The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Farmers advised to adopt ‘Zero Tillage’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 17
Minimisation of cost of production and sustainability of natural resources are the prime concerns of present day agriculture and ‘Zero Tillage Technology’ can go a long way to move our agriculture in this direction.

This opinion was expressed by Dr G.S. Nanda, Director, Research, Punjab Agricultural University, while inaugurating a two-day symposium on ‘Present status of zero tillage wheat and planning strategies for promoting its adoption on large scale.’ Dr Nanda said the old concepts about ploughing the fields had to be replaced with the Zero Tillage Technology, which could help the farmers to save the cost of production to the extent of Rs 600 to Rs 800 per acre. It would also help in decreasing pollution by saving 60 to 70 per cent diesel used by the farmers for sowing wheat.

According to Dr Nanda, the farmers could save 30 to 40 per cent of water during the first irrigation by adopting this technique. “Yellowing of wheat is common after first irrigation in conventionally tilled sown crop due to temporary waterlogging and oxygen starvation. This problem is totally eliminated in Zero Tillage sown wheat.” He said by end of October sowing with this technique helped to reduce the incidence of ‘Phalaris minor’.

Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, said quite a large number of farmers adopted this technique in Punjab but Haryana had gone ahead in this regard. He suggested that the problems faced by the farmers for adopting this technique needed to be studied and the remedial measures evolved and suggested to the farmers. He also touched the problem of disposal of old drills as in case of large number of strip drills or Zero Drip Drills which were suitable for Zero Tillage.

Dr Gurbachan Singh, Assistant Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, said: “If we allow these resources to deteriorate, we should be doing great disservice to the future generations. Zero Tillage can help to a great extent to save soil water and diesel by dispensing with the traditional practice of ploughing the fields, many times before sowing.”

The symposium was organised by the Department of Agronomy and Agrometeorology, PAU, in collaboration with the Directorate, Extension Education, PAU. According to Dr Lall Singh Brar, Head, Department of Agronomy, 300 scientists and farmers from Haryana, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Bihar are participating.

Among others who attending the seminar are Dr R.K Gupta, National Coordinator, Rice-Wheat Consortium, CIMMYT, Dr Govindra Singh from the GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Dr S.K. Rantaray from the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Dr S.D. Dhiman from RRR, Kaul, and Dr B. S. Sidhu, Joint Director, Agricultural Engineering.

‘Delayed rain not to hit rabi crop’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 17
Allaying the fears of the farmers that delayed rains may affect the rabi crop adversely in the state, the Director of Agriculture, Punjab, Dr Rampal, said today that the delayed rains would not have any effect, rather these would help in recharging the underground water.

Dr Rampal was here to attend a meeting of the state-level Drought and Power Supply Committee constituted to review the canal water supply and the availability of electricity in various areas of the state.

Talking to mediapersons, Dr Rampal said the state government had demanded from the Centre that in view of the drought-like conditions the minimum support price of paddy should be increased considerably this time or the farmers should be compensated at the rate of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy. He said these recommendations had been made at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Punjab Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, at Chandigarh yesterday.

The Director also said the Agriculture Department had recommended the sowing of peas, moong and toria after the ploughing of the paddy fields. He said the department had a ready supply of 40 quintals of peas, 170 quintals of toria and 70 quintals of moong that would be provided to the farmers free of cost.

The Agricultural Department had launched an awareness campaign for the farmers to educate them about management after drought. The department has also written to its hydrology division to start new projects with the help of the Central Ground Water Board and review the water management in the state.

He said as per the surveys about 15 per cent of the crop had been affected due to drought in the state. In a report sent to the Union Government the state has indicated that a loss of Rs 2,367 crore has been incurred in the agriculture sector, Rs 1,741 crore by the Industry and Rs 150 crore by the Punjab State Electricity Board by diverting the power to from the paying (domestic) sector to the non-paying (agriculture) sector.

He said the dry weather was going to affect the yield of the crop as loss of paddy yield was expected to amount to 16 to 17 per cent and in sugarcane and maize it would be about 20 and 30 per cent, respectively. He said the scanty rains had caused stunted growth in case of cotton crops but the pest attack this year was less due to lesser humidity.

BKU, IHRO to protest against SYL project
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 17
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) and the International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) will hold a protest march from Ludhiana to the SYL canal at Manpur-Khant (Kajauli) village, near Morinda, on August 20 where a rally will be held to asserts Punjab’s sovereign right over its rivers.

Stating that Sant Harchand Singh Longowal was a “traitor of Punjab” who had betrayed the people by signing Rajiv-Longowal accord, the BKU President, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, secretary-general, Prof Manjit Singh Kadian, and press secretary, Mr Bhupinder Singh Mahesari, in a press note here yesterday, said it was necessary to safeguard the interests of the farmers and to prevent the land of the state from becoming barren.

“We will put pressure on the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the leader of the Opposition, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to rescind all illegal awards and agreements, including the 1976 Indira Gandhi Award, the December 1981 agreement between Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, and the 1985 Rajiv-Longowal accord,” said Mr Lakhowal and Professor Kadian.

They added that they had already gone to the Supreme Court for declaring these so-called awards and agreements as illegal, unconstitutional and against riparian rights and international law. For all the mess and machinations, they said, the Central and Punjab governments, including the Longowal’s legacy in Akali Dal leadership, was responsible.

We would join the protest march and the rally to oppose the Haryana project of the SYL canal in Punjab and would not allow digging for the canal at any cost, the BKU leaders added.

Mr D.S. Gill, chairperson of IHRO, while urging the BKU to join the August 20 IHRO protest march and rally, appreciated the BKU leadership in taking the lead on the issue by preferring a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the legality of these so-called agreements upon which Haryana had sought the construction of the SYL canal through the apex court.

COURTS

Six-month imprisonment for one
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 17
Mr D.P. Singh has convicted Narinder Singh, owner of N.S. Industries, and sentenced him to undergo six months’ imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 in a cheque-bounce case.

The court has also ordered the convict to pay a compensation of Rs 1,000 to the complainant, Mr Kulwinder Singh, owner of Kulwinder Singh and Co. of Focal point Ludhiana.

It was contended by the complainant that accused had purchased coal worth Rs 41,851 and issued cheque for Rs 3,500 as initial payment.

He alleged that at the time of the issuance of the cheque, it was ensured that it would be encashed on presentation. But when the cheque was presented to the bank concerned, it was dishonoured.

Thereafter, despite serving legal notice, the convict failed to make the payment forcing him to knock at the door of the court to get justice.

CULTURE

Teej celebrations mirror Punjabi culture
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 17
Teej was celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm at Guru Nanak Girls college by the staff and the students alike. The celebrations were inaugurated by the Principal, Ms Charanjit Mahal, who joined in the festivities with true spirit and recited a ‘boli’ and performed giddha with members of the staff and students.

The college was decorated gaily with colourful swings and stalls displaying bangles, bindis, parandas and folk jewellery. The games stalls organising tombola also drew large crowds. Competitions pertaining to application of mehndi and inter-class-giddha were also organised.

Manpreet, a student of B.Sc. II , Amandeep (BCA III) and Rupinder (B.A. III) were declared the winners of the mehndi applying, contest and arts group was adjudged the winner of inter-stream giddha competition.

In the Miss Punjaban contest, Amandeep (BA II) was adjudged the best ‘Punjaban Mutiar’ and Avneet Kaur (B.Com.I) and Silky (B.A. I) were declared the first and second runners up respectively.

A special stall displayed folk items - charkha, chakki, pakhi, phulkari, baag, peedi, jholas, daro, galeecha, parandas etc. to create an awareness about the true ‘Punjabi culture. Several stalls of mouth-watering eatables were also put up.

The Principal gave away the prizes to winners of various contests. She also enlightened the students about the significance of Teej.

Individual prizes in giddha competition were also awarded to Anita (B.Sc. I), Gagandeep from Hostel team and Sumandeep (M.A. I).

‘Face of the year’ award winner eyes Bollywood
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, August 17
‘‘Success does not knock at your door. If you want to achieve success, you have to be very positive, confident and a hard-worker’’, these were the views of Rajat Chander Lal, a city boy who was chosen ‘‘Kingfisher - Face of the Year 2002’’ at the India Fashion Week, celebrated at the Taj, New Delhi from August 2 to 8.

While sharing his experiences with the Ludhiana Tribune, Rajat said he always wanted to be a model and the title came as a good break for him. ‘‘Initially, I was very nervous but when I became Gladrags’ first runner-up last year I was sure that I could win the title this year too. All participants were professional guys and to answer questions of Shobha De, Rahul Dev, Bipasha Basu and Dino Moria was not an easy task’’, he said.

Tall and well built, Rajat, completed his graduation from Government College from Boys, Ludhiana. ‘‘I did my schooling from Nainital. I did not want to continue studies after completing graduation because I wanted to try my luck in modelling’’. Rajat has done prestigious assignments for Levis Jeans, Grasim, Ray Ban, Timex watches and Wills Sport clothing. He has also walked for leading designers like Rohit Bal, J.J.Valaya, Ashish Soni and Rohit Gandhi.

‘‘My parents have always been very supportive, especially my father. Whatever I am today, is because of my father. He works in an insurance company and has always extended his help whenever I needed it’’, added Rajat.

Rajat feels that modelling is a good profession. ‘‘It gives you recognition, money and fame’’, he said. At present Rajat is trying hard to groom himself to be a professional model.‘‘I want to go to the USA to get formal training. After that I would like to try my luck in Bollywood’’, he said.

Giving voice to his passion for music

VIKRAM Kohli, the new kid on the block, has come out with a solo album ‘Socho Kabhi’ with Universal. Although the market for private albums is not so impressive right now, Vikram, better known as Vicky is confident of his success. “To be frank I am not unsure. “Socho Kabhi’s is very good. All the songs are beautiful and have a unique quality. They are the songs that I have been wanting to sing for a long time and I know that people will like listening to them again and again,” he says while talking about the album.

Vicky was born to cultured and more importantly supportive parents in the historical city of Lucknow. Learning the sarod for many years during schooldays and meeting many Indian classical music gurus through his parents were only a part of the encouragement and complete support he always got from home. He could play most musical instruments merely by instinct. Vicky’s natural ease in the ability to compose music of a wide variety is greatly owed to his being exposed to music of several cultures countries like Arabic, Latin, Spanish, Irish folk, Western Indian classical and Indian folk of almost all different states.

Several successful performances in school and concerts made Vicky’s present dream possible — “Socho Kabhi” is his debut album. Rajesh Roy has composed the music for ‘Socho Kabhi’. Rajesh is the arranger and supervisor of the entire audio project and has just recorded an album for Suchitra Krishnamurthy also.

The eight tracks in the album are stylistically varied even as they retain a unifying spine in the way they are produced. Wanting to be a good singer and reach top levels like other top Indian singers, Vicky says, “That is my aim. I don’t want to be compared to anyone. I want to be known as myself”, he states.

In spite of his immense talent, Vicky’s down-to-earth nature and eternal hunger to learn more makes him all more complete, whether as a breathtaking artist or as a wonderful human being. Though all set to conquer the Indi-pop industry and take his fans by surprise, Vicky wants to be known as an ardent lover of Indian classical music rather than a pop star.

‘Socho Kabhi’ is dedicated to my mother-in-law, Pushpi Punvani, who died in 1998 and my grandfather S.L. Kohli, he says.

— D.P.