Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the preparatory arrangements for the third ‘Bhartiya Vigyan Sammelan (BVS) and Expo’ on the theme of Science for global development to be held at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar from October 11-14, 2012. Giving presentation on the 3rd BVS dedicated to renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan as a part of commemoration of his 125th birth anniversary as the Government of India had already declared year 2012 as “National Mathematical Year”, the Vice Chancellor of Punjab Technical University (PTU) Dr Rajneesh Arora apprised the Chief Minister that this Mega Science Conference was being jointly organized by Vijana Bharti, PTU and LPU. The sole objective of the BVS was to bring together not only Scientists, Technocrats, Academicians, Policy Makers, Research Scholars and Students from ‘structured organizations’ but also innovative farmers, technicians and artisans which was a unique feature of this scientific conference. The conference would focus on Environment , science and technology, agriculture, horticulture and veterinary sciences, water management, energy management and renewable energy system, alternative Indian Medical Systems, emerging technologies; biotechnology- nanotechnology- Tele medicine etc besides addressing vital issues concerning Punjab viz. drinking water and replenishment of fast depleting underground water table and cleaning of Ponds.Dr Arora further informed that Punjab Governor Mr Shivraj V Patil would be the Chief guest at BVS and Mr Badal would be the Chief Patron. He mentioned that Rs 1.50 crore would be spent on this event of which Rs 1 crore would be jointly contributed by PTU and LPU and demanded Rs 50 lakh to be contributed by the state government. He said nearly 3000 eminent scientists and academicians in filed of science and technology were likely to participate in this Science Congress.Taking part in the deliberations, Mr Badal asked the organizers that this prestigious event should be organized in such a manner that it should left an indelible impression on the minds of the participants. Assuring fulsome support and co-operation on behalf of the state government to make this mega event a grand success, the Chief Minister announced Rs 50 lakh for the BVS. He said that such events should not only commemorate in a customary manner rather these should be utilized as useful platforms to imbibe the scientific temper amongst the youth. Mr Badal emphasized the need to make optimum utilization of this healthy platform in mitigating the problems like potable drinking water, health care and hygiene, depleting water table, air, water and vehicular pollution confronted by the people of the country in general and Punjab in particular. He also asked the organizers to include the topic of plantation of trees in order to increase the forest cover in the state, which was the need of hour to keep our environment clean and green.Earlier the Chief Minister along with Education Minister Mr Sikander Singh Maluka and Vice Chancellor of PTU Dr Rajneesh Arora released the brochure regarding the BVS.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Science, Technology and Environment Mr Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Technical Education Mr SS Channi, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema, Chancellor LPU Mr Ashok Mittal, Vice Chancellor LPU Dr Ramesh Kanwar and Director General Pushpa Gujral Science City Dr RS Khandpur.