Writeup AP 2011-12 - Punjab State Planning Board

elated data is also collected, collated and made available to public through reports and
website. PSCST is also taking up various programmes for popularization of science and
awareness of environment amongst students, teachers and general public.
165. Several biotech based projects are also being implemented besides
programmes to promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The Intellectual Property
Facilitation Centre (IPFC) has been set up in the council with the support of Ministry of
Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Government of India to generate awareness
about IPRs among MSMEs of Punjab and facilitate filling of (IPR) applications by them.
Patent Information Centre (PIC) of the Council has conducted 210 patent searches, filed 32
patents for various academic institutions of state and 8 patents have been granted. Phulkari
Geographical Indication (GI) of Punjab has also been granted. Further, PIC has organized 36
patent awareness workshops & 50 IPR faculty training camps for technical and vocational
education institutes of Punjab.
166. State Biodiversity Board has drafted State Biodiversity Rules to advise the
government on matters related to conservation of biodiversity, regulate access to bioresources
for commercial utilization and equitable sharing of benefits. Capacity building
activities have been taken up and a joint project with UNESCO was implemented in
Hoshirapur and Gurdaspur District. The Board has constituted 10 district level Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs) in the state.
167. Punjab is the only state in India that has banned burning of rice husk in loose
form. As a major agriculture initiative to reduce paddy straw burning, it has been decided to
introduce Happy Seeder Machines in a big way. Costing Rs. 1.00 lakh each these machines
sow wheat in the rice stubble and help in increasing the soil fertility besides enhancing water
retention qualities of the land. Straw bales, that bind the straw which can then be supplied to
small bio-mass power plants for generating power, are also being introduced.
168. The state government has made available land measuring 390 acre costing Rs.
372 crore for three national level institutes - National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute
(NABI), Bio Processing Unit and Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) to be set
up with the assistance of Government of India in Knowledge City, Mohali. However,
construction work of these institutes is yet to begin. Besides, Agri-food Biotechnology Park
would, however, be set up in public-private partnership for promotion of biotechnology
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