Chidambaram promises early release of Rs 100 crore to PAU

Ludhiana, Oct 31 (UNI) Eight months after the central budgetary allocation of Rs 100 crore to the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today assured the country's prestigious institution that the grant would soon be released.

''I am glad to know that the University has submitted a detailed plan to utilise this grant and the plan is in an advanced stage of consideration,'' Mr Chidambaram said in his keynote address at the PAU Annual Convocation here.

The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) had finally accepted PAU's proposed draft report for the utilisation of the Rs 100 crore central budgetry allocation last month after returning the earlier proposals on various grounds.

It may be recalled that the ICAR had rejected the PAU's earlier proposals which suggested a corpus fund out of the Rs 100 crore grant. The PAU had been asked by the ICAR that the entire money would have to be spent in the current financial year only following which the PAU submitted another draft plan with the ICAR now awaiting its nod by the central cabinet.

Acknowledging PAU's contribution in developing new strains of high yield varieties specific to different climatic zones, Mr Chidambaram said the university needed fiscal support and that was why the Centre announced Rs 100 crore for the purpose.

''I would urge the teachers and scholars of this great University to raise their sights and draw an ambitious blue print for Indian agriculture in the 21st century'', he said.

UNI PS JMK MQA VV1812