Bathinda, September 2: The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) received the second instalment of the grant-in-aid of Rs 1.98 Crore from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) for setting up of Quality Control/Food Testing Laboratoryat university campusunder scheme for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana – Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure.
The university has got a total approved non-recurring grant-in-aid of Rs 5.15 Crore under this scheme out of which the first instalment of Rs 2.01 crore was released on 31.01.2018.
The sanction order for the release of the second instalment of this scheme was issued by MoFPI in the last week of August 2021.
Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, the Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab, mentioned that the grant for setting up of Food Testing Laboratory at CUPB will be imperative for meeting the regulatory requirement for ensuring the quality and safety standards of processed food, agriculture products and allied agri products for an agri-intensive state of Punjab.
The Food Testing Laboratory established at the Department of Applied Agriculture, CUPB, will also ensure the dissemination of information on food quality and safety through awareness programmes and hands-on training for people of Punjab and adjoining states.
Prof. Raj Kumar, Incharge Central Instrumentation Lab (CIL), CUPB, stated that this grant will be utilized to purchase and operationalize the Food Quality and Safety Testing equipment such as Gluten Analyzer, Texture Analyzer, Kjeldahl Distillation System, Muffle Furnace, Weighing Balances, Walk-in cold rooms along with other minor equipment.
The work for establishment for Food Testing Laboratory at the University has already commenced and the university has developed basic infrastructure. Total 13 PAC approved equipment were successfully purchased and operationalized utilizing the 1st instalment of this grant. The equipment pertaining to this project are being maintained in the Central Instrumentation facility of the CUPB.
