PAU developing new varieties of sugarcane
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 14
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana is developing new varieties of sugarcane, which will be high on sugar content, tolerance for insects and ability withstand vagaries of adverse weather.

According to Dr U.S. Uppal, the in-charge of sugarcane research, "The new varieties will give a boost to sugarcane production in the state and will help in rejuvenating dying sugar mills."

He said efforts were being made to develop not only early maturing varieties but also mid and late maturing varieties because these varieties have higher productivity than previous ones and help to extend the availability of sugarcane over a longer period.

Dr Uppal said, "To run a profitable unit a sugar mill one must operate for at least 180 days in a year."

Ludhiana, July 14
Students of BDS Colleges of Punjab, who are planning to take admissions to PG courses, are in a tizzy over the alleged "institutional preference" given to students scoring lesser marks.

The meritorious students said despite scoring high in BDS, they were not able to get admissions to the PG courses because of the "institutional preference" criterion set by the Department of Medical Education and Research, Government of Punjab, Chandigarh.

A number of high-scorers in BDS, who had come for counselling at Dumra Auditorium of DMCH here, alleged that candidates passing out from postgraduate dental institutes were given preference over them. Shocked over the strange criterion set by the department, the deserving candidates felt that it was a grave injustice to them.

One of the candidates, whose rank is 38, has been denied admission to MDS because of the institutional reservation. She has also written a complaint to the principal secretary, Health, Medical Education and Research, Punjab, regarding the injustice.

She said she was told by committee members that admissions were being conducted as per the directions of the high court.

Another student disclosed that she had done BDS from Guru Ram Dass Institute of Dental Sciences, Amritsar, with 27th rank but was denied admission.

All four students, who got admission in this college, were from other institutes. The student said if the criterion was set for "institutional preference" then why she was denied admission in the college? She had scored highest in BDS from Guru Ram Dass Institute of Dental Sciences, Amritsar.

"We fail to understand the criterion of the admission committee. They are following the court directions regarding institutional preference. According to that, my rank is first in Guru Ram Dass College, Amritsar. I should be given the institutional preference but they are not entertaining me on the pretext that principal of the college does not want ‘institutional seats’. That means they are clearly violating the court's orders. Where should we go? We are being harassed unnecessarily", she said.

V-C of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Ravinder Singh said the university provided the infrastructure only. Rest depended on the committee constituted by the state government.

"We have just one member in the committee and have nothing to do with the admission procedure. The decision is taken by the entire committee members", said Dr Singh.

Meanwhile, the principal secretary, Health, Medical Education and Research, Punjab, Jagjit Puri said he was not aware of any such complaints and not in a position to tell anything on admissions. Director J.L.Dalal said "institutional preference" was given to the students.

Ludhiana, July 14
NTT institute organised its 12th convocation and annual day celebrations here today. The function was presided over by Dr Anil Conto (Bishop of Jalandhar).

The degrees were given away by Harish Rai Dhanda (chief parliamentary secretary) Punjab. He was accompanied by Narinder Katyal (president of the PTA) and others.

A cultural programme was also organised to entertain the guests, which included colourful western dance, radio jumble, Rajasthani dance, Giddha and Bhangra.

The chief guest said the hard work always pays off rich dividends. He encouraged the NTT students to put in their best, and wished them luck for future. The programme ended with the NTT Anthem.

NTT teachers present a cultural programme in Ludhiana on Saturday. — A Tribune photograph

Ludhiana, February 14
To increase forest wealth, maintain ecological balance and keep the environment clean and green, SDP College for Women launched a tree plantation drive here today.

The drive will last for a month. Vikas Pratap, commissioner, Municipal Corporation, inaugurated the drive on the college campus by planting saplings of eucalyptus, gulmohar, neem trees.

President, principal and members of management staff and other employees of the college also planted saplings and promised to nurture them at least for one year.

Earlier, chief guest Vikas Partap was accorded a warm welcome by president Balraj Bhasin, director S. Verma, principal Geeta Bhandari and members of management and staff.

The chief guest had a brief interaction with members of management and staff on topics "Environmental Pollution", "Ecological Balance" and "Soil Erosion".

He also said the educated people should come forward to help government in controlling pollution and planting more trees.