EDUCATION

Depleting water level worries PAU VC
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, July 8
Due to predominant cultivation of paddy in the state, there is a serious problem of declining ground water table in central districts of Punjab. The entire central Punjab blocks are categorised as dark blocks except four blocks which are categorised as grey blocks. This concern has been expressed by Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University in a communication to the Punjab Government on the present state of agriculture in the state and the reforms needed to overcome the problems.

Dr Aulakh has observed that the water table depth data from 1997-2001 indicates that water table in central Punjab is falling at the rate of 42 cm per year. The future projections are that by 2010, entire central Punjab will have a water table below 16 m depth. As compared to year 2005, 34 per cent by 2010 and 75 per cent by 2020.

The Vice-Chancellor has pointed out that due to increase in energised tubewells, the additional energy requirements as compared to 2001 will be increased by 21 per cent by 2005, 47 per cent by 2010 and 106 per cent by the year 2020.

With the fall in water table, the centrifugal pumps will have to be replace by submersible pumps, deepening of tubewell pits and replacement of electric motors.

Research studies and the opinion of experts reveal that Punjab's water resources, in the long run can sustain 16 lakh hectares of paddy as compared to about 26 lakh hectares cultivated in 2001. The state has to divert about 10 lakh hectares from paddy to other suitable alternative crops in the next eight years to10 years in the long - term interest of the farming community and sustainability of agriculture in the state, Dr Aulakh has emphasised.

The Vice-Chancellor has expressed his concern over the population pressure on farming and the decline in the farm size. Nearly 46 per cent of farms are of less than 2 hectares against 38.6. per cent in 1981. On the other hand, the per centage of medium and large farmers has also declined over this period. Due to low incomes these farmers are not capable to generate internal capital formation which is necessary for their growth.

Dr Aulakh has suggested liberalising the land lease market so that small farmers could lease out their land without any fear and seek alternative employment opportunities. This will help in the growth of economically viable farm size units.

The current ceiling on land holding of seven hectares double- cropped irrigated land should be relaxed so that the farm size become economical.

He has emphasised that the contract farming should be given a legal status to encourage private trade and quality based exports. The small farmers should be provided with non-farm employment by encouraging rural industries.

Dr Aulakh says that the mobility of Punjab farmers has also been checked through legislations by the neighbouring states. Such legislations need to be repealed so that they can shift to other states and purchase marginal land for improvement.

He has emphasised that the flow of agriculture migratory labour from other states, which is estimated at eight lakh per annum, is required to be regulated to reduce pressure of population on agriculture and also to combat the developing slums and crime in Punjab. To divert the population away from agriculture, job opportunities need to be provided to rural youth in Punjab and recruitment of quota of the state in defence services and other central services is required to be increased.

Emphasising on the implementation of crop diversification, Dr Aulakh says that crop diversification in the state has became necessary and a substantial area about one million hectares from paddy/wheat needs to be shifted to other crops.

Under the draft proposal for diversification, if one million hectares of land is replaced from under wheat and paddy under 'crop adjustment programme', oilseeds, pulses and cotton area has to expand substantially.

Dr Aulakh has also drawn the attention of the government towards the problem of water logging which is mainly confined to the south west districts of Punjab.

He has also laid stress on the post harvest handling, processing and value addition of cereals, vegetables and fruits.

Australian farm expert visits PAU

Ludhiana, July 8
Dr Tim L. Setter, Principal Scientist, Crop Improvement Institute of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Western Australia, is on a two-day visit to PAU, Ludhiana, to study the university set up and to explore the possibility of collaboration in the field of extension as well as transfer of technology.

With the help of a slide show, Dr Setter gave an overview of the agricultural system and extension techniques prevalent in Western Australia.

Welcoming the guest, Dr J S Kolar, Director Extension Education, presented a slide show in which he dilated upon the transfer of technology in the field of agriculture in India. He also highlighted new techniques and innovations developed by PAU.

Dr Setter visited the various departments of the university and lauded the role in PAU for its contribution in research and extension. TNS

All seats for BBA filled
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 8
While all seats for BBA were filled, only 40 per cent seats for BCA were occupied in local colleges affiliated with the Punjab Technical University (PTU), the counselling for which began here today.

Counselling to the reserved category seats such as those for SC/ST, backward classes, border area, backward area, freedom fighter, disabled persons, sports quota, rural areas, riot affected and defence personnel began this morning. By the afternoon, all such seats were dereserved and filled with students from general category.

All colleges received a good response as all 60 seats to BBA in each of the three colleges including Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT), Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) and Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Model Town, were filled by 4 pm today.

Since BCA had almost double the seats, only 40 per cent of the total seats could be filled in four local colleges by the evening. In PCTE, 84 out of the total 120 seats were filled. Nearly 68 seats were occupied in GGNIMT and 65 were filled in GNIMT, both of which have 120 seats in all. Out of the total 80 seats, only 20 were filled in Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology (KIMT).

Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director, PCTE, was hopeful that all remaining seats for BCA would be filled in a day or two, even though the last date for admission had been extended by the university to July 21. He said that response to BBA was overwhelming and more than 120 students turned up for counselling.

Similarly, Dr A.S. Bansal, Director, GNIMT, said that nearly 85 students had turned up for admission to BBA. He said that since his college which was only for girls had now become co-educational, the response was better than the previous year. He said that since this was simply the first day and admission could continue on for another 13 days, he felt that all seats to BCA would also get filled up.

Prof G.S. Dua, in charge, GGNIMT, said that all seats to BBA were filled by 3:30 pm. He said that all 10 reserve category seats were occupied by BBA candidates from different quotas, only five out of the total 20 reserved seats for BCA were filled were occupied by such students.

The KIMT, being a girls’ institute, had a relatively lower response as it could fill just 25 per cent seats to BCA. The college does not offer a course in BBA from the university. Prof M.S. Seekri, Director of the college, seemed optimistic as he said that there was still a lot of time to take admission.

Meanwhile, there was no information available from the Institute of Management Studies (IMS) as Col H.S. Singha, Director of the college, was not available this evening.

COURTS

Cellular company directed to pay compensation
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 8
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has penalised a cellular company for disconnecting the incoming and outgoing call facility of a subscriber without any reason.

Bharti Mobile Limited, Mohali, has been directed to pay Rs 1,700 as compensation and cost to the complainant. The mobile connection of the subscriber remained disconnected for about 10 days.

The order was made by the forum in connection with a complaint filed by Rajesh Arora of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar. The complainant had alleged that he was having a mobile connection (No. 98150-05608). The company withdrew outgoing and incoming call facilities on the said phone number on October 6, 2002. The SMS facility was also withdrawn. The disconnection lasted till October 16. The complainant claimed that he had already paid all his bills and the company was not justified in disconnecting his connection.

On the other hand, the cellular company pleaded that there was no deficiency in services. The company asserted that the SMS, outgoing and incoming call facilities were never barred as had been alleged by the complainant.

After taking into consideration the evidence adduced by both parties, the forum found that as per the bill produced by the complainant, no calls were made during the period from October 6 to 16, except calls to the complaint centre of the opposite party.

“The very fact that the complaints made from the said telephone were to the complaint centre of the opposite party shows that the telephone was not working. As such, the evidence proves that the calls remained barred from the telephone of the complainant, which is a clear deficiency in services and the complainant is entitled to recover compensation for having been deprived of the facility of mobile phone,” observed the forum.

Punjabi writers hold meeting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 8
The Punjabi Lekhak Kalakar Society today held a meeting at its office at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar. Presiding over the meeting, Ms Gurcharn Kaur Kochar, president of the society, talked about various programmes to be organised by the members in the next two months. She stressed the need to highlight the problems of the poor and needy students through various writings. She said time should also be devoted to give the message of communal harmony to the masses.

Mr Charanjit Singh of the Punjab & Sind Bank was the chief guest. He appreciated the work of society in the field of Punjabi literature. He assured all possible help for the future programmes of the society. He congratulated Ms Kochar on her selection for national award to be given on September 5 by the President of India.

Mr J.B. Singh Kochar, patron, Prof. Kulwant Jagraon, General Secretary, while expressing their views said that the aim of the society is to work with dedication for the promotion of Punjabi language, art and culture. All members of the society congratulated Mr Ashok Garcha on resuming the charge of chairman of the Improvement Trust.

The meeting was attended by Mr Mukhtiar Mitter, Mandeep Grewal, Kuljit, Sadhu Singh Grewal, Ms Paramjit Kaur, Prof Anju Kochar, Prof Barjinder Singh Kochar, Mr Dawinder Singh and Ms Mohinder Kaur.