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BEING A PERFECTIONIST NEW FINDING MUST-WIN TIE TODAY Jacqueline Fernandez feels her ability to do A NASA-funded research says water from Mars Trailing the 5-match T20I series 1-2, tightrope walking has helped her while has not flown into space, but is below the India face England in a must-win game in Ahmedabad acting in ‘Bacchan Pandey’ LEISURE | P2 planet’s surface INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 345 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | THURSDAY, MARCH 18 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00

IRREGULAR by MANJUL PMGSY-III 2nd phase Assembly logjam continues New road, bridge POST NEWS NETWORK projects approved Bhubaneswar, March 17: The stalemate continued in the Odisha POST NEWS NETWORK Legislative Assembly for the fifth suc- cessive day Wednesday over the sui- Bhubaneswar, March 17: Putting a step forward cide attempt by a BJP lawmaker to provide road connectivity in rural areas, the Subash Panigrahi and alleged mis- Odisha government Wednesday sanctioned 543 management in paddy procurement. road projects and 77 bridges that will incur an ex- Soon after the House assembled penditure of approximately `2,229 crore under sec- Mumbai top cop shunted He is busy stiching for the day, BJP and ruling BJD ond phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana a decent jeans members stormed into the well (PMGSY-III). for Indian women and created noisy scenes. Congress The State Level n 543 road laying for hand in Ambani fiasco and BJP members demonstrated Sanctioning Committee projects and construction of displaying banners over misman- headed by Chief Secretary PRESS TRUST OF INDIA claiming there were ‘other SHORT TAKES agement in paddy procurement. Suresh Chandra 77 new bridges players’ who had been al- approved On the other hand, BJD MLAs de- Mahapatra approved the in- Mumbai, March 17: Under legedly instructing arrested manded apology from Panigrahi. frastructure projects n 62,000km of fire over the handling of the policeman Sachin Vaze. NIA BJP MP found Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, spreading over 114 blocks roads and 412 bomb scare outside indus- sources said the case had dead at home who was unable to transact any PROTESTING IN UNISON: BJD lawmakers walk towards the Raj Bhawan to of nine districts. The dis- bridges have trialist Mukesh Ambani’s virtually been cracked and business, adjourned the House first submit a memorandum against BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi OP PHOTO tricts that will benefit are already been house here, the Maharashtra soon the ‘entire conspiracy’ till 12.00 noon and later till the post- Bolangir, Bhadrak, completed government transferred behind would be unravelled. New Delhi: BJP MP from Mandi lunch session. Both Opposition and the prestige of the Odisha Legislative Ganjam, Kendrapara, under PMGSY 1 Wednesday, Mumbai Police “Big decision of the gov- in Himachal Pradesh Ram Treasury bench members contin- OTH THE BJP AND CONGRESS Assembly,” the BJD MLAs said in Khurda, Malkangiri, Commissioner Param ernment. Shri Hemant Swaroop Sharma was found HAVE WRITTEN TO THE CM TO ued to disturb the proceedings in B their memorandum. Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh and Puri Bir Singh to the low-key Nagrale will be the new hanging from the ceiling HELP IN ENDING THE IMBROGLIO Wednesday in his official the second half also. On the other hand, both the BJP Despite the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Home Guard section. Senior Mumbai Police chief, residence here, police Later, Patro said that members JD MEMBERS SUBMIT and Congress sought intervention of the Rural Development department continued IPS officer Hemant Nagrale, Deshmukh said in a tweet. informed. Sixty-two-year-old off all parties had suggestions to BMEMORANDUM TO GOVERNOR Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. to perform well in execution of PMGSY scheme holding additional charge The Maha Vikas Aghadi Sharma had been suffering offer to end the continuing impasse. DEMANDING APOLOGY FROM Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha with completion of 340 projects sanc- of the state’s DGP post, will (MVA) government’s deci- from various ailments. The However, no logical conclusion PANIGRAHI Pradipta Kumar Naik said, “The tioned under the first batch of PMSGY-III. be the new Mumbai Police sion to transfer Singh follows lawmaker’s body was taken to could be reached. He informed that House is unable to function for the Development Commissioner and Additional Commissioner, Home a series of meetings among a hospital where doctors another all-party meeting will be “The floor of the Assembly is past five days. Where is the CM, Chief Secretary Rural Development Pradeep Minister Anil Deshmukh the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP- pronounced him dead on held Thursday. the right forum for all democratically who is the leader of the House? We Kumar Jena outlined the issues for discussion. said. Congress alliance leaders. arrival. Prima facie, it appears Meanwhile, BJD lawmakers elected representatives to raise is- have written a letter to the CM “The state and national level quality monitor- Singh’s transfer came Singh’s transfer follows to be a case of suicide, the walked to the Raj Bhawan and sues of the people. However, while seeking time to discuss the paddy ing mechanisms have been fully geared up for even as the case of recovery Tuesday’s talks between police said. However, no submitted a memorandum to doing so if a member commits a procurement issue.” Similarly, CLP continued quality check,” Jena said. of gelatin sticks near Thackeray and NCP chief suicide note was found from Governor Ganeshi Lal over the shameful act it sends a very nega- leader Narasingha Mishra said he Rural Development director Sudarshan Ambani’s residence turned Sharad Pawar. Sources said the spot, they added. suicide attempt made by Panigrahi tive message to the public. The en- has written a letter on similar Parida said the new road projects will cover a murkier with the National the latter wanted Singh to be last Friday. tire Panigrahi act has downgraded lines to the chief minister. distance of 3,435km. Investigation Agency (NIA) transferred. Eight killed in Atlanta shooting COVID-19 THREATENS AGAIN Atlanta: Eight persons, including six women of Asian descent were killed in shootings at three spas in this India records highest town, police said Wednesday. One suspect has been taken into custody in connection shootings Tuesday. Cherokee daily spike since Dec County Sheriff’s office said that suspect Robert Aaron Long (21) was arrested at about 8.30pm PRESS TRUST OF INDIA (local time). Two of the Naveen promises shootings were at spas across New Delhi, March 17: India the street from each other in registered its highest daily total cooperation northeast Atlanta and the other tally of coronavirus cases happened about 30 miles away this year with 28,903 new in- BHUBANESWAR: The in Cherokee County to the fections in the last 24 hours. Odisha government will northwest of the city. P10 continue to extend all The new infections took the support to the Centre in total COVID-19 tally to the fight against COVID- MARKET WATCH 1,14,38,734, according to the 19 pandemic, Chief Union Health Ministry data Minister Naveen Patnaik updated Wednesday. The INDEX VARIATION said Wednesday. He death toll increased to 1,59,044 assured full cooperation with 188 new fatalities, the during the virtual SENSEX 49801.62 562.34 highest in around two STAYING SAFE: 107-year-old meeting of chief months, the data stated. The Roopa Devi takes the vax jab ministers with Prime BOURSES NIFTY 14721.30 189.20 last time when more than Minister Narendra Modi. DOLLAR 72.67 `0.06 28,000 new infections were Karnataka, Gujarat and “As a country with huge registered was December 13, Tamil Nadu account for 71.10 population, achieving EURO 86.46 `0.18 herd immunity will be a CURRENCY last year. On that date, 30,254 per cent of the new infec- long process and in the GOLD `44,931 `99 new cases were reported. tions. The sixth state with the The number of people highest number of infec- meantime we all need to SILVER `67,320 `343 who have recuperated from tions is Kerala. However, it be extremely careful. We BULLION the disease surged to has been reporting a con- will continue to extend 1,10,45,284, while the case sistently declining trend all support to the Union Government in this fight fatality rate dropped to 1.39 over the last month. With against COVID-19,” WEATHER per cent, the data stated. Kerala added to the list, the Naveen stated. More P3 BHUB CTK The 188 new fatalities in- six states account for 83.91 clude 87 from Maharashtra, per cent of the new cases, the MAX 38.6° 37.6° 38 from Punjab, 15 from ministry said. informed. Kerala and 12 from Maharashtra reported The ministry also said TEMP MIN 23.9° 22.8° Forecast Chhattisgarh. 17,864 new cases in the last that 70 districts in India have Humidity 93% 89% The Health Ministry also 24 hours. It is followed by registered a 150 per cent rise Mainly Rainfall Nil Nil clear sky said that five states – Kerala (1,970) and Punjab in COVID-19 cases which is Maharashtra, Punjab, (1,463), the ministry worrying indeed. More P8 US elections: Putin tried to help Trump

ASSOCIATED PRESS telligence officials believe Russia sought to influence people close to Trump as a Washington, March 17: Russian way to tip the election in his favour. President Vladimir Putin authorised in- In the case of Russia, the report says, fluence operations to help Donald Trump it sought to undermine Biden’s candi- in last November’s presidential election, dacy because it viewed his presidency as according to a declassified intelligence as- opposed to the Kremlin’s interests. The sessment that found broad efforts by the report also says Putin authorised influ- Kremlin and Iran to shape the outcome ence operations aimed at denigrating of the race but ultimately no evidence that Despite those threats, though, intelli- Biden, boosting Trump, undermining any foreign actor changed votes or gence officials found ‘no indications that confidence in the election and exacer- otherwise disrupted the voting process. any foreign actor attempted to interfere bating social divisions in the US. The report released Tuesday from the in the 2020 US elections by altering any The Kremlin rejected Wednesday the ‘Office of the Director of National technical aspect of the voting process, allegations in the report. “We disagree with y Intelligence’ represents the most detailed including voter registration, ballot this report’s findings about our coun-

assessment of the array of foreign threats casting, vote tabulation, or reporting re- try,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

k y m c to the 2020 elections. These included sults’, the report said. said on a conference call with reporters. efforts by Iran to undermine confidence Multiple courts and even Trump’s own “Russia didn’t interfere with the previ- in the vote and harm Trump’s re-election Justice Department refuted claims of ous election and didn’t interfere with prospects as well as Moscow operations widespread fraud. The document makes the 2020 election mentioned in the re- that relied on Trump’s allies to smear Joe clear that even while Trump has cried foul port,” he added. He termed the report ‘un- Biden, the eventual winner. about the legitimacy of the election, in- founded and unsubstantiated’. P2 ‘WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED EMMA NERVOUS ABOUT THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR BY A DRUG DEALER IN 2018’ HOSTING THE VOICE LIVE Singer-songwriter Demi Lovato, says she lost her TV presenter Emma Willis will be hosting the virginity in a rape when she was a teenager. She also reality show The Voice, and she admits being was sexually assaulted by her drug dealer in July 2018, nervous. Willis is hosting the show live for

on the night she had a drug overdose and almost died, the first time in two years and says that she y

leisure added the 28-year-old in a documentary series. is worried about doing something wrong.

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FORTUNE FORECAST ‘Pandemic gave ‘Perfectionist’ Jacqueline Hrithik confesses missing samosas! Mumbai: When it comes to his menu space to create of choice, Hrithik Roshan does put forth a serious face. takes to tightrope walking In an Instagram picture he has ARIES what we enjoy’ posted, the actor looks into his lap- Mumbai: Actress Jacqueline feet above the ground. top screen intensely. He says he is Today in the morning Mumbai: Singer Jonita Gandhi said that music Fernandez, who recently fin- Jacqueline learnt the art missing his samosas. you will choose to approach work auda- videos are a great way for singers to reach out to ished shooting in Jaisalmer for with ease,” said a source “Don’t be fooled by the serious ciously. You will churn out fancy ideas. their audience. In the case of film songs, she points Bachchan Pandey, trained in close to the development. face. It’s a menu. #itakemyfood- However, Ganesha says, by noon, you will out, fans only know the actors they see on screen the art of tightrope walking or The source added that veryseriously #missinmysamosas,” feel disoriented again. Ganesha urges you and often have no idea who sang the song. funambulism for her role. the actress has also he wrote as the caption. to take a break to re-energise yourself. “We’re living in a visual era. As a singer, especially It is a skill of walking on a thin trained in pole dancing Speaking about his professional in Bollywood, we don’t often get chance to be the wire or rope, the art has a long and aerial yoga earlier life, Hrithik has been roped in as face of our voice, so listeners don’t get to know who tradition in various countries on a personal level, the lead for the Indian adaptation of TAURUS we are. Music videos for independent music gives and is usually performed by the which helped her get popular English series The Night us the opportunity to be the face of our own locals. the balancing part of Manager. This day, you are likely to voice,” she said. Jacqueline was in the art correctly. The actor will essay an Indian be in a mood to extend your business activities, The singer said the pandemic gave Jaisalmer for almost It also version of the Jonathan Pine launch new venture. Ganesha urges you singers a chance to make independ- three weeks and she claimed: “She character, essayed by Tom to hold your horses today, and reminds ent music, and hence the scope to in- learnt the art in has given some Hiddleston in the original John Le Carre. you that haste makes waste. It would be teract with fans directly. about a week’s time. amazing shots 2016 limited series based The Indian adaptation will start a good idea to wait for a few days and, “With the rise of the pandemic, “It is a tough art and left every- on the 1993 novel by shooting in Mumbai in April. IANS in the meantime plan out your projects meticulously, in detail. artistes have been exploring (the to learn where one one spell- idea of) making music from needs to have the bound by home and there’s been a lot correct body bal- learning the STATE LEVEL COMEDY PLAY FEST – DAY 4 more original songs re- ance to walk on a art so per- GEMINI leased independently, rope which is tied fectly.” IANS You will be more emotion- a lot of them have at a height of al- Fakir Mohan’s sense of humour al today and people might been in a DIY kind most eight to 10 play with your feelings. of acoustic or Therefore you need to rein in your emo- with minimalis- tions today when it comes to dealing with on display in Mun Hata Bahuda people. However, you will meet people tic production who will reciprocate your feelings with vibes. I think equal ardour, if not more, says Ganesha. the pandemic gave us artistes a CANCER chance to con- nect with the In all likelihood, today, you are likely to strike a music within balance between your us, and space professional and per- to create what sonal life, predicts Ganesha. The work we enjoy Vir Das to be part of will be interesting and stimulating, rather than while your time with family will be solely com- peaceful and soothing. mercial tracks, upcoming Hollywood Artistes of Srasta enact a scene from play Mun Hata Bahuda at and it seems Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar,Wednesday OP PHOTO the audience LEO has devel- project The Bubble POST NEWS NETWORK so far in the festival as Fakir Rise and shine! There is oped a taste Mohan himself was the central a very bright chance for it as Bhubaneswar: Even as character in this production. In that today will be one of well,” she Mumbai: Actor-comedian Vir Byasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati the play, he tries to bring a pos- those super energetic said. Das is excited to be a part of has authored just four novels, itive change in the society while and enthusiastic days. Ganesha predicts you will have a great time socialising with IANS Hollywood filmmaker and co- 19 short stories and some poetry, remaining in the purview of so- neighbours, friends and relatives. median Judd Apatow’s up- he is regarded as the ‘Father of cial tradition. coming comedy project The Odia fiction’ and considered Adapted from the original Bubble. among those who come once in poem of Fakir Mohan, the play VIRGO “I have been shooting for an era. was dramatised and directed by this for a bit now and I’m very While his novels and short Srasta’s founder Hemendra Ganesha foresees a excited to be part of this mega stories are iconic, the poems he Mahapatra. He was also con- strong probability that you will keep your feet comedy project. Everyone on composed haven’t been discussed ferred with Panchamaveda firmly planted on the this cast is immensely funny much. Samman on the occasion. ground in the face of adversity. The and we’re making something Srasta theatre troupe of The music was scored by afternoon sun may bring some good special,” Vir said. Balasore, in a bid to showcase Nandakishore Das and returns or much awaited results for you. The feature is a comedy about Fakir Mohan’s sense of humour Ajitananda Dev Goswami. The a group of actors and actresses and satire towards the society, artistes who performed on the stuck inside a pandemic bubble in a staged Mun Hata Bahuda, a stage include Sulalit, Sangram, LIBRA hotel and are attempting to finish a stu- dramatised version of his po- Manoranjan, Shyamray, Amitabh dio franchise film. etry of the same name, at Bhanja and Susmita. Ganesha forecasts mostly superficial and The show has a huge cast including Kala Mandap here, Wednesday. State Planning Board Deputy thin-skinned issues as Karen Gillan, Iris Apatow, Fred The play was part of the com- ChairmanSanjay Kumar Das the likely cause of your Armisen, Maria Bakalova, David edy drama festival organised by Burma, State Information unease and nervousness today. Matters Duchovny, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Panchamaveda in collaboration Commissioner Dillip Bisoi, Special relating to government rules and regula- Mann, Pedro Pascal and Peter with Shristi Theatre. Secretary of Co-operation de- tions will be on the table today at your workplace. But evening promises a lighter Serafinowicz. Vir is not only a part of Apart from spreading a strong partment Bharat Chandra Behera fare; your fine taste in arts shall receive the show but is also producing it. message with a dab of humour, and MBS Public School chairman applause from all quarters. The show will stream on Netflix. Mun Hata Bahuda was differ- Sourendra Mohapatra were among IANS ent from other dramas staged the guests on the stage.

SCORPIO There are chances that you may easily get irritat- SUDOKU ed and infuriated today, PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, predicts Ganesha. Keep a CROSSWORD column and box must contain the numbers lid on your anger or it may lead to 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. irreconcilable differences. Avoid confrontations and unnecessary complications at work as well.

SAGITTARIUS You may turn to your family for love and hap- piness today, predicts Ganesha. But your soul searching will come at a high material cost. In the evening, you may encounter a thrilling love prospect with who you might indulge in some adventurous activity.

CAPRICORN CALVIN AND HOBBES Work pressure may take a toll on you today, but you will overcome all impediments and excel in whatever work you undertake, says Ganesha. Support and motivation await you at home as family members will be SOLUTIONS exceedingly tolerant of your actions and endeavours.

AQUARIUS Action is your forte, so seize the initiative and you will come out a win- ner! The afternoon sees you happy, but heavy-duty work may take a toll on you. Relax a bit — listen to music, BREVITY

play with your pet, or simply don your best CROSSWORD attire and step out to socialise!

PISCES You are likely to be sweat- y ing today at work, and it is

neither the weather nor an

k y m c ill-fitting suit that is the cause, says Ganesha. You will try your best to get your views across, and the post- afternoon lunch siesta is probably the best time to hammer your point home because

that is when your boss will have all the CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU energy to argue against. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 SECURITY CHECK THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD A team from the elite NSG World 12,14,84,750 9,79,24,308 26,85,303 inspects security arrangement at Srimandir India 1,14,38,734 1,10,45,284 1,59,044 in Puri, Wednesday

downtown Odisha 3,38,405 3,35,857 1,918

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Treat scribes as frontline Herd immunity a long process: CM workers: State to Centre Bypoll: Pipli to have 348

POST NEWS NETWORK We need to be POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, March 17: The careful as multiple Bhubaneswar, March 17: The state gov- booths to keep Covid at bay state government will continue to surges of Covid ernment, Wednesday, urged the Centre to in- POST NEWS NETWORK booths, this time the number the elections. Informing that all extend all support the Union gov- spread is the reality in many clude some more categories of people who were will be increased to 348. We will officials involved in conducting ernment in the fight against Covid- countries and as witnessed engaged in ensuring essential services and Bhubaneswar, March 17: As also ensure the presence of not the Pipli bypolls will be consid- 19 pandemic, Chief Minister Naveen in many states in India as Covid-19 surveillance & containment as front- some parts of India are experi- more than 1,000 voters at one ered as frontline workers, Lohani Patnaik said, Wednesday. well. We cannot go back to line workers (FLWs) for Covid-19 encing a second wave of Covid- polling station. Suspected Covid- said that they would receive pri- Patnaik said this during the in- the era of lockdowns vaccination. 19, the office of the State Chief 19 patients will be provided to- ority in Covid-19 vaccination. teraction of Prime Minister with NAVEEN PATNAIK I CHIEF MINISTER In a letter to Ministry of Health & Family Electoral Officer (CEO) an- kens and they will cast their The CEO also informed that a all the chief ministers on Covid-19 Welfare, state H&FW department Additional nounced Wednesday an increase votes in the last two hours,” said nodal officer would be appointed situation through videoconfer- Chief Secretary PK Mohapatra stated that gov- in the number of booths in the Lohani. “All voters will be ther- to monitor the Covid-19 safety pro- encing. pact on the economy and liveli- the end of the pandemic is nearing. ernment officials who were engaged in Covid- poll-bound Pipli constituency mally screened before they enter tocols during the elections. “As a country with huge popu- hoods as well, Naveen said. It’s a matter of pride for us that 19 surveillance and containment measures to ensure social distancing. the booth,” Lohani added. Lohani Lohani informed that the num- lation, achieving herd immunity Stating that Odisha is affected by India is leading in vaccine manu- are being vaccinated as FLWs in Odisha Odisha CEO Sushil Kumar also stated elderly people can ber of vehicles used by candidates will be a long process and in the disasters like cyclones almost every facture. We need to involve further since February 2021. Lohani said at a presser here that avail of postal ballots. “Those while filing nominations will be meantime we all need to be ex- year, the Chief Minister said, “Our the private sector in expediting the However, many categories of persons who Pipli bypolls will be conducted above 80 years, differently-abled restricted. He however said that tremely careful. We will continue administrative machinery is well vaccination program.” are at risk of exposure to infection due to the with strict adherence to the and Covid-19 patients and sus- the final plan for security to extend all support to the Union prepared to deal with crisis situa- “We need to be careful as multi- nature of their work have not been included Covid-19 norms. “We have in- pects can opt for postal ballots,” arrangements and use of CCTV government in this fight against tions. Thankfully, with the coop- ple surges of Covid spread is the re- as frontline workers. These categories in- creased the number of polling he informed. Lohani also said and other amenities during elec- Covid,” he said. eration of people of Odisha we ality in many countries and as wit- cluded journalists and personnel of the print booths for Pipli bypolls. Last that the office has adequate tion is yet be finalized. “It will be Over the last one year, the world have been able to control the pan- nessed in many states in India as and electronic media, staff engaged in main- time voting was done in 271 EVMs and VVPATs to conduct done soon,” he informed. has seen unprecedented crisis due demic and limit its damage to a well. We cannot go back to the era tenance of essential services, members en- to the Covid-19 situation. It was a large extent.” of lockdowns,” the CM stated. gaged at airports, railway stations and port, difficult year for every human being He thanked the scientific com- However, he added, at the same and servitors of Jagannath and Lingaraj as the virus spread to all parts of the munity for developing vaccines at time people need to ensure that the temples. “I request you to kindly consider the world. Families and societies have such short notice and said, “The roll- virus spread is also contained above categories for Covid vaccination on been affected not only in terms of out of the vaccine has been helpful through renewed efforts in aware- priority and communicate necessary ap- health crisis but also severe im- in providing hope to the citizens that ness and enforcement. proval at an early read,” the letter said. Swain seeks Goyal’s intervention in paddy row

POST NEWS NETWORK curement process in the state. FS&CW Minister RP Swain sought Goyal’s intervention to resolve “Odisha is expected to have a sur- the issue. “I would, therefore, Bhubaneswar, March 17: State plus of 30 lakh MT rice which needs cited extreme shortage of earnestly request your kind inter- Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare to be evacuated by FCI in the current vention to resolve the above said Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain kharif season. The FCI has so far funds at the OSCSC and problems so as to ensure smooth wrote to Union Consumer Welfare, evacuated only 6.80 lakh MT of rice slow evacuation of grains paddy procurement operations,” Food and Public Distribution from Odisha. For the current month, Swain said. Minister Piyush Goyal seeking his FCI, Odisha Region has received an from FCI godowns Swain also revealed that the intervention in issues pertaining extremely low quantity movement OSCSC is in a state of poor health. to paddy procurement in Odisha. plan for evacuation from the state,” “The OSCSC is reeling under In his letter, Swain cited the ex- Swain said. state and preventing timely receipt shortage of funds. Borrowing from treme shortage of funds at the Odisha He also said that such slow pace of rice from custom millers which banks has reached Rs 19,000 crore State Civil Supplies Corporation can lead to lesser evacuation of ex- in turn would be a major roadblock since there is a huge unpaid sum (OSCSC) and slow evacuation of pected quantum of rice from the in smooth procurement of paddy towards provisional and advance grains from Food Corporation of state as set by the government. during the ensuing Rabi season and subsidy of Rs 5,616 crore (as on India (FCI) godowns which have re- “This will have serious conse- the next Kharif season,” he said. 10.3.2021),” Swain told Goyal in his

portedly affected the paddy pro- quences of overloaded godowns in The minister in his letter has letter.

k y m c P4 THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

Little gain for state even after 19 hearings: BJD Guidelines out for

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE eral barrages on the river ob- Biju Babu foiled Pak structing the water flow to Odisha. PG admissions New Delhi, March 17: Requesting Odisha has sought stay on the con- infiltration: Khan the Union government’s interven- struction and operation of bar- POST NEWS NETWORK tion in resolving Mahanadi river rages being built on the Mahanadi JD MP Muzibulla Khan Better accessibility water dispute with Chhattisgarh, river and also for maintaining spe- BWednesday urged the Centre Bhubaneswar, March 17: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP cific flow of water during the non- to confer Bharat Ratna on former Higher Education department for differently-abled Bhartruhari Mahtab Wednesday monsoon months – November to Odisha Chief Minister and leg- Wednesday issued guidelines and expressed dissatisfaction over the May. The tribunal had concluded endary freedom fighter Biju timeline for Post Graduate (PG) BHUBANESWAR: The Higher stalemate in Mahanadi water dis- the hearing in the interim ap- Patnaik. Khan also highlighted vacant seats admission in uni- Education department pute tribunal. plication filed by Odisha the role of Biju Babu in sav- versities and colleges for 2020-21 Wednesday directed all uni- Mahtab, while speaking during seeking stay on the ing Kashmir from session. versities and colleges in the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, said that operation of bar- Pakistani infiltrators. Rajesh Kumar Sahoo, Deputy state to improve the accessi- even after 19 hearings on the rages in Speaking during Zero Director of Higher Education de- bility of persons with disabil- Mahanadi water dispute between matter, the Lok Sabha MP from Chhattisgarh and requested the Chhattisgarh Hour in Rajya Sabha, partment, said that admission for ities (PwDs) in educational in- the riparian states, Odisha has got Cuttack said the water level of Union government to intervene in and for ensur- the BJD MP lauded PG subjects will be held as per stitutions and campuses. no benefit from the tribunal. He Hirakud Reservoir has come down the matter and ensure adequate ing minimum the legendary leader’s guidelines. Priority will be given In a letter to the registrars of also said that the statutory tenure by six feet before the onset of sum- flow of water to Odisha during the flow of 1.74 pivotal role in the free- to students who have qualified universities and principals of of the tribunal ended March 12 and mer. He also said that more than six summer. MAF during dom struggle of Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) colleges, Ranjan Kumar Nayak, no decision has been taken on the districts of Odisha have been using It is to be mentioned here that non-monsoon Russia, Indonesia and Under Secretary to Higher extension of the tenure of the tri- the water of Hirakud reservoir for Odisha and Chhattisgarh have filed months, from ODISHA IN India. Pointing out Education department said that bunal. “The tribunal was consti- household purposes. petitions in the Mahanadi water November to Patnaik’s unmatched in some campuses, there is lack tuted by the Union government in The BJD MP said that the dispute tribunal in respect to shar- May, in 2019. contribution in build- of ramps and other facilities for 2018 following the order of the Mahanadi River water flow to ing of Mahanadi river water. Odisha The tribunal has since ing what he termed an the differently-abled in old Supreme Court,” he added. Odisha has been obstructed due to in its petition claimed that then reserved the order on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, he said, buildings. Highlighting the gravity of the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh has constructed sev- the interim application. “The legendary leader had set up Earlier, Sulochana Das, State commissioner for PwDs, had More allocation sought for health infra BJD MP Muzibulla written to the Higher Education Sujeet bats for bank branches in every GP Khan urged the Centre department highlighting he BJD Wednesday urged the Ministry of Health the issue. Tand Family Welfare (MoHFW) to allocate more funds JD MP Sujeet Kumar especially in the KBK dis- as per the Census 2011. to confer Bharat Ratna for development of healthcare infrastructure in Odisha. BWednesday urged the tricts. As a result, tribals “There is only one com- on former CM of from master list are not available Taking part in the discussion on Demands for Grants Centre to set up at least are unable to enjoy the ben- mercial bank branch of or not willing to take admission. under MoHFW for financial year (FY) 2021-22, BJD MP one bank branch at every efits of several direct benefit State Bank of India to cater Odisha Biju Patnaik examination -2020 and not taken ad- The admission should be com- from Jagatsinghpur, Rajashree Mallick, hailed PM gram panchayat (GP) of transfer (DBT) schemes like to this tribal population. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited mission anywhere. Subject wise pleted by March 31. Narendra Modi as well as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik the country. MGNREGS, Mamata Yojana, The sole branch is unable to around 60 years ago. And it is his fore- merit list will be prepared and a In February, the department for effective management of Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking during Zero Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan meet the banking needs of sight for which we’ve been able to master list will be released in e- had released the timeline and guide- Mallick informed the Lower House that the central al- Hour in Rajya Sabha, Kumar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri the people as it has been become self-reliant today.” Khan spaces of respective universities lines for State Public Universities location to Odisha in fight against vector-borne diseases highlighted how tribals in Awas Yojana,” the BJD MP reeling under a host of is- also said about Patnaik’s role in sav- and colleges by March 19. and all degree Colleges for PG spot- has consistently reduced since 2017. While urging the Centre the undivided KBK districts pointed out. sues including staff crunch. ing Kashmir from Pakistani infil- Universities and colleges will con- II admissions for the session to establish another AIIMS at Sundargarh, the BJD MP have been suffering due to Kumar also cited an ex- Such situations are com- trators. “We all feel proud while talk- tact students from the list and 2020-21. demanded increased support for effective functioning of lack of access to banks. ample of Thuamul Rampur mon across the KBK re- ing about Kashmir. When Pakistani admit these students in The state had conducted CPET the National Health Mission in Odisha. Mallick urged the “In 2014, the RBI had or- block in Kalahandi which gion,” Kumar pointed out, forces attacked Kashmir, it was vacant seats. for the first time for admission Centre to release the pending funds for construction of dered opening of bank has a single commercial urging the Centre to open at Biju Patnaik who flew a sortie car- Second priority will be given to into PG courses offered by state pub- medical colleges and hospitals in the state. She high- branches in unbanked rural bank branch even though least one bank branch in rying Punjab regiment to Srinagar students from the OJEE merit lic universities and colleges be- lighted the need for a super speciality hospital in Paradip. areas. However, a little has it has 24 gram panchayats every gram panchayat of and helped saving Kashmir from list/National level entrance test tween October 12 and October 22, She also urged the Centre to upgrade the IGH in Rourkela. been done in this regard, with a population of 77,840 the country. the infiltrators,” Khan added. or any equivalent test conducted 2020 at 28 examination centers in by national agency if the students the state. Swachhata Mission BEATING THE HEAT HSC exam: Top 100 at Choudwar College ST/SC students feted DGP reviews security

Cuttack: District Collector Bhabani POST NEWS NETWORK Shankar Chayani Wednesday ahead of Prez visit launched the Swachhata Mission Bhubaneswar, March 17: ST & at Choudwar College here. While SC Development Minister POST NEWS NETWORK and CISF also attended the meet- visiting the ongoing annual Jagannath Saraka Wednesday vir- ing. A review of security arrange- training camp of National Cadet tually felicitated 100 best per- Bhubaneswar, March 17: Director ments at all the locations of Corps (NCC) being conducted by 1(O) Artillery Battery at Choudwar forming students of ST/SC schools General of Police (DGP), Abhay President’s visit at Rourkela and College, Chayani interacted with and 50 best performing high schools Wednesday reviewed security Puri as well as at airports of the cadets and staff besides in the HSC Exam, 2020. arrangements at Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda and emphasising on issues related to Altogether 27,671 students from Rourkela and Puri through video- Bhubaneswar Raj Bhawan were safe drinking water and 401 high schools appeared in the conference ahead of President discussed. maintenance of good hygiene. The annual HSC Examination 2020 out Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Odisha. The DGP emphasised on strict district Collector was accompanied of which 23,794 succeeded. Five stu- ADGP (Law & Order), Director access control and anti-sabotage by Commander of NCC Group dents secured A-1, 52 got A, 283 got Intelligence, CP Bhubaneswar- check and thorough security Headquarters at Cuttack. The B-1 and 1,101 got B Grade. The pass Cuttack, Joint Director, Intelligence arrangements in adherence to all event was organised by NCC Group percentage of these schools stood Bureau, IGP WR, Rourkela, DIGP Covid-19 safety protocols. Headquarters Cuttack in at 85.99 per cent against the state av- Central Range, Cuttack, SSP of District SPs concerned ap- coordination with Choudwar erage of 78.76 per cent. The top Rourkela, Puri, Jharsuguda and prised of the arrangements being College and OTM School. three students were Kumari Bhubaneswar DCP attended the made to ensure fool-proof secu- Smrutisnigdha Jena (SC), videoconference. Officials of rity during the visit of the Thakurmunda Girl's High School Bhubaneswar Airport Authority President to Odisha. Act against sand of Mayurbhanj, Minakshi Mallick mining, SPCB told (ST), Jaleshpatta Girls' High School, Kandhamal and Ashis Kumar Naveen pat for KVPY topper Bhubaneswar: The State Badara (ST), Tapoban Gigh School, Environment Impact Assessment Khurda. The top three schools were Bhubaneswar: CM Naveen Patnaik Wednesday lauded Atish Kumar Authority has asked the Odisha Government (SSD) High School Sahoo of SAI International School for becoming the state topper in State Pollution Control Board Padmagiri, Malkangiri, Government Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) 2021 examination. (SPCB) to act against illegal sand High School, Mandakia, Kandhamal Fourteen SAI students from Class XI and XII cracked the examination mining in Balasore. The institution A herd of deer takes shelter under a tree at Tulasipur park in Cuttack to save themselves from the scorching sun, and Tapoban High School, with flying colours. While Atish of Class XI was the state topper with wrote to SPCB on the basis of a Wednesday OP PHOTO Khandagiri, Khurda. All India Rank 13, Goutam Das of Class XII secured AIR 222. complaint from villagers of Benapur where the local community had alleged rampant Nimasahi slum dwellers evicted Four injured as City illegal sand mining. Depts told to procure transformer explodes WASSUP TODAY POST NEWS NETWORK

BHUBANESWAR Bhubaneswar, March 17: At n 13th Kalinga Herbal Fair, Idco ‘Mo Khata’ from ULBs least four persons including a fa- Exhibition Ground, 10am ther and his son sustained critical n 4th day of Krushi Odisha 2021, Biju POST NEWS NETWORK duration for supply. burn injuries as a power trans- Patnaik Playground, Baramunda, ‘Mo Khata’ is the product It can be mentioned that the former exploded in 5.30pm Bhubaneswar, March 17: In a bid of urban local ULBs are processing solid waste Chadrasekharpur area here in n Sarat Smruti Sansad, Buddha to promote organic manure pre- in a decentralised manner vis a the wee hours of Wednesday. Mandir, near Unit-III Exhibition pared at urban local bodies (ULB), bodies made in vis micro composting centres According to a source, the in- Ground, 6.30pm POST NEWS NETWORK supervised the eviction drive. The the Odisha government, Wednesday, partnership with the (MCCs) and materials recovery fa- jured persons had been working civic body deployed eight vehicles issued instructions to all govern- cilities (MRF). The biodegradable at the tiffin stalls in front of the n 27th Guru Pankaj Utsav and Maheri community-based Samman, Rabindra Mandap, 6pm Cuttack, March 17: The Cuttack to relocate the belongings of the ment organisations to procure ‘Mo wastes are processed in MCCs and Omfed plant in Chadrasekharpur. Municipal Corporation (CMC) evicted people, sources said. Khata’ (compost) from their con- converted into organic compost, They were preparing snacks for n institutions including Play ‘Somarasa’ by Panchameda, Wednesday evicted the dwellers of “The evicted slum dwellers have cerned ULBs only. Mo Khata, which is sold at ULBs at customers in the morning when Bhanja Kala Mandap, 6.45pm Nimasahi slum here for the ex- been accommodated in a tempo- In a letter to different depart- Mission Shakti, `20 per kg. the transformer exploded and four pansion of Taladanda canal road. rary camp on the premises of OMP ments such as Forest, Agriculture, transgender groups Centre lauds compost initiative to five stalls caught fire. Oil from CUTTACK As many as 85 houses and a tem- 6th Battalion. The civic body will Handlooms, Panchayati Raj and The Union government the transformer fell on them leav- n Protest by SCB Medical Public ple at the slum were demolished as provide food to the slum dwellers ST&SC Development, Secretary of among others Wednesday applauded the Odisha ing four persons critically injured School, Collector’s office, 10am part of the eviction drive, said an for eight days. This apart, each Odisha Housing & Urban government’s initiative of pro- in the fire incident, an eyewitness official the CMC. Three earth- family has been provided with an Development department, G back to the community in the form moting use of compost made from expressed. Informed, a team of JATNI movers were engaged in the evic- assistance of `50,000 to build new Mathivathanan stated that organ- of wages, incentives and honorar- bio-degradable waste at all its de- fire-fighters strived for over half n 13th Biswa Maha Yagna of Maa tion derive while two platoons of house,” said CMC Commissioner isations shall have to procure ‘Mo iums,” the letter said. partments. Taking to Twitter, Durga an hour and doused the flames. Dakshina Kali, Niranjanpur, 6pm armed police personnel were de- Ananya Das. Khata’ from their nearby ULBs at Procurement from open mar- Shankar Mishra, Secretary to All of them were rushed to ployed at the spot to maintain the It is learnt that the civic au- `20 per kg. ket or private dealers will only be Ministry of Housing and Urban Capital Hospital here. Later, three law and order, added the official. thorities have allocated alternate “Mo Khata is the product of ULBs permitted when the concerned Affairs (MoHUA) said, “This is an of them were shifted to SCBMCH Programmes/announcements for wassup today may be sent to CMC Deputy Commissioner plots to the evicted slum dwellers. made in partnership with the com- ULBs will be unable to cater to de- excellent initiative to greatly in Cuttack after their health con- [email protected] for record, Abinas Rout, Zone-I Assistant “They can utilise the financial as- munity-based institutions as mands. The exception will also strengthen and the revenue sus- ditions deteriorated, a police of- it must also carry the sender’s Commissioner of Police (ACP) sistance to build new houses on Mission Shakti, transgender groups take into account the communi- tainability of decentralized mu- ficial said. The exact reason of the mobile number for our Amarendra Panda and Chauliaganj the plots allotted to them,” said among others. The revenue gen- cation period by the ULBs and the nicipal solid waste management fire mishap has not been

verification, but not for publication. police in-charge Tapas Pradhan the CMC Commissioner. erated out of this endeavour flows department allowing a reasonable systems.” ascertained yet.

k y m c P5 THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

AUTO SECTOR SHOWING A ‘V’ THERE’S NEVER A BAD TIME TO DO

k y m c SHAPE RECOVERY: JYOTE MOTORS A GOOD THING: SUNJOY HANS Despite several challenges caused by the pandemic, the auto sector is getting back to its growth trajectory. During an interaction with ‘… I always looked for challenges. It is challenges that Orissa POST, Devjyoti Patnaik, push me to work harder and give my best. The sense of CEO cum MD of Jyote Motors says the industry achieving something good despite the odds is showing a ‘V’ shape recovery and it will is unbeatable’ continue for next two-three years. Excerpts from an interview he best kind of entre- nation and world, to implement- Sunjoy responded in a unique self preneurs are believed to ing best-quality customer serv- way. At a time when a nation- and his n What was the impact of the will help the overall economy. an industry-friendly state. be born, not made. They ice – all under one roof at Lalchnd wide lockdown following the out- group from pandemic on auto sector and Odisha government is pro- Tare perceived to be im- Jewellers – Sunjoy managed to break of the global pandemic saw the industry over its present scenario? n Is infrastructure ready for CNG viding digital registration of pulsive and inventive types who achieve that. businesses closing down and mass the past decade, Sunjoy has now and electric vehicles? cars in just two days. But our never shy away from taking risks And he deservedly reaped the layoffs trending upwards at a deservedly earned another feather n The pandemic affected two- neighbouring states take 7-10 to blaze new trails. benefits. As Odisha’s most trusted frightening rate, he set up the in his cap – the wheelers more than four- n For electric vehicles, we have days to do that. Although Lalchnd Group luxury brand, LCJ now boasts of Lalchnd Foundation to help the Business wheeler segment. The lock- a lot of time. It is just a begin- founder chairman Sunjoy Hans three of the largest jewellery most underprivileged sections of Eminence down was declared to contain ning. Gradually, maybe 5-7 n Any suggestion was born into a business family showrooms in Eastern India. A society survive the coronavirus Award from the outbreak of Covid-19. years later, there will be elec- and had an early exposure to the fourth one – the largest of them onslaught. the Dharitri However, we saw there was a trification. We need to create n Auto sector is a capital inten- world of commerce while assist- all – will add another 35,000 square When posed with questions Group. gradual rise in demand from good infrastructure and in- sive industry. Auto dealers re- ing his elder brothers as a help- feet to the 90,000 sq ft that LCJ about the practicality of that de- Sunjoy July to March, 2021. The auto crease the range of electric ve- quire big land to set up their ing hand at his father’s shop in showrooms occupy at prime lo- cision, he was famously quoted Hans is the sector is showing a V shape hicles. But today CNG is a servicing centres. The Market Building, Bhubaneswar, cations in the twin cities of by the media as saying: “There’s founder recovery. People now prefer good option for the vehicle government should he was not born to run the fam- Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. never a bad time to do a good chairman of their own cars to travel be- owners to opt for. The come forward and ily business. Similarly, when Sunjoy thing.” Lalchnd cause of the pandemic. We wit- Centre and the state gov- help these dealers His first foray into entrepre- branched out into the hospitality Besides, those who know about Jewellers. nessed the same mindset in ernment have geared by facilitating neurship could not have been far- sector many years ago, industry the history of Lalchnd rural markets as well. There is up for this project. We them with land ther from it, both figuratively and pundits had warned him against Jewellers are well now a boom in demand. But, the have several CNG sta- so that they set literally as he committed him- doing so – firstly, because jew- aware how demand for the luxury brands tions and there will be up their infra- self to providing food supplies ellery and hospitality are poles Sunjoy has has gone down. more such installations. structure in dif- and essentials to an Australian apart as businesses; and secondly, strongly sup- Petrol and diesel vehicles ferent loca- company contracted by Oil India because he was starting out with ported the tra- n Will there be a continual growth contribute 98 per cent to tions. to drill off the port of Paradip. He the once-popular Prachi hotel ditional in this sector? sales. But in next two years, did his job so well that he received that had been infamously bearing tarakasi fili- CNG will account for 20 two more contracts from the com- heavy losses for a long time. gree artisans n See, we saw a distress market per cent of the sale. pany to do the same thing in “What those people never un- (who had in 2019 when GDP was down People now need to neighbouring West Bengal and derstood is that I was always look- been strug- and later the pandemic hit the be aware of using Andhra Pradesh. ing for challenges. It is these chal- gling for market. However, the auto sec- CNG vehicles; After a few years of heavy tour- lenges that push me to work survival) tor has witnessed a growth they should feel ing to successfully complete those harder and give my best. The by em- and I believe it will continue for secure riding a contracts, when Sunjoy decided sense of achieving something ploying next two to three years. We CNG vehicle. to settle down with a silver gifts good despite the odds is unbeat- the also believe, since the auto sec- shop in his hometown, many busi- able,” Sunjoy says. finest tor is growing, the country’s n Support of state ness experts advised him against The troubled establishment among GDP will also grow. government doing so due to the dismal state registered profit within a month them at of the jewellery sector in those after being taken over and re- LCJ to n Your opinion on the Scrappage n The dtate gov- time. branded as The New Marrion craft ex- Policy ernment is Instead of being discouraged, under the Lalchnd brand. There quisite very support- he took that situation as an op- has been no looking back since jewellery n Under the policy, life of a com- ive. We have portunity to change the jewellery then. Apart from having one of the designs mercial vehicle will be capped businesses in scene in Odisha for the better, grandest hotels of Odisha in the for diverse at 15 years and private vehi- Kolkata and and for good. heart of Bhubaneswar, the tastes and cles 20 years. This is a good in Odisha. By introducing the people of Lalchnd Group also boasts some markets. policy and we were waiting for But we feel the state to BS-hallmark gold jew- of the most popular restaurants Therefore, it to happen. Vehicle owners will comfortable ellery and raising awareness in the state capital. after winning a now start replacing old cars in doing busi- about the importance of having Even when the mother of all laundry list of and the demand for new vehi- ness in pure gold, to bringing in the finest challenges presented itself last prestigious cles will rise in the market. It Odisha. It is jewellery design from across the year in the form of Covid-19, awards for him-

Truck driver fined `1K AFTER A LONG HIATUS, ULTRAS PUT UP POSTERS, BANNERS IN RAIGHAR for not wearing helmet Farmers block NH-16 with tractors

POST NEWS NETWORK POSTNEWSNETWORK rregularities in paddy procure- ment which is being done by SHGs Berhampur, March 17: In a bizarre Maoists make presence felt Bhadrak, March 17: Alleging while farmers whose tokens have incident, a truck driver here was large-scale irregularities in paddy lapsed have been facing problems fined `1,000 for his ‘fault’---he drove POST NEWS NETWORK procurement by SHGS and token in disposing of their paddy. his truck without wearing a helmet, lapses, hundreds of farmers under They demanded immediate a report said. Raighar, March 17: People in the banner of Rashtriya Kisan provision of paddy procurement The matter came to the fore Raighar area of Nabarangpur dis- Mazdoor Mahasangh lay siege from their area. Collector Gyana after Pramod Kumar Swain visited trict were panicked after Maoists to NH-16 in Bhadrak Wednesday. Ranjan Das held talks with farmer the Regional Transport Officer put up banners and posters Tuesday. Farmers from Gelatua panchayat NH-16 was paralyased for hours. leaders and assured them that (RTO) recently to renew the per- Maoists have opposed the tree felling came with over 30 tractors loaded Hundreds of trucks and buses unsold paddy will be procured. mit of his truck, March 12. in forests and demanded that the with paddy. They parked the trac- were stranded on both sides of The agitating farmers relented Swain was shocked when RTO price of Kendu leaves be hiked to tors on the NH for hours. the NH. Farmers alleged massive later. officials handed him a challan is- Rs 500. “As life of kendu leaf Vehicular movement on the sued by the Berhampur traffic po- According to reports, Raighar lice, December 25, last year. It was used to be a Maoist hotbed ear- pluckers is always mentioned in the challan that he lier. Their activities had been sup- fraught with danger in Rs 500 to incense sticks per kg. Bank staff robbed of had been fined `1,000 for ‘driving pressed for a few years. Now, the “As life of kendu leaf pluckers ` without a helmet’. He was also posters and banners have made forests, they should be is always fraught with danger in 21L in Subarnapur made to pay a fine of `500 each for their presence felt in Raighar block. given insurance cover of forests, they should be given in- Sonepur: Six miscreants allegedly robbed other reasons. The chalan has Red banners were hung across surance cover of Rs 6 lakh in case two bank staffers of Rs 21 lakh at gun and been drawn against the registra- a road in Hatiganon panchayat `6 lakh in case of of death; Rs 4.5 lakh in case of dagger points on Baghalpur-Bisipada road in tion number of his truck. Tuesday night and blocked the death...” ultras grievous injuries. People should Subarnapur district Wednesday morning. The He tried to explain his side but road by laying logs. come out to demand their rights,” two staffers -- Sudhanshu Pradhan and Sunil in vain. Left with no option, Swain Hatigaon bordering on demanded in a poster they said on the banners. Moharana of Sonepur branch of Bank of paid the fine following which the Chhattisgarh is 25 km from the Some bundles of wires were Baroda -- were carrying a bag containing Rs RTO officials renewed the permit block headquarters. In the banners, rights on jal, jami and jungle. found at the place while holes on 21 lakh to an automatic teller machine (ATM) of his truck. Maoists have demanded bonus to They also wanted to raise the the ground were found n the area. at Ullundam area, an official of the bank When contacted, Traffic police IIC kendu leaf pluckers in 15 days. prices of mahula flowers to Rs 100 People suspected that the left wing informed. Then, dacoits pounced uopm the Sunil Kumar Behera said this might They have appealed to the peo- per kg; Rs 70 to tamarind; Rs 90 to ultras might have planted tiffin two and decamped with the cash. Sonepur have happened due to use of the reg- ple to join their movement for mustard; wild tulasi to Rs 25 and bombs in the area. police immediately rushed to the spot and launched a probe to nab the culprits. istration number of the truck in some bike or due to wrong feeding of data in the computer system. RAIBANIA: WATER Mass nesting of Olive Ridleys under threat CRISIS DEEPENS FISH MAFIA ATTACKS FOREST STAFF DURING PATROLLING IN GAHIRMATHA

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Attack has spread panic

Raibania, March 17: With the ad- Rajnagar, March 17: Mass nesting among forest officials vent of summer, most hilly re- of Olive Ridley turtles in the engaged in the turtle gions of Raibania in Balasore Gahirmatha marine sanctuary under have been hit by severe water cri- this block in Kendrapara district protection drive in the sis. According to reports, locals has come under serious threat due sanctuary. They apprehend have been facing lots of problem to illegal fishing at prohibited zones similar attacks on the in availing drinking water. of the sanctuary, a report said. It is said that excessive ex- The matter came to the fore after patrolling team by the fish ploitation of water by private and Gahirmatha range officer Debashis mafia and that might cost government lift irrigation points Bhoi lodged a complaint of attack on have been responsible for the a team of forest officials by the fish- FILE PHOTO them their lives someday groundwater level in the region ermen at Talachua marine police to plummet deeper. Water bodies station, Tuesday. asked them to leave the area. like ponds, pools and even tube He stated that a patrolling team of forest officials engaged in the turtle ing beaches following the arrival of However, the fishermen in the wells have all gone dry. People in forest officials were injured in an protection drive in the sanctuary. female turtles. trawler called up 10 other trawlers

the tribal-dominated panchayats attack by the fish mafia during a They apprehend that attacks on the The incident happened when a and tried to ram the patrolling boat

k y m c like Khudua Majhisahi, raid on a group of fishermen fishing patrolling team by the fish mafias are team of 14 forest and police officials to drown it in the sea. As a result, the Sadrabandh, Shyamnagar, Olmara, in a prohibited zone late Monday not new but a frequent occurrence led by forester Sanjay Kumar Das rear portion of the patrolling boat Raibania, Makidia, Khuada, night. Five forest officials on board might cost them their lives someday. was patrolling in the prohibited zone. broke down and water started en- Baradiha and Kalma are now strug- a patrolling boat were injured in the Reports said that mass nesting of They caught fishermen in a trawler tering inside. The forest officials, gling to get even a bucketful of attack. Olive Ridley had started in phases in New Janani-1 fishing in the sea about however, managed to escape safely drinking water. Attack has spread panic among Babubali island and other adjoin- 4-km from the Babubali island and at the coast, the forest ranger said. P6 THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS CREDIT-RATING AGENCIES Let nothing short of Perfection be

your ideal in work and you are

k y m sure to become a true instrument c of the Divine. THE MOTHER POWER SANS ACCOUNTABILITY

n March 10, the credit- 19 crisis. Furthermore, the threat rating agency Moody’s of a ratings downgrade is pre- placed Ethiopia on re- venting many governments from Parvo, the pup killer Oview for a downgrade. pursuing sufficient fiscal expen- The problem isn’t violence and diture. Now, with the latest move n 1987, a street litter of a month old puppies, being fed by me, started dying repression in Ethiopia’s embat- from Moody’s, developing-coun- at an alarming rate. The splotches of blood in their stool were diagnosed tled Tigray region. Rather, Moody's try governments must fear en- Ias parasitic worms. The ill-informed vet immediately gave them de- has concluded that the Ethiopian tering into debt-restructuring ne- worming tablets (which is a poison) and there was a rapid decline. All the government’s commitment to en- gotiations with private creditors, pups died within 3 days, consumed by severe gastroenteritic haemorrhag- gage with private creditors, as even as part of multilateral pro- ing. The killer was the deadly Canine Parvo Virus (CPV). part of the G20 Common grammes aimed at providing First recognised in the 1970s, CPV is now in epidemic form. Outbreaks Framework for Debt Treatments debt relief. have been reported from all over India. Thousands of pups have died. Since beyond the Debt Service If the G20 countries are seri- government refuses to give the vaccine and government hospitals do not treat Suspension Initiative, raises the ous about improving developing parvo cases, the animal welfare shelters are full and the mortality of these risk that those creditors will incur countries’ debt positions during the young pups crowded together is extremely high. Animal feeders simply do losses. For that, the country ap- COVID-19 crisis, they should begin not have the money to give vaccines to the pups and we all stand by helplessly parently must be punished. by supporting the temporary sus- as they die. In a normal year only one street pup survives a litter. The rest Whereas the DSSI aims to pro- Concerns about ratings agencies were first pension of credit ratings. In the are run over, die of starvation, poisoned or thrown away in plastic bags. This Jayati Ghosh vide immediate relief to low-in- widely expressed during the Enron scandal in medium term, regulators must year, even that one is unlikely. A majority of pups sold by pet shops and dog come countries during the pan- take action to ensure that rating breeders have parvo. There are two reasons: the puppy has been taken away demic, the Common Framework 2001… Credit-rating agencies have also been agencies are fulfilling their in- from its mother at 3 weeks of age, by breeders and sellers, to supply customers RATINGS was designed to help debt-dis- accused of enabling the United States’ tended market-stabilising role. who want really small pups. If it had been nursed by the mother the pup would tressed sovereigns reschedule or Tackling conflicts of interest – have developed an immunity, which would have helped his little body fight AGENCIES DO reduce their liabilities. For many subprime-mortgage bubble, which triggered such as by limiting agencies’ de- off the virus. No pet shops vaccinate puppies, and they put pups from dif- NOT BEAR countries, it offers the best chance the global financial crisis when it burst in 2008 pendence on payments from those ferent breeders into one cage. The dogs are bred in slummy filthy conditions. of making their debt burdens sus- they rate – is essential. The dogs, being bred at the breeding establishments, have low immunity due APPROPRIATE tainable. But now, the threat of But regulating private ratings to constant abuse and minimal nourishment and, are the first victims of CPV. ratings downgrades is casting a complex financial instruments to Moreover, as Li also notes, con- agencies may not be enough. The Typically, buyers write to me when they go to get a refund and are refused, RESPONSIBILITY shadow over these countries’ mislead investors, creditors, and flicts of interest abound. Ratings UN Conference on Trade and because the entire puppy trade is illegal and done in cash with no receipts. FOR THE prospects. regulators about its value. The agencies are private businesses, Development has long argued that There are two prominent strains of the canine parvovirus (CPV-2a and This points to a systemic prob- ratings agencies were certainly funded largely by the institutions the world needs an independent CPV-2b) from the genus family of Parvoviridae. It spreads through infected ENORMOUS lem in international finance: the fooled: The Big Three all issued they rate. And they are players in public ratings agency to conduct faeces, vomit, blood, touch, surfaces, clothing etc. Shelters, kennels, clinics, POWER extraordinary – and undeserved – Enron investment-grade ratings the markets they purportedly as- objective evaluations of the cred- public parks are prime locations where the virus power wielded by a few private just days before the company sess, meaning that self-interest itworthiness of sovereigns and lurks. Its favourite victim is the young pup, but THEY WIELD credit-rating agencies. Just three collapsed. inevitably shapes their decision- companies. Such an agency is also unvaccinated dogs in general are vulnerable. – Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings, Credit-rating agencies have also making. Ratings agencies have, necessary to assess the instru- Undetected, or diagnosed at a later stage, it is al- and Fitch Ratings – control more been accused of enabling the for example, been involved in the ments used to finance new public most always fatal within 48-72 hours. than 94 per cent of outstanding United States’ subprime-mortgage creation of financial products that investment, which will be in high Parvo virus attacks the cells in the small in- credit ratings. And there is sig- bubble, which triggered the global they were then responsible for demand in the coming years. testine, making the intestinal wall vulnerable to nificant cross-shareholding financial crisis when it burst in rating – including the mortgage- A global agency makes sense, be- bacteria in the center of the gut. The bacteria cross among them. 2008, and of exacerbating the bust backed securities that, flush with cause credit ratings, especially over into the blood stream leading to sepsis These oligopolistic firms are through rapid reversals and down- AAA ratings, helped bring about for sovereign debt, are interna- which causes organ failure. Parvo also attacks Maneka Gandhi market movers and makers, in- grades. And they have been known the 2008 crisis. tional in scope. Perhaps more im- the bone marrow, causing dangerously low fluencing financial portfolio allo- to adjust ratings in ways that seem And yet, even as regulators work portant, it would provide a much- white blood cell counts. This denies the body the If you are feeding a cations, the pricing of debt and to reflect ideological positions, to limit conflicts of interest among needed counterbalance to one thing it needs to fight off the sepsis. Parvovirus litter of street pups, other financial instruments, and such as a commitment to most financial-market players, unaccountable private agencies. It is extremely contagious. It takes 10–14 days to the cost of capital. Bolstering their fiscal austerity. they seem content to leave credit- might even force the Big Three to show symptoms after contraction. The basic stay vigilant for authority, the US Securities and And yet, as Yuefen Li, the United rating agencies to police them- embrace reforms that they have clinical signs of CPV are fever or low body tem- appearance of any Exchange Commission has recog- Nations Independent Expert on selves. The lack of regulatory ac- long resisted. perature (hypothermia), appearance of blood in parvo-related nised them as official statistical rat- Foreign Debt and Human Rights, tion partly reflects the lobbying vomit and stool, abdominal pain, nausea, de- ing organisations. And many in- points out in a new report, rat- power of the Big Three. And it is The writer, Executive hydration and lethargy. Persistent vomiting symptoms stitutional investors, required by ings agencies face no accounta- generating serious risks, which Secretary of International and diarrhoea cause rapid dehydration, and law to hold only “investment- bility for their mistakes or dam- the coronavirus pandemic has Development Economics damage to the intestines and immune system cause septic shock. grade” assets in their portfolios, aging behaviour. Their ratings are intensified. Associates, is Professor of Parvo kills by dehydration and exhaustion, as the constant attack on the must abide by the rating legally described as “opinions,” For example, procyclicality in Economics at the University of intestinal tract pushes out water and electrolytes before they can be absorbed, agencies’ verdicts. which are protected under free- rating – another issue Li high- Massachusetts Amherst and a and the vomiting and diarrhoea keep the dog from getting any rest. Concerns about ratings agencies speech laws, and they do not dis- lights in her report – is making fi- member of the Independent This is what you need to do if you have a pup with parvo: were first widely expressed during close their methodology. In short, nancial-market conditions in- Commission for the Reform of Parvovirus causes life threatening dehydration and anaemia. They are ba- the Enron scandal in 2001. Enron, ratings agencies do not bear ap- hospitable for developing countries International Corporate sically bleeding out internally while also losing the fluids/nutrients they des- an energy-trading company, had propriate responsibility for the whose economic prospects have Taxation. perately need to fight it off. been using accounting tricks and enormous power they wield. been undermined by the COVID- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE Rush to a vet. The only thing your vet can do to treat this virus is to give IV fluids (50 ml twice a day), antivomiting and antidiarrhoea medications, often along with a sedative to buy their immune system time to fight the virus, and antibiotics to fight secondary infections. The fluid therapy can be Loparamide, Metronidazole augmented with antibiotics Cefotoxin, Cefazolin, SPECTRUM DIGITAL SPACE Ampicillin, Gentamycin, Tamiflu. Home treatment, of pushing fluids and feeding nutritional broths, isn’t always enough in one so young. It only takes a day or two for a 9-week-old puppy to become fatally dehydrated. Gently pull the pup’s loose skin between and behind the ears on the neck and release. If the scruff falls back into its Beware! You are on the social web normal position within a second, he’s not dehydrated and treatment is going well, so far. If it takes two or three seconds to fall back into place, he’s start- ocial networking has elevated alarm about the safety of user data platform that is open-source, en- users’ knowledge or consent. ing to become dehydrated, the longer it takes the more dehydrated he is. If the human life in terms of in- and forced the messaging app to crypted and known for defending What are social media users wor- the scruff doesn’t fall back into place, even after a few seconds, you have a Sformation sharing, response delay the implementation of its users’ data security. In the wake of ried about? Are their concerns jus- life or death situation on your hands. His gums will be pale as well. He and content generation in the past updated privacy policy by three millions shifting to alternate mes- tified? Typically, these concerns needs intravenous fluids and electrolytes, and FAST! decade. Though, over the period months: the new date being set to saging apps, Facebook-owned stem from the ubiquitous presence If there are absolutely no vets, or even compounders, who know how to of time, the systems have become May 15 instead of February 8. WhatsApp is reaching out to users of social media in people’s lives. give an intravenous injection, do this: Hydration is what may help to keep quite matured yet alongside the The policy makes it clear that reiterating that it is committed to Forty-five per cent of the world’s your pup alive. Focus on it. Keep your pup warm and give fluids every half benefits, multiple concerns of the WhatsApp collects expansive meta protecting users’ privacy as it does population use social networks. hour. If he won’t drink on his own, you’ll have to syringe feed the fluids. Don’t user with regard to the privacy data from users’ phones, includ- not access or read anyone’s mes- These connections can leave users give plain water as he needs electrolytes to continue his survival, and push- and information security also exist. ing internet protocol addresses sages or location. But then, why vulnerable in several ways. When ing straight water can decrease his survival chances by flushing out the elec- Moreover, most users of digital and phone number area codes to es- is the company not providing rel- personal information falls into the trolytes he already has. Give clear Pedialyte. He will also need calories to fight platforms agree to terms, condi- timate users’ geographical loca- evant options for those who do not wrong hands, the consequences the infection. If he can tolerate it, you can give chicken or vegetable broth Bhaskar Basu tions and privacy policies without tion. More significantly, the pri- wish to provide such information? can be damaging. Different types with a bit of added salt (sodium will help him to retain water) mixed with actually reading them and under- vacy policy confirms that WhatsApp Privacy and an individual’s so- of frauds, hacking, spyware, mal- a bit of puppy milk replacer (NOT COW MILK). Mix the milk to broth in a standing the consequences. would allow Facebook access to cial network are viewed in a mul- ware etc. have been in practice for 1:3 ratio. Too much milk will also increase diarrhoea. But he needs those calo- WhatsApp’s latest notification on messages that users share with tifaceted relation. Social network capturing private data of user(s). ries. Kaopectate can be given for diarrhoea. It usually goes by weight (mg CONCERNS ABOUT its privacy policy created an up- businesses on the messenger app, analysis techniques describe the im- Such hacks can result in stolen in- per kg). He may also need subcutaneous fluids, which is sterile saline injected DATA PRIVACY roar and sparked a mass exodus to- enabling Facebook to further in- pact of different depth and strength formation and forced shares that just under the skin and which can be absorbed through the microscopic vas- wards other messenger platforms fluence user behaviour through of ties in an individual’s social redirect followers to malware, cular system, bypassing the digestive tract. Find a human doctor who may WITH RESPECT TO like Signal and Telegram. targeted advertising. This not only network and the importance of among other things. With the ad- be able to help with this. WHATSAPP ARE Concerns about data privacy points out why its privacy policy these ties in the flow of information vent of new approaches in web Someone has suggested that you give the pup boiled and finely mashed with respect to WhatsApp are not does not attest to the same as also across the network. Social engi- technologies, connectivity of het- egg yolk once a day, and increase the amount slowly. Avoid water for an hour NOT NEW new – the app has run into con- how an individual’s right to data pro- neering is a well-known practice in erogeneous devices and sharing after feeding. Don’t give egg white or else the pup will vomit. Days three to troversies about user data shared tection and privacy right cannot be the information security domain of data among them may cause six are usually the most touch and go. If you can help him past that, he is with its parent company, Facebook, compromised even whilst com- in which confidential information new dimensions of privacy risks on the road to recovery. When the dog stops retching bile he is probably im- ever since it was acquired by municating with a business ac- is retrieved by manipulating le- along with safety and security as- proving. The lack of blood in his stool is another marker. His activity level Facebook in 2014. For instance, the count. Experts feel WhatsApp’s gitimate users. Every time someone pects. Social networking is actu- will go up. However, recovery from parvo takes weeks. If the pup survives, Russian operation Internet Research move to delay the implementation creates a new social media account, ally a need of the time, where its most will need to eat small, frequent meals of a bland diet and continue tak- Agency was accused of interfer- of its updated privacy policy by they leave a data trail behind on the usage needs a responsible behav- ing anti-nausea medications until they are able to hold down their normal ing in the US presidential election three months is not sufficient to al- internet. In addition, companies iour. It is the user, who is solely re- food (usually a week or two). Give your dog the full course of any antibiotics of 2016 by using social media to leviate the concerns raised by the collect data on user behaviours: sponsible for his data and the user that have been prescribed, even if he or she appears to be back to normal. spread disinformation that stirred plan or the larger issue of data when, where, and how users in- himself has to take strong measures A CPV survivor will continue to shed the virus for weeks, even months. This up conflict and distrust. UK firm sharing and privacy breach. teract with their platform. All of this for the protection of privacy. is why strict isolation of infected animals, and quarantine wards at veteri- Cambridge Analytica’s breach of In the midst of intense outrage data is stored and leveraged by The writer is Professor nary hospitals/clinics and animal shelters, is important. It can live in the Facebook data is a part of folklore and debate over WhatsApp’s new companies to better target adver- (Information Systems), Xavier ground for more than six months. today. But a new WhatsApp pri- policy, Elon Musk fanned the fire tising to their users. Sometimes, Institute of Management, Shelters, clinics and houses with CPV patients must maintain strict hy- vacy policy released on January by simply tweeting “Use Signal” – companies share users’ data with Bhubaneswar. Views are giene protocols to prevent cross contamination. Shelters and clinics must 4, 2021 triggered widespread global an endorsement for a messenger third-party entities, often without personal. necessarily have isolation kennels. If you are feeding a litter of street pups, stay vigilant for appearance of any parvo-related symptoms. Wash hands after handling a CPV patient, Ideal captain Save elephants keeping it away from other dogs/pups. The golden rule for combating the disease is timely and regular vaccination. Sir, Virat Kohli in today’s date is a Sir, Elephant was accorded the ‘National Heritage Animal’ status in 2010. Many projects are Puppies need at minimum three Parvo vaccines given at 3-4 week intervals, world-class athlete and has every trait in place in India to save the magnificent creature from extinction. The number of elephants between 6 and 16 weeks of age. Some veterinarians use variations on etters to become a leader. When India didn’t in the country, as per the 2017 data, stands at 29,964. But these numbers do not reflect the stark this protocol. seem to fare well with fitness, he led reality: between 2014 and 2019 as many as 23,000 elephants were killed in India. Odisha’s In the case of unvaccinated dogs, 2 vaccination shots are recommended by example and created the fittest Karlapat wildlife sanctuary in Kalahandi district was gripped by a mysterious disease---that (first dose followed by a booster after a month). For vaccinated dogs, an an- TOL THE EDITOR team. When India seemed to have a bad was later termed as haemorrhagic septicemia--- resulting in the death of seven female elephants nual booster vaccine is sufficient. Readers of Orissa POST phase, Kohli raised the bar, became over two weeks. The authorities of the sanctuary which houses as many as 22 elephants woke To join the animal welfare movement contact [email protected], are most welcome to contribute letters India’s greatest match winner and up from their slumber to go into a damage control mode by disinfecting water and soil that were www.peopleforanimalsindia.org (200 words), articles and built an Indian team which had the at- contaminated by the faeces of cattle, from the nearby Tentulipada village. Pasteurella multo- columns (between 750-1250 words). Contributors are titude to win no matter where they play. cida, the bacteria responsible for the septicemia, infects herbivores like bison, buffaloes and requested to send their In a world of IPLs and power-hitting, cattle which in turn infects the elephants by soil and water contamination. In January, 40 buf- contact numbers and full Kohli is one of the few captains who faloes had died in another sanctuary due to haemorrhagic septicemia. Therefore, the forest de-

postal address/email ID. They may also emphasises on Test cricket. Not pro- partment should keep track of the situation in other sanctuaries. More so, the health of ani-

k y m WISDOM CORNER send in their valuable comments, opinion c and suggestions, preferably by email, ducing ICC tournament victories or mals like elephants and cattle beg for a constant vigil. The state forest department is learnt to Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. ROBERT H. SCHULLER to: [email protected] temporary bad patches, doesn’t take have directed the Karlapat sanctuary authorities to expeditiously immunise the cattle in the away the credibility and legacy of the tiny hamlets within the sanctuary. The movement of elephants is being monitored. This should If you learn from defeat, you haven’t really lost. ZIG ZIGLAR Indian captain. have been done before. The ‘mass deaths’ of elephants is described as the ‘largest ever’ elephant Shrey Siddharth, deaths in Indian forests. Steps have to be initiated to keep the big animals safe in their homes. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, It’s always too early to quit. Bhubaneswar-751010 CUTTACK Ganapathi Bhat, AKOLA (MAHARASHTRA) MADHYA

P7 PRADESH TAMIL NADU

THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Night curfew back Freebies galore: Experts flag financial implications c in Bhopal, Indore EXPERTS FEEL THE AIADMK's poll assurances are part of the ongoing welfare schemes, NEW GOVERNMENT former minister and party WILL INHERIT THE spokesman S Vaigaiselvan claimed that funding will never be a con- MANTLE OF HUGE straint for the party-led govern- FISCAL DEBT AND THE ment. "The performance of the ONUS OF BALANCING Palaniswami government, the elec- DEVELOPMENTAL tion manifesto and our achieve- ments will ensure us a third suc- PROGRAMMES AND cessive victory," Vaigaiselvan, also party candidate from Aruppukottai SOURCING NEW assembly constituency, said. FUNDS FOR POLL The DMK is also confident of meeting the financial requirements INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Transport and Revenue Minister, ASSURANCES for implementing its slew of populist said in view of the increase in PRESS TRUST OF INDIA promises. Bhopal, March 17: With the num- Covid-19 cases, wearing masks "Our leader M K Stalin and elec- ber of coronavirus infections in- should be made compulsory for Chennai, March 17: Loaded with tion manifesto are the two heroes creasing rapidly in many parts of bus passengers. If any passenger doles and freebies to woo the elec- in this assembly election. Our poll Madhya Pradesh, the state gov- is found without a mask in the torate ahead of the April 6 Assembly assurances are doable," DMK ernment has imposed a night cur- buses, then legal action would be polls in Tamil Nadu, archrivals assassination. post-election, while both the in the long run. spokesperson A Saravanan said. few in Bhopal and Indore from taken against the bus owner, driver DMK and AIADMK’s populist Free washing machine, housing AIADMK and DMK argue their as- “Recurring expenditure in the On Tamil Nadu's huge debt bur- Wednesday night. The government and the bus conductor. agenda driven election manifestos for all, solar cookers, education surances will get transformed into form of implementing the populist den of about Rs 5.70 lakh crore by has also directed that those peo- Talking about road accidents, are also being debated for the fi- loan waiver, government jobs to government schemes when elected schemes may require huge volume March 2022, he said "the debts and ple who commute by buses must Rajput said one of the major rea- nancial implications on a state al- families without anyone in state to power. of funds and could leave the gov- borrowings are because of financial wear face masks to protect against sons behind this is buses not ply- ready burdened with high debts. service etc are AIADMK's prom- “In my personal view the freebies ernment hardly any time and re- mismanagement by the govern- the pandemic. ing with enough of a time gap. An With late DMK chief M ises to the voter while that of DMK announced by both the parties are sources to devote to other develop- ment. It lacks administrative effi- As many as 264 Covid-19 patients interval of one to two minutes after Karunanidhi’s ‘hero’ manifesto of includes Rs 4,000 relief to COVID- phenomenal. I wonder if anybody ment activities,” he said. ciency. Corruption too played a have emerged in Indore and 199 in being issued permits increases 2006 that promised among others, 19 hit rice ration card holders, laws has done any financial burden cal- When the poll promises become huge role." Bhopal. The number of Covid pa- competition among buses, forcing free colour TV sets, virtually setting to reserve 75 per cent jobs for locals culation if the party were to im- government schemes, the govern- Incidentally, the DMK manifesto, tients has surpassed 800 in a single the drivers to drive at high speed the trend for similar races in the fu- and waiver of various loans and plement all its promises when it ment would evolve a funding pattern released on March 13, said that im- day in the state. Bhopal and Indore under pressure to arrive on time. ture, Tamil Nadu has seen it all--- free provision of various assistance. comes to power,” MR Sivaraman, for- in order to improve the lives of the Recurring expenditure have reported the maximum num- Due to this, there is a constant pos- laptops, milch cows, mixer-grinder Both have promised phased pro- mer Union Revenue Secretary, said. people, he said. ber of Covid cases. At the same sibility of accidents taking place. and gold for thali (mangal sutra) hibition in a state whose coffers In an apparent reference to the The state government has per- in the form of time, there are eight more districts To rectify this, it is necessary among others. are largely filled by liquor sales, AIADMK, he said "one party" has formed commendably well to im- implementing the where Covid cases are increasing that before issuing the permits, In 2021 too, the Dravidian ma- even as DMK's ally Congress prom- promised government job to one prove the situation during the pan- populist schemes may and where special precautions the transport department officials jors chose to dish out a slew of ised to implement the dry regime person from every family without demic and made conditions require huge volume of would be taken. The markets in should ensure that there is sufficient promises that carry the 'free of cost' soon after the 'new government', anyone in service. “This was ap- operational to revive the economy, funds and could leave Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Ratlam, time gap between the buses. tag, a more politically correct term apparently headed by DMK, is in- parently announced without a re- he noted. the government hardly Chhindwara, Burhanpur, Betul and Rajput said that a commercial used to describe freebies by the pro- stalled post polls. ality check on the number of house- “Tamil Nadu's economy is ex- any time and resources Khargone districts would close at driving license is an important ponents of such largesse. However, on the economic front, holds in the state. Imagine the fiscal pected to register a positive growth to devote to other 10 p.m. The Madhya Pradesh gov- step taken by the Madhya Pradesh The two parties--AIADMK seek- experts feel the new government commitment which the govern- rate of 2.02 percent in 2020-2021 at development activities ernment has decided that the ther- government in the direction of ing a record third term and the will inherit the mantle of huge fis- ment would accrue in terms of a time when the country is facing KR SHANMUGAM I DIRECTOR AND mal screening of persons coming making women 'Aatmanirbhar' DMK planning a strong comeback cal debt and the onus of balancing salaries to all government employees a negative growth rate of 7.7 per- PROFESSOR OF MADRAS SCHOOL OF from Maharashtra would continue. or 'Self-reliant'. In this connec- after a decade in opposition, have developmental programmes and if lakhs of households are accom- cent", he said. ECONOMICS Such passengers would have to stay tion, a driving training centre for converged not only on such free- sourcing new funds for poll assur- modated,” he told PTI. Agreeing there were apprehen- in home quarantine for a week. women has been opened in Indore. bies, but also on other contentious ances. KR Shanmugam, director and sions of second COVID-19 wave, he plementing all promises was possible During a review meeting of the Apart from this, women would issues like the repeal of Citizenship It will encounter several chal- professor of Madras School of said its effect on economy is de- by eradicating corruption, pursu- Transport Department, Govind also be imparted training for com- Amendment Act and release of lenges, especially amidst appre- Economics, argues that one-time batable. ing measures including austerity Singh Rajput, the Madhya Pradesh mercial driving. seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi hension of second Covid-19 wave freebies may not strain the economy Maintaining that many of and increasing tax revenue. Madras HC rules criminal Discord brewing within Cong in MP proceedings against civic The Congress in Madhya strengthening its presence at the the party has given a clear message Pradesh has always been ground level. Meanwhile, the voices to those leaders who raise questions of dissent have started rising after and has also instructed them to re- chiefs for manual scavenging known for factionalism, Babulal Chaurasia was inducted main within the ambit of discipline. into the party. Senior party leader and It won't be surprising if this de- but the situation changed former Union Minister Arun Yadav, cision deepens the discontent within 43 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LAST FIVE after the party handed former MP from Mandsaur the party since Agarwal is said to be YEARS IN TAMIL NADU WHILE THEY WERE over the leadership to Meenakshi Natarajan, MLA from close to Digvijaya Singh. In such a sit- Chachoura constituency, Laxman uation, Digvijaya Singh's support- ENGAGED IN MANUAL SCAVENGING Kamal Nath Singh, former minister Subhash ers and Kamal Nath supporters may Kumar Sojatia, and several other even confront each other. party leaders questioned Chaurasia's State Home Minister Narottam INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Tamil Nadu, the concerned com- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE inclusion in the party. Mishra has taken a dig at Manak missioner or civic body chief must Everybody in the party opposed Aggarwal's expulsion from the Chennai, March 17 (IANS): be immediately arrested. On Bhopal, March 17: Despite being out the entry of Babulal Chaurasia into party and said, "Action was taken Manual scavenging continues to February 14, 2021 three people had of power in Madhya Pradesh, there the Congress. Manak Agarwal, for- against Congress leader Manak haunt Tamil Nadu. The Safai lost their lives owing to asphyxia- are enough indications that the been expelled for six years. In a span of just 15 months, the sit- mer Congress Media Cell President Aggarwal for inducting a Nathuram Karmachari Andolan (SKA), an tion while they were cleaning the Congress is once again witnessing an The identity of the Congress in uation within the Congress deteri- and close aide of former Chief Godse supporter in the party mak- umbrella body working for the wel- sewage pit of a catering unit at internal discord. This was evident Madhya Pradesh has always been orated and the Kamal Nath govern- Minister Digvijaya Singh, launched ing him 'irrelevant'. The party did fare of manual scavengers, moved Kancheepuram. When Murugan, while giving party membership to known for factionalism, but the sit- ment collapsed because former Union a direct attack on Kamal Nath. The not even dare to say anything the Madras High Court after the who entered the pit was not re- Hindu Mahasabha leader Babulal uation changed after the party handed Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia re- matter went to the party's Disciplinary against Arun Yadav who was also state witnessed the second high- sponding to calls, his co-workers Chaurasia. This decision by the party over the leadership to Kamal Nath belled and joined the BJP along with Committee and Agarwal was ex- against inducting the Godse sup- est number of deaths of manual Bhagyaraj and Arumugam entered did not go down well with senior before the state Assembly elections 22 former Congress MLAs. pelled from the party for six years. porter in the party. It seems that scavengers. the pit to rescue him but all three party leader Manak Agarwal, who at- and this was the reason it won the After being out of power, the Political analysts believe that by Congress is accepting pro-Godse Forty-three people lost their lost their lives after inhaling toxic tacked the party for which he has 2018 Assembly elections. Congress has been continuously taking action against Manak Agarwal, supporters in its fold." lives in the last five years with 14 fumes. On February 17 also one per- losing their lives in 2020 while they son died due to asphyxiation while were engaged in manual scaveng- trying to clean a 30 feet deep well in ing, a figure which is second only a residential premises at Saidapet, to Uttar Pradesh which stands at Chennai whose water was mixed Liquor ban promise surfaces again in poll-bound TN 52 in the past five years. The first with sewage water following a leak bench of the Madras high court rep- in a sewage pipe line. Workers Ravi Political parties, including AIADMK, DMK and Congress, have pitched for a complete ban on liquor, albeit in a phased manner resented by Chief Justice Sanjib and Kasi who entered the well fell Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar unconscious and Ravi succumbed Ramamurthy ruled that criminal later while Kasi survived. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA hibition in the manifestos of that a total liquor ban may lead to proceedings will be initiated against Samuel Raj, Secretary of the AIADMK and DMK is just a pass- a spurt in illicit alcohol that would the civic body chiefs like munici- Tamil Nadu Untouchability Chennai, March 17: Its election ing reference which indicates there affect the people. pal commissioner or corporation Eradication Front while speaking time and prohibition is back in is no commitment to implement There were also difficulties in commissioner if people die due to IANS said, "Every year more focus in Tamil Nadu where the dry it,” he told PTI. enforcing such a ban in view of fac- to manual scavenging. The judges than 20 people die while working law was lifted about five decades ago. Manian, a Gandhian and former tors like availability of liquor in observed that "Even after passing as manual scavengers but the fig- Political parties, including the Congress leader who has held sev- all the neighbouring states, the stringent orders people are dying ure may go up as there is no proper ruling AIADMK, opposition DMK eral campaigns against liquor, said DMK had argued years ago, but it in pits. It is really painful to hear data available and unless a door to and Congress, have pitched for a he would continue to fight for the reversed its stand later and prom- that 6 people have lost their lives door survey is conducted there complete ban on liquor, albeit in a dry law in the state. ised dry law. after the dawn of this year." will be no proper data." phased manner, making the prom- In their manifestos for the 2016 Freedom fighter and Congress The court observed, "It is high time The Safai Karmachari Andolan ise in their respective manifestos for assembly elections too the two stalwart C Rajagopalachari was in- that the heads of civic bodies are per- reports that the figures of 43 deaths the April 6 assembly elections. Dravidian parties besides the strumental in bringing the Tamil sonally held liable to deaths owing for the past five years is wrong Total prohibition was in force Congress had assured to enforce Nadu Prohibition Act of 1937, which to manual scavenging in their ter- and that according to the data in the state from 1937 to 1971 when ban on liquor, sale of which is a ensured a dry spell in the state for ritories." It said that if any manual available with them 69 people have the then DMK government headed major revenue earner for the gov- decades. scavenging work is reported in lost their lives. by M Karunanidhi lifted it first. ernment contributing around Rs The AIADMK and DMK have 30,000 crore annually. Total prohibition was ajaji, who was by then steering the Swatantra both bet on phased re-introduction Introducing complete prohibi- in force in the state Rparty, personally visited the DMK patriarch of prohibition and closure of liquor tion, which encompasses closure from 1937 to 1971 and requested him not to revoke the ban outlets in a staggered manner in of liquor outlets and a halt to pro- when the then DMK their manifestos. duction and storage of spirits, was government headed hough the DMK regime did not heed to his PMK, an ally of AIADMK, and a hotly debated topic during the by M Karunanidhi Tcounsel, the party re-introduced the ban MDMK, a partner in the DMK-led 2016 assembly polls unlike the pres- lifted it first three years later front, have also made an assurance ent election. to ensure liquor-free Tamil Nadu. In 2015, the demand for prohibi- after assuming power in 2016. office, a high-level committee com- While the DMK has also promised tion peaked with the death of Prohibition is now featured in prising experts and officials would de-addiction centres, its ally Gandhian Sasi Perumal during a the manifestos of other parties as be formed to work towards impos- Congress has presented a detailed protest against liquor outlets. well including the PMK and MDMK. ing a complete ban on liquor. roadmap for implementation of Perumal championed the cause of The state Congress recalled that While mulling a ban on alcoholic prohibition in its separate mani- a complete ban on production, stor- till 1967, when it held the reins of beverages, the panel would work

festo. age and consumption of alcoholic power in Tamil Nadu, total prohi- on ensuring that the proposed move

k y m c Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam chief products. bition was in force and there need does not lead to brewing of illicit Tamizharuvi Manian, who has been As part of implementing the not be any hesitation in imple- liquor and also look into ways to off- in the forefront of anti-liquor cam- AIADMK's promise, then chief min- menting it again. set the loss of revenue -from liquor paign for years, is not impressed ister J Jayalalithaa had issued an In its poll document, the Tamil sale- to the government due to the much by the promises. order closing down around 500 Nadu Congress Committee said as move, it said. “The mention of bringing pro- Indian Made Foreign Liquor shops soon as a 'new' government assumed In the past, the DMK had argued I want to COVID TESTING CAMPS P8 appeal to THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR the Centre to take FOR PROTESTING FARMERS back the GNCTD Expressing concern over the health of Bill, don't cheat agitating farmers, camping on Delhi borders, the people with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar this legislation Wednesday announced that Covid-19 testing y ARVIND KEJRIWAL | camps have been set up and vaccination has national DELHI CHIEF MINISTER

begun at the protest site

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of the day uote AAP, BJP trade barbs over Delhi’s ‘most During my Act decisively to curb Covid ‘2nd peak’: PM to CMs polluted capital city’ tag interactions AGENCIES with various sections of people in Vax wastage in India is 6.5% PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Assam, I was told New Delhi, March 17: Meeting that the BJP will Chief Ministers amid grow- The average of COVID-19 vaccine wastage in India is New Delhi, March 17: The rul- return to power as ing alarm over resurgence of 6.5 per cent, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh ing AAP and opposition BJP the BJP-led government's biggest Covid-19, Prime Minister recording 17.6 and 11.6 per cent wastage Wednesday indulged in a blame achievement has been halting Narendra Modi Wednesday respectively, the Centre said Wednesday as it called game over the issue of pollution militancy and stopping the killing of urged them to act fast against for optimal utilisation of the jabs. Addressing a in the national capital. innocent people in the state. the emerging "second peak" of press conference, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan Delhi BJP spokespersons the pandemic, warning "if we said that 3.51 crore vaccine doses have been Harish Khurana and Praveen NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR | UNION MINISTER do not stop this now, a country- administered till now in the country, which include Shankar Kapoor, in a press con- 1.38 crore beneficiaries aged 45-60 years with wide outbreak can occur". ference, alleged that the Arvind specific co-morbidities and those above 60 years At the meeting He called for taking quick who have been given the first dose. On March 15, Kejriwal government failed to with the PM, and decisive steps for stopping Pradesh with 70 districts wit- for the last one year". ferral system" and "ambulance 8.34 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were utilise its environment budget. chief this "second peak" of Covid-19 nessing a 150 per cent rise in "It is very important to track network" in small cities. administered worldwide, of which India alone Citing documents, they claimed ministers of states virus, in the meeting held via the last few weeks. every infected person's con- "This is because now the administered 36 per cent of doses, he said. that during financial years 2019- reeling under a video conference. "Stop this emerging second tacts in the shortest time and whole country has opened up 20 and 2020-21, the AAP govern- fresh spike made Stressing the importance peak of corona immediately," keep the RT-PCR test rate above for travel and the number of ment "failed" to utilise the budget their statements. of solving problems of local he urged the Chief Ministers. 70 per cent. More RT-PCR tests people travelling has also in- Massive spike in Maha allocated for environment. Fortunately, in Bihar the situation is governance, he warned that At the same time, Modi stressed should be done in the states like creased. There is need for a Delhi Environment Minister not that bad the confidence which came that the public should not be Kerala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, new mechanism for sharing The surge in COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and other Gopal Rai, said the “central gov- parts of Maharashtra in the past few days is not the NITISH KUMAR | BIHAR CHIEF MINISTER from the achievements in the brought to panic mode. and Uttar Pradesh, which give information among people," ernment had allowed the lapse of battle against Covid-19 should The Prime Minister noted more emphasis to Rapid he said, focussing on re- "ripple in the first wave" but a "mighty scary second the Commission for Air Quality not turn into negligence as he the need for provision of micro Antigen Tests." sponsibility of following SOPs wave", a top health official said Wednesday. Speaking Management, and until the Congress expressed concern about the containment zones and to be The Prime Minister urged for surveillance of the con- during a discussion on news channel NDTV 24x7, civic- Centre gets serious about com- never worked high positivity rate in serious about 'Test, Track and to increase testing and to pay tacts of the travellers com- run KEM Hospital's Dean Hemant Deshmukh said the bating pollution, nothing could for Maharashtra and Madhya Treat' as "we have been doing special attention to the "re- ing from abroad. case numbers were now getting scary. be done". development and progress of the region or the country's unity or GREAT EXPECTATIONS welfare of the people, but only to Man sentenced grab power. This forced the people Mamata releases here to endure its misrule for a long to death for time and the problem of illegal migration in the area raping a minor YOGI ADITYANATH | TMC manifesto UTTAR PRADESH CHIEF MINISTER PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Jaipur, March 17: A special SHORT TAKES POCSO court in Rajasthan's Kolkata, March 17: Trinamool Jhunjhunu district Wednesday Congress supremo Mamata awarded death penalty to a man for Banerjee on Wednesday unveiled Punjab CM, Sidhu raping a 5-year-old girl 26 days a "development-oriented" mani- meet over tea ago and appreciated the swift ac- festo for the upcoming assembly tion by the police in the case. polls in West Bengal, promising Chandigarh: Punjab Chief According to the police, the 21- an income scheme for all families, Minister Amarinder Singh year-old man abducted the girl a student credit card and consti- and Navjot Singh Sidhu met who was playing in an agricul- tution of a task force to examine the over tea on Wednesday, ture field near her house on the inclusion of several communities discussing the possible evening of February 19. Other under the OBC category. reinduction of the cricketer- children informed the girl's parents Claiming that her government turned-politician's into the state cabinet. The 40- about it following which police has reduced poverty in the state by minute meeting at the chief were alerted. 40 per cent, the manifesto also charged, the West Bengal chief minister's farmhouse near The girl was found in an in- promised to increase annual fi- minister said. "We will set up 10 lakh here comes amid jured state at an isolated place. nancial aid to farmers from Rs new MSMEs and 2000 new big in- speculation over The accused was identified and 6,000 to Rs 10,000. "For the first dustrial units in the next five years," rehabilitation of the arrested five hours later. time, every family in Bengal will she said. Congress MLA, who quit the Investigating officer in the case be extended a minimum basic in- "We shall appoint a Special Task state cabinet after being Suresh Sharma, who is the circle come. Under this, 1.6 crore gen- Force to examine and propose OBC stripped of a key portfolio officer of Chirawa, said the court eral category families will get Rs status to all the communities which by the CM. convicted the man Tuesday and 500 a month, whereas SC/ST cate- are not recognised as OBCs like pronounced the death penalty gory families will get Rs 1,000. The Mahishya, Tili, Tamul and Sahas. under the Protection of Children money will be directly transferred We will also ask the Government T’gana schools from Sexual Offences (POCSO) to the woman head of a family," of India to grant ST status to Act Wednesday. Banerjee said. Mahatos," the TMC chief said. new nCoV hotspots A new student credit card scheme A Special Development Board Hyderabad: Schools in will be introduced with a credit would be set up for the develop- Telangana are turning to be limit of Rs 10 lakh and an interest ment of Terai and Dooars region new hotspots of Covid-19 as Farmers winnow rice grains at a field on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam PTI PHOTO rate of only 4 per cent will be in north Bengal, she said. the state faces a sudden spurt in new infections. Over 100 students and staff members of at least seven Pakistan sending schools have tested positive during the last two days, No concerns yet: Govt on AstraZeneca safety fears weapons through worrying the state authorities. The state PRESS TRUST OF INDIA still being done," Paul added. drones: Govt to RS government is likely to He said the World Health announce new measures, "Swift action was taken in the New Delhi, March 17: Amid re- Organization (WHO) has said as a including possible closure case and all evidence collected. ports of possible side-effects of precaution, investigation should PRESS TRUST OF INDIA of schools to contain the The charge sheet was filed and Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 go on and has categorically said not spread. the court pronounced the judg- vaccine and its suspension in some to suspend the vaccination. New Delhi, March 17: The ment today," he said. The court European countries, the govern- "India's own committee that government Wednesday said also appreciated the investigation ment on Wednesday said there is looks at adverse effects is seized of some instances of supply of 70-year-old man conducted by the police, saying it "no signal of concern" regarding this issue. For the last few days, it weapons through drones from was an example of an ideal in- its use in the country as of now. is tracking the information that is Pakistan have come to light beaten to death vestigation which contained di- Asked about the suspension of available to us in a very systematic and security agencies were tak- Barabanki (UP): A 70-year- rect, scientific, electronic and cir- the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vac- manner and again I assure you ing action on it. old man was beaten to death cumstantial evidence. cine in some European countries, that we have no signal of concern Union Minister of State for over a petty issue in Uttar It was observed that the cir- Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member in this regard. Therefore, clearly Home G Kishan Reddy said this in Pradesh's Barabanki cumstantial evidence collected by (Health) told a weekly press con- our vaccination programme with Rajya Sabha, while responding to Wednesday, following which the police was enough to prove ference here that it has only been Covishield will go on with full a question on whether the cen- the accused was arrested, the case. Hailing the judgment, done as a precautionary measure. as a result, about 10 European says it is a precautionary measure vigour. "We are mindful of the fact tral government is aware that police said. Shatruhan, a Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Concerns about AstraZeneca's countries have paused their and there is no data to believe, as to address this concern, based on Pakistan has started supplying resident of Dehua village, Gehlot said the police filed the vaccine relationship with throm- AstraZeneca vaccination pro- of now, the causal relationship the emerging situation. As of today, weapons to infiltrators via drones. was found lying in a pool of charge sheet within nine days and botic events in people who received gramme, he said. between the vaccine and the ad- there is no concern at all with re- "Certain instances of supply of blood by the villagers, who the court delivered judgment the vaccine have come to light and "The European medical agency verse events. The assessment is gard to Covishield," Paul said. weapons via drones from across the reported the matter to police. within 26 days of the incident. Pakistan border have come to the notice of security and law en- forcement agencies," he said in ‘Passengers not wearing masks properly to be de-boarded’

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA tive action by the DGCA, the court Chetan Sharma and advocate tioned CAR, shall be followed by decided to close the case and ob- Anjana Gosain, informed the court the concerned airlines,” it said. New Delhi, March 17: The DGCA served that initiation of punitive ac- that following its directions, it is- Advocate Gosain also informed informed the Delhi High Court on tion against the violators is a wel- sued a circular March 13 relating the court that in a Jammu to Delhi Wednesday that action is being come step, the bench said. to strict guidelines to be followed flight, March 16, four passengers taken against passengers not wear- Justice Shankar had March 8 in the airports. were declared unruly for not prop- ing masks properly despite repeated taken suo motu cognisance of the "On board the aircraft, in case any erly wearing masks and were handed warnings and they will be de- situation after witnessing passen- passenger does not adhere to wear- over to the security officials. She said boarded from planes before depar- gers not wearing masks properly ing of mask properly even after re- the authorities have also decided to his written reply. ture and treated as “unruly pas- during transportation from airport peated warning, he/ she should be conduct surprise checks. Reddy said the government has sengers”. to the flight and their stubborn re- de-boarded, if need be, before de- When the counsel for Air India been taking various steps to meet The high court expressed satis- luctance to wear masks properly. parture," the circular stated. "In said they have also issued a circu- such challenges, which include faction over the steps being taken The court, which had issued var- case, any passenger on board an lar with necessary guidelines, the round the clock effective sur- by the Directorate General of Civil ious guidelines to DGCA and all aircraft refuses to wear mask or bench asked the DGCA to ensure veillance, streamlining the in- Aviation (DGCA) and said it hoped other airlines for immediate com- violates the ‘COVID-19 Protocol for that other airlines also follow the telligence set up, capacity build- y that the action would continue in the pliance, said it was constrained to passengers' even after repeated guidelines. ing of forces, patrolling on the

same spirit considering the safety pass the order because of an alarm- warnings, during the course of the The DGCA has also said in its cir- borders along with sensitization

k y m c of passengers from COVID-19 in- ing situation which was witnessed fight, such passenger may be treated cular that passengers shall wear of local population in border fection. by the judge himself during the as ‘Unruly Passenger' as defined... masks and maintain social distanc- areas, establishment of obser- A bench of Justices Navin Chawla Air India flight from Kolkata to Civil Aviation Requirements ing norms at all times during air vation posts, border fencing, flood and C Hari Shankar observed that New Delhi March 5. (CAR)...And the procedure in re- travel. The mask shall not be moved lighting, deployment and use of the court was initially planning to tinue monitoring the implementa- court earlier. DGCA, represented through spect of handling such unruly pas- below the nose except under excep- modern and hi-tech surveillance keep the suo motu case open to con- tion of directions issued by the However, after noticing the proac- Additional Solicitor General (ASG) senger, as provided in above men- tional circumstances, it said. equipments, etc. The days of P9 Pinarayi Vijayan FIRE BREAKS OUT IN HOSP THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR government is numbered as there is no A fire broke out in the Calcutta doubt that Kerala will Medical College and Hospital have a Congress Chief here Wednesday morning, Fire Minister Brigade officials said. There was no report of any injury in y AK ANTONY |

national MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, RS the fire, they said

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of the day uote Farmers to intensify agitation ‘India’s engagement A significant situation is During the nationwide strike March 26 that also marks four months of the farmers' movement, emerging as plummeting all shops and other business establishments will remain shut for 12 hours, followed by the burning of with China complex’ pandemic is going the copies of the three laws during ‘holika dehan’ March 28 up. The Prime PRESS TRUST OF INDIA "The two sides have also agreed Minister said that AGENCIES that any amendments made to the to manage their differences and pandemic seems to be more so in act would be in violation of the New Delhi, March 17: India not allow differences on any issue Tier II, Tier III cities and closer to New Delhi, March 17: Ahead of government's commitment made Wednesday said its engagement to become disputes," Muraleedharan rural areas. The earlier phase was their Sampurna Bharat Bandh to the farmers in January. "During with China is "complex" and the added. in big metro cities March 26, farmer leaders Wednesday the 11 rounds of talks that we have two countries agreed that the future On the border row, the minister said they were preparing to inten- had with the government, direction of ties should be built said the two sides have maintained DR VK PAUL | HEAD OF INDIA'S VACCINE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE sify the agitation against the three Agriculture Minister Narendra upon respecting each other's sen- communication through both diplo- farm laws. Tomar said that they accepted our sitivities, concerns and aspirations. matic and military channels to en- "The strike will start from 6 in the demands over the electricity bill. Three children morning and will continue till 6 in "The media wrote that 50 per cent “India will continue are raped the evening, during which all shops demands of the the farmers' move- every hour in and dairies and everything will re- ment were resolved. But, now they discussions with India and five main closed. are trying to introduce the act again. China to resolve the children are victims "We will burn the copies of the This is cheating," he said. Enacted of sexual abuse. three laws during Holi and hope in September, the three farm laws remaining issues This is a national that better sense prevails within have been projected by the Centre as along the LAC,” emergency and the children of India the government, and it repeals the major reforms in the agriculture need our help laws, and gives us a written guar- sector that will remove the middle- Minister of State for FARHAN AKHTAR | ACTOR antee for MSP," said Ranjit Raju of men and allow farmers to sell their External Affairs V Ganganagar Kisan Samiti ad- produce anywhere in the country. dressing a press conference. The Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Krishna has been going on for 112 days. That The protesting farmers, on the Muraleedharan said Goa is at bandh has found support in all Prasad said the fact that the move- itself is an achievement. Neither other hand, have expressed appre- increasing risk trade and transport unions, stu- ment had managed to continue for you, nor us had thought that we hension that the new laws would Minister of State for External sure complete disengagement from vis a vis a dents', youth and women's unions. as long as 112 days was an achieve- could do this, and the public has pave the way for eliminating the Affairs V Muraleedharan also said all friction points and full restora- resurgence in Covid- "We are also trying to create such ment in itself, and it would only shown that it supports us," he said. safety cushion of the Minimum in the Lok Sabha that India will con- tion of peace and tranquillity in the 19 cases in the state meetings at the state level so that get stronger from now. Prasad also expressed concerns Support Price (MSP) and do away tinue discussions with China to border areas. GOA PRAMOD SAWANT | the strike is observed everywhere," He added that the Bharat Bandh over the central government's move with the "mandi" (wholesale mar- resolve the remaining issues along "The two sides were able to reach CHIEF MINISTER said another farmer leader will happen at "state, zila, tehsil to introduce the Electricity ket) system, leaving them at the the Line of Actual Control in east- an agreement on disengagement in Purushottam Sharma. All India and village levels". "The protest Amendment Bill 2021, claiming mercy of big corporates. ern Ladakh to achieve the objective the North and South Bank of the of disengagement from all friction Pangong Lake, which has been SHORT TAKES points. completed. There are however still His written response came when some outstanding issues with re- IAF Group PROTEST TURNS UGLY asked whether India-China rela- gard to deployment and patrolling Bihar minister tions are being affected due to vi- at some other points along the LAC Captain killed olation of negotiations made in in eastern Ladakh," he said. insults Speaker the past by China and "unfruitful The border standoff between Patna: Bihar Vidhan Sabha in MiG-21 crash efforts" to cross the LAC again and the Indian and Chinese militaries Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha again. Referring to the eastern erupted on May 5 last following a adjourned the house PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Ladakh row, Muraleedharan said violent clash in the Pangong lake Wednesday after Samrat the Chinese side, since April/May areas and both sides gradually en- Chaudhary, the Panchayati New Delhi, March 17: A group last year, undertook several at- hanced their deployment by rush- Raj minister asked him "not captain of the Indian Air Force tempts to unilaterally alter the sta- ing in tens of thousands of sol- to get too anxious", which (IAF) was killed in an accident tus quo along the LAC in the region diers as well as heavy weaponry. did not go down well with involving a Mig-21 Bison aircraft and India's armed forces responded As a result of a series of military Sinha. Sinha strongly in Gwalior Wednesday morning, to them appropriately. and diplomatic talks, the two sides objected to the Hindi word officials said. "It has been made clear to the completed withdrawal of troops "vyakul" used by Samrat The pilot has been identified Chinese side that such unilateral and weapons from the North and Chaudhary, which loosely as Group Captain A Gupta. The ac- attempts are unacceptable. These South banks of Pangong lake in translates to being anxious. cident took place at around 10:50 actions have seriously disturbed the line with the agreement on disen- The Speaker asked the am, when the aircraft was taking peace and tranquillity along the gagement last month. minister to withdraw his off for a combat training mission, LAC in the western sector," he said. "Government will continue dis- remark immediately which the officials said. The air head- The government often refers to cussions with the Chinese side to he not only refused but quarters has ordered a court of eastern Ladakh as western sector. resolve the remaining issues along repeated to Sinha's chagrin. inquiry to ascertain the cause of "India's engagement with China the LAC in eastern Ladakh and the crash. is complex. The two sides agree achieve the objective of disen- "A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of IAF that the future direction of India gagement from all friction points Congress block was involved in a fatal accident this China relations should be built and restoration of peace and tran- chief shot dead morning, while taking off for a upon respecting each other's sen- quillity in the India-China bor- combat training mission at an air- sitivities, concerns and aspira- der areas at an early date," the Chhatarpur/Bhopal: Ghuwara base in central India," the IAF UP Police lathi-charge on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers during their protest, in Lucknow PTI PHOTO tions," he said on the overall ties. minister said. Block Congress President said in a tweet. Indra Pratap Singh was shot "The IAF lost Group Captain A dead in Chhatarpur district, Gupta in the tragic accident. IAF the police said. The Congress expresses deep condolences and WATER RESOURCES ISSUES leader was killed Tuesday stands firmly with the family evening, following which his DELHI WOMAN DIES members. A Court of Inquiry has family members created a been ordered to determine the ruckus in the district cause of the accident," it added. hospital. The reason behind INDIA, BANGLADESH TO The Soviet-origin Mig-21 Bison AFTER SON SLAPS HER the murder is said to be an old rivalry. According to is an upgraded version of the Mig- official information, he was 21 aircraft that the IAF began in- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA one of her neighbour over park- sitting at a small eatery when ducting in the 1960s. ing vehicles. A PCR call was also EXPAND COOPERATION he was shot dead. The Mig-21 Bison is capable of New Delhi, March 17: A 76-year- made by the neighbour, but when carrying beyond-visual-range mis- old woman died after she was the police reached the spot, the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA framework for sharing of river wa- siles and other potent weapons. slapped by her son following an complainant told them that the ters, mitigation of pollution, river On February 27, 2019, Wing argument between them in issue was sorted out and she did New Delhi, March 17: India and bank protection, flood manage- Nepali woman Commander Abhinandan Dwarka, the police said Tuesday. not want to pursue the matter any- Bangladesh have agreed to expand ment, basin management, etc.," the shot dead Varthaman flew a Mig-21 Bison In the CCTV footage of the in- more. Subsequently, Kaur's son cooperation across the entire gamut statement said. and shot down an F-16 aircraft cident that occurred Monday af- confronted her about "picking of water resources issues, includ- A Joint Technical Working New Delhi: A 45-year-old of the Pakistan Air Force, be- ternoon, the woman, Avtar Kaur, up a fight" with the neighbours. ing framework for sharing of river Group will provide inputs on the woman was shot dead by fore his aircraft went down in can be seen being slapped by her During the ensuing argument waters, mitigation of pollution, matter. The discussions were sub- bike-borne assailants here a dogfight. He was captured by son on the face, after which she between the two, the son slapped river bank protection, flood man- stantive and held in a cordial at- Wednesday. The victim the Pakistan Army and released became unconscious and fell on his mother on her face, a senior agement, basin management, ac- mosphere, it added. identified as Meena was from two days later. The IAF has lost the ground. police officer said. The CCTV cording to an official statement The meeting took place ahead Nepal and was residing in Timarpur in North Delhi, many Mig-21s and other air- After the video emerged, the footage showed that after the dis- Wednesday. of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's where the attack took place. craft in accidents in the last police registered a case against pute over parking of vehicles The India-Bangladesh Water Ministry of Water Resources. visit to Bangladesh later this month. She used to sell water, snacks few years. her 45-year-old son under sec- was sorted, another argument Resources Secretary level meeting Noting that India and On Tuesday, sources said, the two and cold drinks. Police In June 2019, the Ministry of tion 304 (punishment for culpa- broke out between the woman, under the framework of the Joint Bangladesh share 54 common rivers sides discussed sharing of waters of received information about Defence informed Parliament ble homicide not amounting to her son Ranbir and his wife. Rivers Commission took place on which directly impact the livelihood the Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, the shooting around 7 a.m. that 27 IAF aircraft have crashed murder) of the Indian Penal Code The woman was taken to a March 16 here. of people in the two countries, Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers. since 2016. In 2016-17, six IAF (IPC) at the Bindapur police sta- nearby hospital, where she The Indian delegation was led by both sides commended the close co- Discussions also took place to fur- fighter jets, two helicopters, a tion and arrested him. was declared "brought dead" by Pankaj Kumar, Secretary (Water operation that exists between them ther cooperation in the area of flood transport aircraft and a trainer According to the police, be- the doctors, senior police of- Resources, River Development and in the matter. forecasting, they added. Both sides 30 school kids crashed. In 2017-18, the IAF lost two fore the incident, there was an ar- ficial (Dwarka) Santosh Kumar Ganga Rejuvenation). The "Both sides agreed to expand co- also agreed to schedule the next sec- test nCoV+ve fighter jets and a trainer aircraft gument between the woman and Meena said. Bangladesh delegation was led by operation across entire gamut of retary-level meeting in Dhaka on in crashes. Kabir Bin Anwar, Senior Secretary, water resources issues including mutually convenient dates. Palghar: As many as 30 students and a teacher from an ashram school have tested positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official Kashmiris await traditional guests to return lost smiles from the health department said Wednesday. The cases came to light after a couple INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE "We have been assured by our of their visit to Kashmir. of students displayed partners outside J&K that they will "Unless tourism is revived in its symptoms of the viral Srinagar, March 17: As the min- be organising groups of tourists VALLEY HOPEFUL real sense, we cannot keep the wolf infection earlier this week, imum temperatures rose notches this year since many people have ex- s spring heralds melting of away from our door for long," said the official from the taluka above normal in most places in pressed their desire to visit Kashmir. Asnows and blooming of Naseer Ali, a papier-macche artisan medical office said. Kashmir Wednesday, hoteliers and "Let us hope all goes well and flowers, locals are hopeful living in Zadibal locality of old city guesthouse owners have started 2021 becomes year of hope and re- of peace and better tourism Srinagar. face lifting their establishments to vival for our industrya, said Abdul this year Although horticulture is still the 2 Nigerians welcome visitors this year. Hamid, a tour and travel operator biggest industry in Kashmir, it is con- “Water taps have remained frozen who has been associated with the hat Kashmir awaits today fined to only to orchard owners and is a chance to play host to held with drugs for the last four months and just hospitality industry for nearly four W fruit dealers. its traditional guests associated two days back, these taps are open- decades. It is the tourist industry that con- Bangalore: Two Nigerians with tourism, Hindi film have been arrested with ing up. We have started facelifting Even ordinary taxi drivers and industry, adventure sports and cerns the lives of thousands local

synthetic drugs worth Rs 75 of our hotel as we are expecting Shikara owners on the Dal Lake are honeymooners artisans, taxi operators, Shikara y lakh, police said Wednesday. good number of visitors this year,” praying with folded hands that 2021 and houseboat owners, hotel and

said Nazir Ahmad, a hotel owner in brings back smile on their faces. guest house operators, tour and

k y m Joseph Ndukwe (38) and c Uzochukwu Mark Maurice Sonamarg tourist resort. "I am only praying that Allah during the last many years. travel operators, Ponywallahs, fur- Mb Atuegwu (38) were "After abrogation of 370, the pan- should come to our rescue. We have "Local buyers are very few and riers, pavement sellers etc. arrested for allegedly demic hit our industry. 2019 was suffered to such an extent that any far between when it comes to items Better tourism has always brought possessing and supplying the tense and after that there was no further suffering would end our Locals associated with handi- complain that their expertise and of wood carving and papier-mac- smile on the faces of Kashmiris drugs to people here, the tourism in 2020. All our hopes are lives," said Nisar Dar, a taxi driver crafts like shawl weaving, wood hard labour have not given them any che. These things are mostly whose hospitality is famous all over police said. now pinned on this year. in Srinagar. carving, papier-macche etc also returns in the absence of tourism bought by visitors as souvenirs the World. The status of democracy B’DESH MARKS 50 YEARS P10 also depends fundamentally OF INDEPENDENCE THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR on the empowerment of women. Bangladesh Wednesday began the Not only because the exclusion of 10-day golden jubilee celebrations women in decision-making is a of the country’s independence marker of a flawed democracy, but from Pakistan along with the birth because the participation of women centenary of the Father of the strengthens democracy international Nation ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh

KAMALA HARRIS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE US

k y m | Mujibur Rahman c of the day uote US sanctions 24 China and SARKOZY GOES Political role under I, too, kneel on BACK ON TRIAL the streets of INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Myanmar and fire in AstraZeneca say: may violence Paris, March 17: Former French cease; I, too, extend HK officials ahead of talks my arms and say: President Nicolas Sarkozy is on may dialogue The White House trial over accusations of illegal vaccine suspension prevail EU envoys agree campaign financing starting has set low Wednesday, two weeks after he POPE FRANCIS | HEAD OF VATICAN CITY on China sanctions was sentenced on separate charges expectations for Brussels: The European Union of bribery. WHO official calls agreed Wednesday to blacklist Sarkozy is accused of exceeding I just don’t the meeting with blood clots 'very rare' Chinese officials for human rights the legal threshold for campaign understand Chinese officials abuses, two diplomats said, the expenses by 20 million euros (23.8 Geneva: A top World Health this sort of at Alaska first sanctions against Beijing since million dollars) during his re-elec- Organisation expert on vaccines macho thing about an EU arms embargo in 1989 says people should feel reassured I’m not going to get tion campaign in 2012, dpa news following the Tiananmen Square reported. that even if health authorities turn the vaccine, I have a crackdown. EU ambassadors up a link between blood clots and AGENCIES The US announcement was made An additional 13 people are also REUTERS right as an approved the travel bans and asset the AstraZeneca vaccine, such cases during a visit by Blinken and accused of fraud or aiding and American, my freedom to not do it. freezes on four Chinese individuals are “very rare.” Dr Kate O'Brien, who The US The decision by Why don’t you be a patriot, protect Hong Kong, March 17: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to and one entity, whose names will abetting. Berlin, March 17: heads WHO’s department of immuni- other people? sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese Japan and South Korea, both of not be made public until formal more than a dozen European coun- sations and vaccines, said the UN and Hong Kong officials over which are wary of China’s growing tries to suspend AstraZeneca’s JOE BIDEN | PRESIDENT OF THE US approval by EU foreign ministers health agency and the European Beijing’s ongoing crackdown on economic, military and political March 22, as part of a new and COVID-19 shot faced deepening Medicines Agency are trying to political freedoms in the semi-au- heft. wider rights sanctions list. While scrutiny Wednesday, amid con- investigate the possibility of a link tonomous city, just ahead of the The imposition of new sanctions the sanctions are mainly symbolic, cerns the step could undermine between blood clots and the We keep the Biden administration’s first face-to- “fully exposes the US side’s sinis- the adoption marks a significant public confidence and delay efforts AstraZeneca shots.The potential side effects of face talks with China. ter intention to interfere in China’s hardening in the EU’s policy to beat the coronavirus pandemic. effect has prompted some countries these vaccines The step reflects Washington’s internal affairs, disrupt Hong Kong towards China, which Brussels The role of Germany, and in par- -- mostly in Europe -- to temporarily under review all the “deep concern” about the erosion and obstruct China’s stability and long regarded as a benign trading ticular Health Minister Jens Spahn, suspend use of the AstraZeneca vac- time and we know of Hong Kong’s autonomy follow- development,” Chinese Foreign partner but now views as a The so-called Bygmalion affair, is in the spotlight after a chaotic cine. A WHO committee on vaccines that the Oxford- ing changes to its election system Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian systematic abuser of basic rights after the name of a communica- round of telephone diplomacy at the is looking into the issue. AstraZeneca endorsed by China’s ceremonial and freedoms. The 1989 EU arms tions agency involved in the case, start of the week ended with the vaccine is saving lives in the UK told reporters at a daily briefing legislature last week, Secretary of Wednesday. embargo on China, its second- regards fake invoices issued to EU’s biggest states agreeing to put major European capitals have given right now so if you get the call, get largest trade partner, is still the jab State Antony Blinken said in a “China will take strong meas- keep Sarkozy’s campaign expenses AstraZeneca on hold. mixed accounts over how the joint statement Wednesday. ures as appropriate to resolutely de- in place. under the legal threshold of 22.5 Spahn says he acted on expert ad- move to halt AstraZeneca came MATT HANCOCK | HEALTH SECRETARY, UK Foreign financial institutions fend national sovereignty, security million euros. A verdict is ex- vice after Germany’s vaccine watch- about. The stop on AstraZeneca that deal with the 24 officials would and development interests,” Zhao Thursday, Blinken and national pected in mid-April. dog reported on what it described threatens to hobble Europe’s vac- be subject to US sanctions, the State said. security adviser Jake Sullivan are According to media reports, the as a statistically significant num- cination campaign just as a third Department said. While in Tokyo, the Blinken and scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign trial might however be delayed ber of cases of a rare brain blood wave of infection breaks over the SHORT TAKES The planned changes to Hong Austin delivered a joint statement Minister Wang Yi and the foreign immediately after opening, as one clot. AstraZeneca says it has found continent, accelerated by more in- Kong’s electoral law give a pro- with their Japanese counterparts affairs chief of China’s ruling of the defendants’ lawyers has no evidence that the blood clots fectious variants. Gunmen kill 58 Beijing committee power to ap- expressing concern about Beijing’s Communist Party, Yang Jiechi, in fallen ill. were caused by the vaccine. The The bloc has already lagged far point more of Hong Kong’s law- human rights violations in the Anchorage, Alaska. Sarkzoy, who ruled France be- World Health Organization called behind the United States and former in Niger market makers. The move will reduce the western Xinjiang region against The White House has set low ex- tween 2007 and 2012, is facing one on countries not to delay lifesaving EU member Britain in vaccinat- Niamey: Gunmen on proportion of those directly elected ethnic minorities and China’s de- pectations for the meeting. A sen- year in prison and a fine of 3,750 vaccine programmes. ing citizens. Hospitals are filling motorcycles attacked a and ensures that only those deter- termination to alter the status of a ior official, who briefed reporters euros. At the beginning of the Germany’s actions have been up again, and politicians in sev- group of civilians returning mined to be truly loyal to Beijing group of uninhabited islands ad- on condition of anonymity, said month, the former leader was al- interpreted as political both at eral European countries have been from market day in a volatile are allowed to run for office — ef- ministered by Tokyo but claimed by the two sides would not deliver a ready sentenced to three years in home and abroad, with opposition forced to consider fresh lockdowns, corner of Niger, leaving at fectively shutting opposition fig- Beijing. The two arrived in Seoul joint statement and no major an- prison, two of them suspended, in leaders calling on Chancellor Angela even as comparable rich countries least 58 people dead and ures out of the political process. on Wednesday for talks. nouncements were expected. a corruption case. Merkel to sack Spahn. Officials in prepare for normal life to return. then burning granaries to the ground, the government has said. There was no immediate claim of LITTLE BUT LOUD B'desh hosp fire responsibility for Monday’s ‘Unconstitutional to massacres, though leaves 3 Covid extremists belonging to the Islamic State in the Greater bar same-sex marriage’ Sahara group are known to patients dead be active in the Tillaberi REUTERS INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE region where the villages ered relatively liberal by Asian were attacked. standards, social attitudes have Tokyo, March 17: A Japanese kept the LGBT community largely Dhaka, March 17: A major fire court ruled Wednesday that not al- invisible in the world’s third largest Wednesday morning in Dhaka lowing same-sex couples to get economy. Taiwan became the first Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Oz to give married is “unconstitutional,” set- place in Asia to legalise same-sex here has left three Covid-19 patients vax to PNG ting a precedent in the only G7 na- marriages in 2019. dead, said DMCH Director Nazmul tion not to fully recognise same-sex Under the current rules in Japan, Haque. Canberra: Australia will send partnership. same-sex couples are not allowed Haque told IANS that the victims COVID-19 vaccines from its The ruling by a district court, the to legally marry, can’t inherit their were being treated at the Intensive own supply to its near- first in Japan on the legality of partner’s assets - such as the house Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, neighbour Papua New Guinea same-sex marriages, is a major they may have shared - and also have when the fire broke out. “Rest of and will ask AstraZeneca to symbolic victory in a country where no parental rights over their part- the 11 patients of the ICU unit-2, send more to try to contain a the constitution still defines mar- ners’ children. Though partner- dedicated to Covid-19 patients, have concerning wave of riage as being based on “the mutual ship certificates issued by indi- also been evacuated from the ICU fol- infections, Australia’s prime consent of both sexes”. vidual municipalities help same-sex lowing the fire outbreak. They were, minister has said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Following the ruling, plaintiffs couples to rent a place together later, shifted to the burn unit and ICU 8,000 AstraZeneca doses and supporters unfurled rainbow and have hospital visitation rights, of the old building,” Haque added. would be sent next week for flags and banners in front of the they still don’t give them the same The fire broke out at around 8 Papua New Guinea’s front- court. While a new law will be full legal rights enjoyed by het- am, causing dense smoke inside the line health workers and he needed before same-sex marriages erosexual couples. ICU unit-2 of DMCH, the state owned and his Papua New Guinea can actually take place - which “Sexual orientation cannot be biggest hospital of the country. counterpart James Marape could take some time in socially con- changed or selected by a person’s Three patients who were in life sup- would ask AstraZeneca to servative Japan - the plaintiffs’ will,” the ruling said. “It is dis- Ariana Lamcellari, 4, holds a sign at a protest against violence, following the charge of a British police officer in the port in ICU, died during shifting to send another 1 million doses lawyer called the ruling “revolu- criminatory treatment ... that London kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard, in Dublin, Ireland REUTERS CCU of the Dhaka Medical College. as soon as possible. tionary”, while LGBT activists they cannot receive even some of deemed it life-changing. the legal benefits that hetero- While Japanese law is consid- sexuals do.” 7 killed in Pak Pak poll body summons PTI on foreign funding coal mine blast Karachi: At least seven INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE scrutiny committee’s decision to The lawyer argued that access He said the scrutiny process Pakistani miners were killed keep PTI documents secret. to PTI documents is a right of the would be a sham and mere attempt after an explosion at a coal Islamabad, March 17: The Election The decision was taken by a three- petitioner in light of Article 5(4) of to rubber stamp fake documents. mine in the troubled Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has member bench headed by ECP mem- the Political Parties Order, 2002 and The lawyer said a secrecy order Balochistan province, the issued notices to the Pakistan ber from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa re- Section 203(5) of the Election Act, of the committee is illegal. second such incident in the Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and its own tired Justice Irshad Qaiser after 2017, Geo tv reported. By keeping the About the performance of the province in a week. The scrutiny committee to appear before hearing Babar’s complaint Tuesday, documents secret, the ECP scrutiny committee, Shah regretted that explosion took place Monday it March 22 to explain their stance Dawn reported. Babar’s lawyer, committee is violating the terms other than writing a letter to the SBP night after the accumulation over secrecy of scrutiny in the PTI Ahmad Hassan Shah, challenged of reference of scrutiny that clearly to seek PTI accounts, there has been of methane gas in the mine in foreign funding case. the scrutiny committee’s decision demands scrutiny in the presence no investigation into the credible ev- Torghar gas field in Hanai Following the ruling, plaintiffs and supporters unfurled rainbow flags and This follows a complaint by pe- and invoked the Right to Information of both parties, the petitioner's idence provided regarding illegal district, Balochistan Coal banners in front of the court titioner Akbar S Babar against the Act to seek access to the documents. lawyer said. funding from across the globe. Mines Workers Federation president Sultan Muhammad Lala said. Last week, six miners were killed after an explosion in a coal mine in Marwar district of the Mars may be hiding most of its ‘missing’ water underground province.

PREVIOUSLY, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) the atmosphere cannot explain both found that around four billion years the observed deuterium to hydrogen Philippines imposes SCIENTISTS Washington, March 17: Vast ago, Mars was home to enough water signal in the Martian atmosphere and entry restrictions SEEKING TO amounts of ancient water may have to have covered the whole planet in large amounts of water in the past. been trapped beneath the surface of an ocean about 100 to 1,500 metres deep. The study proposes that a com- Manila: The Philippines has EXPLAIN WHAT Mars, according to a NASA-funded However, a billion years later the bination of two mechanisms -- the announced that it will HAPPENED TO study which challenges the current planet was as dry as it is today. trapping of water in minerals in the temporarily suspend the theory that the Red Planet’s water es- Atmospheric escape doesn’t fully planet’s crust and the loss of water entry of foreigners and some THE FLOWING caped into space. explain the data that we have for to the atmosphere -- can explain the citizens as the Southeast Evidence found on the surface of how much water actually once existed observed deuterium-to-hydrogen Asian country battles a WATER ON Mars suggests that abundant water on Mars, said Caltech PhD candi- signal within the Martian atmos- renewed spike in Covid-19 MARS HAD flowed across Mars billions of years date Eva Scheller, lead author of a phere. The researchers said that cases. In a statement issued ago, forming pools, lakes, and deep paper on the research. ratio of deuterium to hydrogen. searchers. when water interacts with rock, Tuesday night, the SUGGESTED oceans, and where did all that water The team studied the quantity of Water is made up of hydrogen Because of this, the escape of a chemical weathering forms clays Philippines’ coronavirus task go has been a matter of investigation. force said foreign citizens THAT IT water on Mars over time in all its and oxygen. Not all hydrogen atoms planet’s water via the upper atmos- and other hydrous minerals that

The new study, published in the forms -- vapour, liquid and ice -- and are created equal, however. There phere would leave a telltale signature contain water as part of their min-

k y m and returning nationals who c had not been working ESCAPED INTO journal Science, shows that a sig- the chemical composition of the are two stable isotopes of hydrogen on the ratio of deuterium to hydro- eral structure, a process that occurs overseas will not be able to SPACE DUE TO nificant portion of Mars’s water -- be- planet's current atmosphere and crust. -- deuterium to hydrogen. gen in the planet’s atmosphere, and on Earth as well as on Mars. enter the country from March tween 30 and 99 percent -- is trapped They did so through the analysis The lighter-weight hydrogen has there would be an outsized portion Mars, however, is mostly tecton- 20 to April 19 under the ban. MARS’S LOW within minerals in the planet’s crust. of meteorites as well as using data an easier time escaping the planet’s of deuterium left behind, they said. ically inactive, and so the drying of The researchers from California provided by Mars rovers and or- gravity into space than its heavier However, the researchers noted the surface, once it occurs, is per- GRAVITY Institute of Technology and NASA’s biters, looking in particular at the counterpart, according to the re- that the loss of water solely through manent, according to the researchers. I would urge the GoI that ‘WHATSAPP TO REVIEW POLICY’ P11 the way they have notified THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Digital Media Ethics Code to The Centre has asked messaging firm regulate social media and OTT Whatsapp to review its proposed privacy platforms, they should enact a law policy changes, said MoS for IT and Comm. on the pattern of Australian Code so Sanjay Dhotre. WhatsApp has drawn that we can compel Google to share massive criticism from users globally, its revenue with traditional media over concerns that data was being shared business with its parent company, Facebook

SUSHIL KUMAR MODI | SENIOR BJP LEADER

k y m c of the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA higher, risks of a 'taper tantrum' rise, day uote with India and Philippines most Nokia to lay off Asia’s emerging New Delhi, March 17: S&P Global exposed. Ratings Wednesday said the re- In 2013, US yields leaped after 10K staff, plans The covery across Asia’s emerging the US Federal Reserve indicated introduction of economies would withstand rising it would begin unwinding its quan- the Danfoss investment in 5G US yields so long as this reflects titative easing program. The re- Climate Solutions market recovery to segment in India will an improving growth outlook and sulting panic over rising credit reinforce our reflation rather than a monetary costs led to sharp outflow from thought leadership shock. flexibility and should allow cen- emerging markets, including Asia's, in the market and create new withstand rising US yields are rising mostly due tral banks to remain focused on and forced central banks to hike in- avenues to highlight the role of the to expectations of higher growth, supporting recovery. terest rates. Indian industry in achieving global rather than fears of imminent tight- "The recovery across Asia's Since then, S&P said, the cen- climate targets ening, or monetary-policy shock. emerging economies should with- tral banks in India and Thailand INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE This time around, initial condi- stand rising US yields so long as this have been more aggressive in build- RAVICHANDRAN PURUSHOTHAMAN | US yields: S&P INDIA PRESIDENT, DANFOSS tions in Asia are sturdier than they reflects an improving growth out- ing up reserve buffers. New Delhi, March 17: Nokia were in 2013, the rating agency look and reflation rather than a It said the effect of $1.9 trillion has announced it will lay off The recovery across Asia's emerging economies should said. monetary shock," S&P Global in stimulus on US inflation and 10,000 employees in the next two The withstand rising US yields so long as this reflects an It said current account surpluses, Ratings Asia-Pacific Chief rates remains uncertain and mar- years as part of its restructuring government improving growth outlook and reflation rather than a low inflation (for the most part), Economist Shaun Roache. kets can react in a non-linear way plans, reset its cost bases and in- has received monetary shock higher real interest rates, and fat- The US-based agency, however, if inflation expectations surge above vest in R&D and future capabil- complaints against ter foreign-exchange reserve buffers said that if markets price a policy central bank targets and imminent ities including 5G, cloud and dig- SHAUN ROACHE I CHIEF ECONOMIST, APAC, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS certain e-commerce give regional policymakers more mistake and US real yields surge tightening is priced in. ital infrastructure. companies alleging On a group level, this is expected violation of FDI to lower the company's cost base policy and necessary actions under CHEMICAL INDUSTRY by approximately 600 million the provisions of Foreign Exchange euros by the end of 2023. Management Act, 1999 have been These savings will offset in- taken for investigation by the NPAs likely to increase ‘` creased investments in R&D, fu- Enforcement Directorate 10L cr investment ture capabilities and costs re- PIYUSH GOYAL | lated to salary inflation. COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER "Planned restructuring is in H1 2021, says survey opportunity on cards’ expected to result in an 80,000- 85,000 employee organisation, Indian AGENCIES over an 18-24-month period, customers The survey was conducted on 20 banks, including public instead of the approximately have always sector, private sector and foreign banks, representing about New Delhi, March 17: The gov- 90,000 employees Nokia has desired the ernment Wednesday said the today," the company said in a legendary Jeep 59% of the banking industry, as classified by asset size Indian chemical industry has an statement late Tuesday. Wrangler, and I am opportunity to attract investment pleased that today ` we are able to bring this to them, of about 10 lakh crore by 2025 assembled in India. Jeep Wrangler’s as the country offers a location ad- GIG ECONOMY capability is unmatched because vantage. our engineers have continued to Opportunities exist in the en- organised by Ficci. Uber under pressure on improve our 4x4 technology to tire value chain and across the sec- Coupled with enormous oppor- make it a global benchmark tor. There are opportunities for in- tunities and high potential of the ‘UK minimum wage’ vestment in PVC, methanol value Indian chemical industry, makes it PARTHA DATTA | MD, JEEP INDIA chain, among others, it said. a preferred investment destina- "We are aware that the chemical tion globally, he said. industry is a critical and integral India as a market also offers a SHORT TAKES part of the growing Indian economy location advantage as the Indian and present enormous opportuni- peninsula is centrally located ICICI Prud MF ties of attracting about `10 lakh between the East and West of crore of investment by 2025 and Asia. It is also the centre of the launches new ETF creating jobs for lakhs of persons," trans-Indian ocean routes, which Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister connect the European countries Mumbai: ICICI Prudential DV Sadanand Gowda said while in the west and counties of East Mutual Fund is launching a addressing India-Chem 2021 event Asia, he added. new exchange-traded fund targeted at the 30 least volatile stocks from the Nifty AGENCIES round of survey include tourism REUTERS 100 index. The new fund will and hospitality, MSME, aviation open on March 23 and close Mumbai, March 17: Asset qual- and restaurants, the survey showed. BIZ BUZZ London, March 17: Uber driv- on April 6, the AMC said ity of banks, which saw some im- Around 55% of respondents be- ers in Britain should receive the Wednesday. ICICI Prudential provement in the second half of lieve NPAs to rise substantially in Microsoft, Intel help ASUS launches new gaming laptop minimum wage for the whole time Nifty Low Volatility 30 index 2020, is expected to worsen during the tourism and hospitality sec- they are logged on to the app, two is an open-ended fund of the first six months of 2021, ac- tor, while another 45% reported SMBs with devices Bhubaneswar: ASUS India announced former drivers said Wednesday funds that will invest in these cording to a survey. The findings are that NPAs are likely to increase the expansion of its TUF laptop portfolio after winning a court battle which stocks, and the underlying part of the 12th round of bankers' moderately in this sector. in India with the launch of new TUF Dash could reshape the gig economy. ETF replicates the Nifty 100 survey carried out by FICCI-IBA be- Another high NPA risk sector re- F15, a super slim 15-inch device that Following a UK Supreme Court low volatility 30 index, the tween July and December 2020. ported in the current round of sur- represents portability and thin & light defeat last month, the Silicon fund house said. The survey was conducted on vey is the MSME sector, with 84% design. Engineered to empower users Valley-based company reclassi- with the ability to game, work, and stay 20 banks, including public sector, pri- respondents expecting an increase fied its more than 70,000 drivers in productive anywhere, the new Asus vate sector and foreign banks, rep- in NPAs in this sector. laptop comes with the latest 11th Gen Britain as workers, meaning they resenting about 59% of the bank- Close to 89% respondents also ex- Intel Core i7-11370H processor and are guaranteed entitlements such Blue Star likely to ing industry, as classified by asset pect the restaurant sector to see GeForce RTX 3070/ 3060 GPU, for an as holiday pay. Uber said drivers raise price of ACs size. an increase in NPAs, though only Bhubaneswar: Microsoft and Intel unbeatable performance. The laptop will be at least 15% better off after In the current round of the sur- 26% expect NPAs to increase sub- announced the availability of a range of was unveiled globally during a virtual the changes, if they opt into the Windows 10 Pro devices powered by the Chennai: Air-conditioner and vey, half of the respondent banks stantially in this segment, it showed. conference at CES 2021 and is finally set pension plan. Intel vPro platform for small and commercial refrigeration reported a decline in NPAs during The survey revealed that there to make a mark in India. Its powerful core experience is equipped with On the minimum wage, which medium businesses (SMBs) in India. maker Blue Star Ltd the second half of 2020. About 78% was a significant increase in the re- high-end features, not typically seen at accessible price points, such stands at 8.72 pounds ($12.13) per Whether in remote or hybrid working Wednesday did not rule out of participating state-run banks quests for one-time restructuring as a tournament-level gaming panel with up to a 240Hz refreshes rate, hour for those aged 25 and over, models, modern devices can help the possibility of a hike in have cited a reduction in NPA lev- for MSMEs, announced by the RBI a versatile Thunderbolt 4 port, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation Uber said it would apply “after employees stay connected and prices following the rise in els. "However, in terms of outlook, in August last year. "An over- technology. accepting a trip request and after productive, safeguard against security raw material and freight nearly 68% of respondent bankers whelming 85% of the respondent expenses” and that on average threats and manage remote charges. This proposed move expect the NPA levels to be above banks have cited an increase in re- deployments in a fast and flexible drivers earn an hourly 17 pounds follows the earlier price IDFC Mutual Fund launches Index Funds 10% in the first half of 2021," the quests for restructuring of ad- manner. Understanding the significant in London. increase in January. Blue Star survey showed. vances as against 39% in the last challenges that SMBs face with over Bhubaneswar: IDFC Mutual Fund announced the launch of two Drivers will not receive it dur- Ltd MD B Thiagarajan, who Close to 37% of respondents ex- round,” it said. four years or older PCs in terms of innovative fixed income funds: the IDFC Gilt 2027 Index Fund and the ing the time they spend waiting for unveiled a new range of pect NPA levels to be upwards of The long-term credit demand performance, productivity, security and IDFC Gilt 2028 Index Fund. Both funds are open-ended Target Maturity a passenger request, which can products online under the 12%. The Reserve Bank of India’s has been growing for sectors such manageability, this new range of Index Funds which will invest in government securities and treasury account for as much as a third of 'affordable' segment, said Financial Stability Report, released as infrastructure, pharmaceuti- modern devices provides them the bills that constitute the CRISIL Gilt 2027 Index and Gilt 2028 Index the time drivers are behind the the AC industry was in January this year, showed that cals and food processing, the find- agility for adapting to a constantly respectively. The New Fund Offer (NFO) will close March 19, 2021. wheel with the app turned on, ac- expected to register a changing world. According to a 2019 Target Maturity Funds have a defined maturity date, unlike regular 15-20% growth. gross non-performing assets ings showed. cording to several U.S. studies. (GNPAs) of banks may rise to 13.5% "Particularly for the pharma Tech Aisle survey of nearly 2000 SMBs open-end mutual funds that remain open indefinitely. Upon maturity, James Farrar and Yaseen by September 2021, under the base- sector, 45% of the respondents have in India, organisations with PCs that are the net asset value of these funds will be paid back to unit holders. Aslam, the two lead drivers in a line stress scenario. indicated an increase in long term over four years old and running older Additionally, IDFC’s Gilt Index Funds will invest only in sovereign rated 2016 employment tribunal case Dell launches 17 Some of the high NPA risk sec- loans in the current round of sur- OS, experienced more than double instruments, which are guaranteed by the Government of India, that Uber unsuccessfully contested next gen servers tors identified by majority of re- vey as against 29% in the previ- productivity losses as compared to reducing any credit risk. These funds will also steadily reduce the all the way to Britain’s top court, spondent bankers in the current ous round,” it showed. newer PCs. residual maturity of investments over the holding period. criticised the move. New Delhi: Dell Technologies Wednesday announced to refresh its PowerEdge server portfolio with 17 next- GLOBAL WORKFORCE generation servers that will ‘De-risking biz top help firms analyse and take action on data wherever it resides. Dell-EMC PowerEdge servers and systems ‘2 in 5 believe their job will be obsolete in 5 yrs’ priority of industries’ management can deliver up to 85% time savings on PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA interest in setting up their own CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT average and eliminate 0% are worried that business. PwC said respondents New Delhi, March 17: De-risking dozens of steps with 6automation is putting automation, the company New Delhi, March 17: Nearly 40% many jobs at risk, finds the included workers, business own- business from impacts of climate said in a statement. of the global workforce believe survey ers, contract workers, students, un- change and becoming environ- their job will be obsolete within 5 employed people looking for work, mentally sustainable is one of the years due to accelerated automation 7% are ready to learn new and those on furlough or who were top priorities alongside increasing in view of the pandemic, according 7skills or completely re- temporarily laid off. worker productivity and produc- ‘BHEL emerges to a survey by PwC. The survey, train The survey involved 19 countries: tion, a new survey has said. Nearly half of those surveyed lowest bidder’ conducted between January 26 and 0% are confident they can Australia, Canada, China, France, The survey of over 400 industrial believe that climate change im- February 8, involved 32,500 re- Germany, India, Japan, Kuwait, companies in Maharashtra by pacts their industries and business New Delhi: State-owned 8adapt to new technologies spondents from 19 countries, in- entering their workplace, with Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Climate Trends revealed that a "by a lot". The direct impacts to the engineering firm BHEL cluding India and China. It also Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, majority of 65% would prioritise businesses are productivity, ex- Wednesday said it has a large majority from India pointed out that the global workforce South Africa, Spain, the UAE, the reducing dependence on non-re- penditure and profits and supply emerged as the lowest bidder (69%) and South Africa (66%) sees the shift to remote working as newable resources, water har- for supply of equipment for being ‘very’ confident UK and the US. The survey also chain of the business, it said. 6x700 MW nuclear power just the tip of the iceberg. found that 50% of workers “say vesting/recycling and switching "A majority (65%) of the in- projects of Nuclear Power Reflecting the fact the pandemic despair, as 40% of workers say their "And, 80% are confident they they’ve faced discrimination at work to renewable energy. dustrial sector ranks 'de-risking Corporation of India. "In an has accelerated a number of work- digital skills have been improved can adapt to new technologies en- which led to them missing out on ca- "A majority of Maharashtra's business from climate change' as open competitive bidding force trends, the survey found 60% through the prolonged period of tering their workplace, with a large reer advancement or training”. industrial sector (more than 70%) one of the top priorities for their

are worried that automation is put- lockdown, and claim they'll con- majority of those asked in India As per the study, 13% reported believes that climate change is a business," it said.

k y m process, BHEL has emerged c as the lowest bidder (Rs ting many jobs at risk; 48% believe tinue to embrace training and skill (69%) and in South Africa (66%) missing out on opportunities as a real issue, however, some nuances Other priorities being increasing 10,800 cr) for the fleet mode traditional employment won't be development," it said. saying they are 'very' confident," result of ethnicity and 14% of work- exist," the survey said. "Those as- worker productivity, raising out- tender floated by NPCIL f around in the future and 39% think As many as 77% are ready to said the survey. ers experienced discrimination on sociated with largest industries put, strong preparedness for any or the 6x700 MW Turbine it is likely that their job will be ob- learn new skills or completely re- The study also found that 49% of the grounds of gender, with women have a stronger acknowledgment situation, more efficient chain Island Package Projects," solete within 5 years. train, whereas 74% see training as respondents were focused on build- twice as likely to report gender dis- of the issue compared to those supply management and decrease the company said. "However, this is not a counsel of a matter of personal responsibility. ing entrepreneurial skills with an crimination as men. working with MSMEs." worker attrition rate. P12 THURSDAY | MARCH 18 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

KOHLI & CO. AIM TO NEGATE TOSS FACTOR IN 4TH T20I AGAINST ENGLAND

y SA add salt to eves’ wounds

k k y y m m c Visitors seal ODI series 4-1, giving India plenty to think c about ahead of World Cup

Do or die for India PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Lucknow, March 17: South Africa added salt to India’s wounds by Ahmedabad, March 17: India registering a five-wicket win over would aim to take the toss out of the hosts in the low-scoring fifth and equation and put up a much im- final women’s ODI to seal the series proved all-round show against a 4-1 here, Wednesday. formidable England in their to bid Mithali Raj played a captain’s to level the series in the fourth T20I knock by hitting a well-crafted 79 here, Thursday. not out (104b, 8x4, 1x6) but it was The template of win the toss and only enough to take India to 188 all bowl has been set in the series with out. South Africa then rode on Anneke the chasing team getting home Bosch (58, 70b, 8x4) and Mignon du rather comfortably. Preez’s (57, 100b, 4x4) half centuries However, India skipper Virat to chase down the target in 48.2 overs. Kohli has repeatedly stressed on The series marked India’s re- 12 months. They were naturally beaten 58 runs for the sixth wicket the need to do well whether they are turn to international cricket after rusty to start with and by the end to guide South Africa home. For posting totals or chasing as part of of the series, it seemed that they India, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari their preparation for the T20 World have a lot of work to do if they Gayakwad (3/13) picked up three Cup at home later this year. want to be title contenders for the wickets in her 10 overs. In the two games they lost after World Cup early next year. Earlier, Mithali steered India’s in- batting first, India struggled in the The batting needs more fire- nings after India lost three early powerplay, which impacted their power and bowling concerns too wickets with the scoreboard read- final total despite one batsman need to be addressed as spinners, ing 53 in the 13th over. Together (Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli re- traditionally India’s strength, strug- with Harmanpreet Kaur (30), who spectively) going on to make a sig- gled against South Africa. retired hurt due to an injury, Mithali nificant contribution. alongside Hardik Pandya and but he is yet to take a wicket. amongst the runs is also a cause of South Africa’s chase got off to a shared 71 runs for the fourth wicket A lot of it was down to KL Rahul Washington Sundar can be drafted Bhuvneshwar Kumar has kept worry for India as on his day he disastrous start as the visitors lost before the former left the ground in not being amongst the runs but into the side with the choice be- things tidy in his comeback series can demolish any attack in the their top three batters including the 31st over. Mithali didn’t get Kohli made it amply clear that the tween uncapped Rahul Tewatia but the team expects him to provide world. skipper Sune Luus (10) for just 27 runs. much support from the remaining Karnataka batsman and Rohit and Axar Patel. regular breakthroughs with the Jonny Bairstow, who had a hor- Du Preez and Bosch then sta- batters as they were bowled out in Sharma remain their preferred Unlike the first game, Kohli’s new ball. ror run in the two Tests he played MITHALI bilised South Africa’s run chase 49.3 overs. Nadine de Klerk was opening combination. sublime 77 ensure India did have Offie Washington Sundar has against India, came up with a morale RAJ with a 96-run partnership for the the pick of the bowlers for South The express pace of Mark Wood some runs to defend but the bowlers been the stand out bowler for India boosting 40 Tuesday. Now England fourth wicket before Indian bowlers Africa with figures of 3/35. and Jofra Archer has also made hardly troubled the opposition bats- with four wickets at an impressive are waiting for the world’s No.1 pulled things back, dismissing both BRIEF SCORES: India Women life tough for the Indians in the man with Jos Buttler running away economy rate of 6.95. Despite India batsman Dawid Malan to fire. the set batters in quick succession. 188 (Mithali Raj 79 n o, Harmanpreet first six overs. They have been able with the contest. being 1-2 down, no major changes It will take a special effort from At that stage South Africa were Kaur 30 r h; Nadine de Klerk 3/35, to extract disconcerting bounce The team’s No.1 spinner are expected in the playing eleven. India to stop the top-ranked team 131/5, still needing 58 runs in 13 Tumi Sekhukhune 2/26) lost to from the surface, putting the bats- Yuzvendra Chahal has leaked runs England, like India, also want from winning the series overs for a win. Marizanne Kapp (36 South Africa Women 189/5 (Anneke men in two minds. both times India have set a target. to win in all conditions and will be Wednesday night. The hosts win- n o) and Nadine de Klerk (19 n o), Bosch 58, Mignon du Preez 57, Going by Kohli’s words post the Hardik Pandya’s return as a bowl- buoyed by their emphatic win in the ning the toss should make their however, ensured there was no fur- Marizanne Kapp 36 n o; Rajeshwari third game, a third all-rounder ing all-rounder has been promising previous game. Buttler being task less tough. ther hiccups as the duo shared un- Gayakwad 3/13) by 5 wickets. WINNING START Odisha eves Real, City in Champions League last 8 suffer defeat ASSOCIATED PRESS half. Atalanta’s goal came from a free-kick converted by Luis Muriel in semifinals Madrid, March 17: Real Madrid late in the game. took advantage of Atalanta’s costly Madrid had reached the semifinals POST NEWS NETWORK goalkeeping change to make it back or better in eight straight seasons be- to the Champions League quar- tween 2010-11 and 2017-18 before los- Simdega (Jharkhand), March terfinals as the Spanish giants de- ing to Ajax in the last 16 in 2019 and 17: Hockey Odisha suffered a 0-5 feated the Italian club 3-1 and 4-1 on to Manchester City last season. defeat against hosts Hockey aggregate. In Manchester, the celebrations Jharkhand in the semifinals of Premier League leaders at the full-time whistle were as busi- the 11th Hockey India Sub Junior Manchester City also made it into ness-like as the performance. For Women National Championship the last eight stage, for a fourth City, it felt the competition now here, Wednesday. straight season, after sweeping starts for real. Yet the expectations Jharkhand will face defending aside Borussia Monchengladbach have proved too much for Guardiola champions Hockey Haryana, who 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium and 4-0 on and his team in successive quar- registered a dominating 10-0 win aggregate. terfinal exits, to Liverpool, over Uttar Pradesh Hockey, in the Karim Benzema led the way to Karim Benzema celebrates Tottenham and then — so painfully title clash, Thursday. victory for the Los Blancos after a after scoring his 70th — Lyon last season. For Jharkhand, Nisha Minj first-half blunder by Atalanta goal- Champions League goal, This looks to be City’s best chance (seventh & 21st) put Hockey keeper Marco Sportiello, who was only the fifth player to of becoming European champion Jharkhand 2-0 up at halftime. In among the changes made by coach reach the landmark for the first time, though. Thanks the second half, Fulmani Bhengra Gian Piero Gasperini from the 0-1 to a blistering 12th-minute strike in Players in action during Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre’s (43rd & 50th) ended with two goals first-leg loss in Italy. spot in the 34th minute. Only Ronaldo, Messi and off the crossbar by Kevin De Bruyne 5-0 victory over Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy in their match of the 1st while Purnima Barwa (35th) Sportiello tried to play from his It was the 70th Champions League Lewandowski reached the mile- and Ilkay Gundogan’s goal six min- Hockey India Sub-Junior Women Academy National Championship at the scored one. area but misplayed his shot and goal for Benzema, making him only stone quicker than the French utes later after a flowing team move, Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Wednesday. Captain Munmuni Das (15th The third/fourth place match be- the ball went directly to Luka the fifth player to reach the mark striker’s 126 matches. City racked up a 24th win in its last & 58th) and Elani Tuti (fourth & 20th) scored a brace each while Babyrani tween Uttar Pradesh and Odisha Modric, who entered the box and in the competition after Cristiano Captain Sergio Ramos and Marco 25 games in all competitions and a Sandam (52th) scored one. The 1st Hockey India Junior Women Academy will also be played Wednesday, be- made a low pass for an easy goal by Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Asensio sealed Madrid’s victory seventh straight clean sheet in the

National Championship also kick-started at the same venue PIC: BIKASH NAYAK fore the final later in the day. Benzema from near the penalty Lewandowski and Raul Gonzalez. by scoring a goal each in the second Champions League.

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