Notably, the state government took 25 acres from PAU in Bathinda for construction of a cricket stadium. Till date, however, PAU has not been compensated for the land as promised by the state government.

Dr Kang said, “During the last meeting of the Board of Management on January 7, Financial Commissioner Development (FCD) made it very clear that the state government wants the land. It was also expressed at this meeting that as the land primarily belongs to the state government, it was well within its purview to demand it back.”

FCD R S Sandhu could not be contacted despite several attempts.

Avtar Singh Dhindsa, a member of the Board of Management, said, "The Laddowal farm is prone to floods. And if PAU has a better option, it should be availed. At the same time, we should also pressurise the state government to compensate us monetarily along with the land in lieu of the farm and uprooting of the entire research paraphenalia."

The Laddowal farm covers 2, 950 acres, which originally belonged to the Union government and was called the Centre State Seed Farm. The farm was handed over to the Punjab Government in the 90s. It was during the previous Akali government that 1250 acres of this farm was given to PAU for research work.

When asked about PAU's plan of action once the land is taken away, Dr Kang said, "The sugarcane research is being shifted for the third time. It started at Jallandhar from where it was shifted to PAU main campus. From there it was brought to Laddowal. Crores of rupees, too, have been invested by the university at the farm for infrastructure and research labs.

“At present when PAU is reeling under severe financial crisis, it is not easy to shift. However, keeping in view that our research should not be hampered, we will plan ahead of the state government's take over."

Commenting on the issue of a CD comprising the proposed farmland that PAU can take over in lieu of the Laddowal farm, Dr Kang said, "I have set up a committee headed by Director (Research) r N S Mahli to go through the contents of the CD and present a report on the same. Some of the farms that have been given to us as options belong to various panchayats while some are under litigation. Hence, we have to consider the matter carefully."

Meanwhile, PAU Teachers' Association, PAU Non- teaching Employees' Unions, PAU Class Fourth Workers' Unions and various other unions of the university have decided to protest against the decision of the state government.