Soil health test vans

Agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Saturday flagged off soil health testing mobile vans. Nine vehicles were launched for each division.

The van would visit remote areas of each division where there is no laboratory to test the health of the soil, agriculture department deputy director (information) Ashok Prasad said. The mobile testing laboratory would test the health of the soil and issue the soil health card to the farmers.

There are 47 static laboratories across the state besides the nine mobile van soil testing laboratory. The state government intends to complete soil health mapping of all fields/farms across the state within three years.

Land bill symposium

The Association for Study And Action and Patna College jointly organised a symposium on the land acquisition bill on the institute campus on Saturday.

The event was organised to discuss the impact of the bill, how it was necessary for development of the country and what measures should be taken to see that the acquisition was fair and in the interest of the public and did not violate the right of any citizen.

Revenue and land reforms department principal secretary Vyasji made a presentation on Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and land acquisition amendment bill, 2015, and explained the features. Patna College principal Nawal Kishore Choudhary said: "For progress of the nation, the development of industries and infrastructure is important for which land acquisition is necessary."

Poet meet

Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan on Saturday organised a Kavi Goshthi on the birth anniversary of late Kalektar Singh Keshri, at IIBM. Sammelan chairman Anil Sulabh, senior vice-president Nripendra Nath, Shivvanash Pandey, Shanti Ojha, Nigam Prakash and Sangeeta Narayan were present.

Nripendra said: "Keshriji was a genius. Despite being an English professor,he was a great Hindi poet."

Anil said: "Don't keep things in mind, show your love because everywhere there is sorrow, try to spread happiness if you can."