Ludhiana, July 12
A technology for conversion of paddy and wheat stubble into useful biogas and compost was presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Director of Research and other senior scientists of Pubjab Agricultural University here today. Author of the presentation, Prof B.S. Pathak, Director, Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI), Vidya Nagar, Gujrat, said the disposal of paddy and wheat stubble was a major problem in many states.

For each tonne of crop produce one tonne of stubble is produced. It is estimated that over 70 million tonne of stubble is burnt every year in India creating serious air pollution and loss of soil organic matter. “Farmers in Punjab and other states often burn the straw causing great damage to the environment, which otherwise is a good source of energy”, he remarked.

He said research at the institute had yielded a biological (anaerobic) process which converted paddy and wheat straw into methane rich natural gas and compost, a valuable organic manure. “This natural gas can be utilised for power generation”, he said. One tonne of straw was capable of yielding 250-340 cubic meters of natural gas and 600 kg of compost, he added.

Dr Pathak said an Austrian company, VA Teck, had conducted an economic analysis of the project and found it very useful and profitable.

Managing Director of the company Peter Haag was also present during the presentation. “We are convinced in the profitability of the project and willing to invest in it in Punjab”, he said. Vice-Chancellor K.S. Aulakh asked the visitors to set up a prototype of the project in the university.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 12
Keeping her promise to provide help to the Punjab Urdu Akademi, Malerkotla, to preserve the cultural heritage of Muslims, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, gave a grant of Rs 1 crore to the management of the akademi.

A cheque was presented to Ms Razia Sultana, chairperson, Punjab Waqf Board and MLA of the constituency at Chandigarh on Monday.

Ms Bhattal had announced the grant while laying the foundation stone of the akademi at nearby Malerkotla town in March. People of the erstwhile princely state been demanding establishment of an Urdu akademi for long time.

“The state government would provide all help to the akademi so that cultural heritage of Muslims was preserved,” Ms Bhattal had claimed while laying the foundation stone about three months ago.

Ms Razia Sultana said that Capt Amarinder Singh and Ms Bhattal had kept their promise to implement certain declarations, including the opening of the Urdu akademi and transforming the status of institutes being run by the waqf board.

People of the area in general and Muslims, in particular, hope to see emergence of an akademi of its in kind in North India.

Prof Mohd Hayat Khan, honorary secretary of the akademi, said, “People of this Muslim-dominated area had been urging the successive governments to open an Urdu akademi but their efforts bore no fruit.

Though the akademi has been opened in an old building of the Hostel of Government College Malerkotla, it would be shifted to a more spacious building soon.”

Ludhiana, July 12
The Punjab Government has made elaborative arrangements to impart Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) training to students studying in government colleges of the state to make them competent to be adjusted in professional job market and make them fit according to requirements of the corporate sector. This was stated by the Deputy DPI (Colleges), Mr Dinesh Gupta, while addressing the assembly of the first year students at SCD Government College here yesterday.

Mr Gupta said the Department of Higher Education was in the process of signing MoU with some BPO, KPO organisations whose qualified staff will provide regular training to students studying in government colleges and it will be optional for students to enroll for such training programmes. He said that training module would include personality development programmes, communication skills and skills development.

Training will be imparted at nominal cost. He said present day environment demand professional competency in human resources. He urged the students to go for professional courses like Chartered Accountancy (CA), ICWA and Company Secretary. He said these courses could be pursued along with their traditional degree courses. Mr Gupta further added the Department of Higher Education was committed to ensure quality education in colleges for which every possible step will be taken to improve the standard of education.

While addressing the students Dr Malkiat Singh, Principal of SCD Government College said regularity of students in classes will be his main agenda and it will be ensured that students remain in discipline and follow the university guidelines to complete their course curriculum and develop the required skills during their stay in the college.

He said faculty would always remain at the disposal of the students to solve their academic worries and make them good citizens.

Ludhiana, July 12
Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, staged a demonstration here today to protest against the bomb blasts in Mumbai and the attack on pilgrims in Srinagar on Tuesday. They also burnt an effigy of terrorism.

The ABVP activists took out a protest march and burnt the effigy on the Humbran road near here. They alleged that the state and central governments had failed to protect the life and property of the people in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

The ABVP activists alleged that the Congress governments in these states and also at the Centre were going soft towards terrorism which led to their encouragement. They demanded strict measures against terrorism without any concession.

The ABVP activists warned that in case the government failed to punish the terrorists it could lead to public resentment and vengeance by other people.