PAU golden jubilee celebrations a sponsored affair, says PAU

"The construction of new roads in the varsity had already its funds sanctioned last year (Rs 3 crore) by Punjab Mandi Board but they are making roads now when President is arriving which is adding to the confusion that some special funds have been issued but it is not so," said the source.

Reportedly, PAU has kept the registration fee for the conference as Rs 2,000 per student and Rs 4,000 per delegate, and till now more than 1,200 registrations have been received and around Rs 30,00,000 has come from there.

"No doubt we are expecting some grant announcement from PM and President but that money will be strictly used for welfare and infrastructure purposes of the varsity and not on celebrations. Even the grant of Rs 1.5 crore from Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, will be used for renovation," said the source.

Out of Rs 1 crore, approximately Rs 40 lakh is left which will be put to use on the PM visit and alumni meet, said the source.

PAU Vice-Chancellor B S Dhillon said, "We are thankful to the state government for increasing our yearly budget to almost double this year but as far as golden jubilee is concernced, we have raised the sponsorships on our own and it is quiet self-sufficient."

Major expenses

"In the three-day international conference, our major expenses are of food and stationary. Around 1,200 delegates will attend and thus food will cost around Rs 25 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh will be stationary expense as we have to print research papers for all," said the source.

The rooms for some top 20 delegates have been booked in Hotel Park Plaza and the rest will be accommodated in PAU guesthouses. The President would be taking lunch at Sutton House, PAU. A monument dedicated to agriculture is too coming up on the campus at a cost of Rs 7.8 lakh and will be inaugurated by PM on December 8.

... contd.

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