee of Arya College, he said.

Democratic teachers’ front meeting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 29
A Democratic Teachers’ Front meeting was organised recently under the guidance of District President, Bhajan Singh. It was decided that May 1, which is celebrated at the world level as ‘Workers Day’, would be celebrated by workers and teachers jointly. Teachers of Khanna, Ludhiana, Samrala, Jagraon, Mullanpur, Raikot , Pakhowal and Mandi Ahmedgarh would participate in the function.

Front members have also urged the government to take concrete steps to remove unemployment. Exploitation of teachers by the government and private agencies was also condemned.

COURTS

Crucial issues discussed at Bar body meeting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 29
Several crucial issues like tax deduction at source (TDS) and important proposals on budgetary amendments were discussed during a meeting of the study circle of the Taxation Bar Association here. Mr Ashok Juneja, president of the association was in the chair and the panel of speakers comprised Mr U.C. Bhatti, former Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, and Mr Vijay Bansal, advocate.

The bar members evinced keen interest in the lively discussion on TDS and Section 88 of the Income Tax Act. The proposed budgetary amendments concerning these topics also came under focus. According to Mr Juneja, the members were of the view that in view of proposed budgetary amendment in Section 40 (b) (iv) of Income Tax Act with effect from June 1, 2002, all the bar members must advise their clients, carrying on business in partnership, to execute fresh deeds of partnership, amending the interest clause for payment of interest to partners from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.