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BRINGING CHEER DELUGE IN BIHAR WORSENS MISSION ‘MARS’ Actor Rasika Dugal says she is delighted to Over 38 lakh people of the state are affected, Nasa’s new car-sized robotic spacecraft is entertain the viewers through her while 11 people have died so far in on its way to Mars to search for ancient life acting-from-home skills LEISURE | P2 separate incidents TWO STATES | P7 INTERNATIONAL | P10

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 120 | www.orissapost.com | FRIDAY, JULY 31 | 2020 12 PAGES | `4.00 IRREGULAR by MANJUL Eyes on OERC order on TPCL plea WITHIN JUST TWO MONTHS, TPCL FILES PETITION BEFORE OERC TO REVIEW ITS AGREEMENT

POST NEWS NETWORK Revenue collection by CESU in 2019-20 ADANI ENTERS STATE Bhubaneswar, July 30: Though the state government has the privatised CONSUMER COLLECTION POWER SECTOR power distribution sector with a view LT (Low tension) `1598.70 cr BHUBANESWAR: The Competition to provide quality and uninterrupted HT (High tension) `785.58 cr Commission of (CCI) has approved DEFENCE GRAFT CASE the proposal of Adani Power Limited’s Oh! Rafale’s a fighter plane? power supply to people, the initiative EHT (Extra high tension) `575.82 cr (APL) to acquire 49% of the total equity The way everyone was behaving is yet to yield the desired results. share capital of Power Generation I thought it’s a vaccine!! While quality and uninterrupted power Regulatory Commission (OERC) to re- Nesco and TPCODL. Till June 1, CESU’s supply remains a distant dream, the pri- view its agreement even before com- pending dues was over `2,000 crore to Corporation Limited (OPGC). The proposed Jaya Jaitley, 2 others vate discoms made handsome money pleting two months in business. Gridco and OPTCL. As nothing is men- transaction relates to the acquisition of utilising the infrastructure built with The hearing was scheduled for July tioned about the pending dues of CESU 49% of the total equity share capital of the taxpayer’s money and left the state. 28, but it has now been postponed to in the agreement it is unclear whether OPGC by APL (Proposed Combination). SHORT TAKES Odisha government holds 51 per cent get 4-year jail term This initiative was started in 80s, September 1. Hence, all eyes are now or not TPCODL will bear CESU’s debt stake in OPGC. OPGC operates a 1,740 MW when the US-based company AES was on the decision of OERC – whether it burden. Hence, Gridco and OPTCL too thermal power plant at Banharpalli in PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Trump suggests the first one to enter into the business. will go in favour of the consumers in have filed petitions before the OERC in district, Odisha. MORE P11 Later, it was Reliance (BSES Ltd) and the state or the company. this regard. If the OERC does not con- New Delhi, July 30: A Delhi delay in elections now Tata has entered the profitable That the company has filed a review sider the pleas of Gridco and OPTCL, court Thursday awarded 4- business – operating as Tata Power petition within 60 days shows it has also the financial burden of over `2,000 Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran year jail term to ex-Samata Washington: President Donald Central Odisha Distribution Ltd. (TP- come here to ‘loot’ the state. After crore may eventually come on the state Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, Party president Jaya Jaitley Trump is for the first time CODL) (earlier known as CESU) since achieving its goal of grabbing CESU, government. Restructured Accelerated Power and two others for corrup- floating a “delay” to November’s presidential election, as he June 1. A pact in this regard was signed the company is now working with the Moreover, Gridco and OPTCL would Development And Reform Programme tion in a 2000-01 case related makes unsubstantiated between the GRIDCO and OTPCL. moto of profit. This is why it has become financially weak and Tata (RAPDRP), Odisha Distribution to a purported defence deal A Delhi court Thursday allegations that increased mail-in The state government has 49 per cent knocked the doors of OERC. Power, which has entered into the sys- System Strengthening Project (ODSSP) saying they “compromised awarded 4-year jail term to voting will result in fraud. The share in the discom, while OTPCL holds Odisha has two power transmission tem, will be the front runner in buying and Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana to de- the entire defence system ex-Samata Party president dates of federal elections – the the balance. While TPCODL has started utilities – Gridco and Odisha Power the two organizations. velop power infrastructure in the of the country.” Jaya Jaitley for corruption in Tuesday after the first Monday in collecting money from the consumers Transmission Corporation Limited In the past 10 years, the state gov- CESU area. But, Tata Power has pur- Special CBI judge a 2000-01 case related to a November – are enshrined in without spending a single pie, it has filed (OPTCL). They are selling power to ernment has spend `5552.62 crore chased the stake in CESU estimat- Virender Bhat also awarded purported defence deal ` federal law and would require an a petition before the Odisha Electricity distribution companies like Wesco, through various schemes including ing the properties to be 350 crore. 4-year jail term to Jaitley’s The three accused were held act of Congress to change. The former party colleague guilty of corruption and Constitution makes no provisions Gopal Pacherwal and Major criminal conspiracy in the for a delay to the January 20, BUILDING A HOME General (rtd) SP Murgai in purported purchase of 2021 presidential inauguration. COVID-19 more the case, Murgai’s advocate hand-held thermal imagers Trump tweeted Thursday: “With Vikram Panwar said. Universal Mail-In Voting (not prevalent among There should be zero tol- The trial court said the Absentee Voting, which is good), erance towards corruption convicts were no laymen 2020 will be the most the young in state in defence procurement but persons of status and INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT deals as these have direct means, and had not com- Election in history.” P10 POST NEWS NETWORK bearing upon an independ- mitted the crime due to any ence and sovereignty of our ignorance or lack of knowl- Bhubaneswar, July 30: The state country, the court said, edge or under any duress. 3 Assam Rifles government Thursday said that adding that the crime com- “On the contrary, the crime compared to the elderly, the young mitted by the convicts was was committed by them in jawans killed population in the state has been in- of “highest degree”. pursuance to a well hatched New Delhi: Three Assam Rifles fected by coronavirus more. The court, in an in cam- conspiracy and upon due de- personnel were killed and five Shalini Pandit, Mission Director era proceeding, imposed a liberations with each other,” injured in an ambush near India- (MD) of National Health Mission fine of `1 lakh each on all the court said, terming the Myanmar border at Chandel (NHM) -Odisha, said that infection three convicts and directed crime as “a very serious” and area in Manipur Wednesday statistics showed that younger peo- them to surrender before it “having grave ramifications night. A senior government ple were more vulnerable to the till 5 PM Thursday itself. so far as the defence of our officer said that a group of 15 infection. Like in most other places The order was stayed by country is concerned.” soldiers were returning from an across the globe, the highest num- the Delhi HC later in the The convicts took money area dominance patrol at ber people in the age group of 0-40 day. The three accused were from the representative of a Khongtal in Chandel area years have been hit by the COVID- held guilty of corruption fictitious firm without both- when an improvised explosive 19 pandemic in the state most. ering to ascertain whether device exploded. Thereafter and criminal conspiracy in they came under heavy fire “Most of the cases – 64 per cent the purported purchase of the firm was actually in op- from the members of an – in the state are reported from peo- hand-held thermal imagers. eration and whether the prod- insurgent group. P9 ple in the age group of 20-40 years. The case stemmed from uct of the said firm sought to On the other hand, 29 per cent of ‘Operation Westend’ sting be inducted in the Indian the people in the age group 41-60 aired by news portal Tehelka Army was worth it, the court years are infected by the virus. A baya weaver bird prepares a nest, in Ajmer district, Thursday PTI PHOTO in January 2001. observed. MARKET WATCH The elderly are the least infected, as only 7% of the patients in the INDEX VARIATION state were above the age of 60 years,” she said. Police ‘inaction’ SENSEX 37736.07 335.06 The data made available by Varied views on teaching in mother tongue NHM MD also hinted that the prompts minor

BOURSES NIFTY 11102.20 100.70 cases of symptomatic patients too PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ural for our brains. Literacy is read- ‘wherever possible’ means subject DOLLAR 75.06 `0.12 have risen in the state. The gov- ing and writing which is to be learnt or place. English should be one girl to end life ernment earlier claimed that 80- New Delhi, July 30: While teach- by our brains,” said Vishnu Karthik, common language as everyone EURO 88.24 `0.35 90 per cent of the patients were ing students up to Class 5 in the Director, Heritage Schools. wants their child to know the lan- POST NEWS NETWORK CURRENCY asymptomatic. mother tongue or regional language He said children’s brains are de- guage and I think if it is taught at GOLD ` 52,950 `237 Data provided government of- will promote multilingualism, stu- signed to learn multiple languages and the foundation state it would be /Bhapur, July 30: ficial Thursday showed that 46 per dents may face difficulties in cop- the more they are exposed to many lan- very nice,” she said. In a shocking incident, a 17-year- SILVER `62,573 `2781 BULLION cent of the COVID patients in the ing with the syllabus in higher guages, the more they can absorb “Regional language along with old girl from Dinabandhupur vil- state were symptomatic, while 54 classes where medium of instruc- them at an early age. “Thus, teaching English language would be a good lage under Sadar police limits in per cent were asymptomatic, hint- tion is English, according to many in only one language is not the best cusing on just two literacy lan- idea as the English language is a win- Dhenkanal district committed sui- ing at the rise of symptomatic school principals. use of the critical learning windows guages. “For urban parents, English dow to the world and every child cide after Bhapur outpost police WEATHER cases. The door-to-door surveys As per the new National nature has given for learning lan- and one vernacular language should from the foundation should be fo- allegedly did not take any action BHUB CTK being undertaken are trying to Education Policy (NEP), the medium guages. Teaching only in English or be good. A third literacy can be cused to learn English,” she added. on a complaint filed against a isolate the symptomatic patients of instruction until at least Class 5, only in the mother tongue is not a good picked up post-grade 5,” he added. A representative of Green Fields youth over repeated harassment MAX 36.3° 34.8° and make them undergo tests. but preferably till Class 8 and beyond, practice. Rather a healthy mix of 2- According to Alka Kapur, Public School, who refused to be and molestation. “It depends on the day of test- will be the home language, mother 3 languages is good for children in pri- Principal, Modern School, Shalimar identified said, “It is okay to pro- Fed up over public humiliation, TEMP MIN 26.5° 25.0° Forecast ing. Any person can test negative tongue, local language and regional mary school,” he said. Bagh, English is a universal lan- mote mulitlingualism but then to the girl, a native of Chatka Sahi Humidity 92% 81% on some days and positive on other language. “We first have to distin- As far as literacy (reading and guage and in guidelines it is writ- make (vernacular) languages the in Dinabandhupur village, finally Partly Rainfall 1.2mm Nil cloudy sky days during the infection cycle,” guish between language and liter- writing) is concerned, Karthik said ten that it can be used wherever medium of instruction is not a ended her life by consuming poi- she added. acy. Language is speaking and is nat- it is best to keep it simple by fo- possible. “It is not clearly stated if wise approach. son Wednesday night. Family members rushed her to the district headquarters hospital where she succumbed during treatment, Thursday. Cybersecurity lapses found in online payment system: Govt The accused youth was identi- fied as Subhas Muduli in the same REUTERS A govt audit of the country’s flagship payments processor Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s National Cyber Security the data-security challenges faced village. The matter came to fore last year found more than 40 security vulnerabilities The March 2019 government doc- Coordinator, Rajesh Pant, whose by the NPCI which processes bil- after the girl’s family members New Delhi, July 30: A govern- ument cited the storing of 16-digit office coordinated the audit, also lions of dollars daily via services met the Superintend of Police ment audit of the country’s flag- card numbers and other personal said in a statement to Reuters that that include inter-bank fund trans- Anupama James and informed ship payments processor last year information such as customer “all observations raised in last fers, ATM transactions and digi- her about their daughter’s death. found more than 40 security vul- names, account numbers and na- year’s report have been confirmed tal payments. The SP assured that a case has nerabilities including several it tional identity numbers in “plain as resolved by the NPCI”. Set up in 2008, the NPCI is a not- been registered and the accused called “critical” and “high” risk, text” in some databases, leaving Pant added audits are best prac- for-profit company which as of will be nabbed soon. “The allega- according to an internal govern- the data unprotected if the system tice for the mitigation of cyberat- March 2019 counted 56 banks as its tions levelled by the family will be ment document. was breached. The audit has not tacks and are conducted on a peri- shareholders, including the State probed,” the SP added. The audit, which took place previously been reported. odic basis by all enterprises. Bank of India, Citibank and HSBC. On being directed by the SP, SDPO over four months to February 2019, The audit highlighted a lack of The NPCI said in a statement to The audit was undertaken to RuPay, in particular, has been Sriharsha Mishra, Sadar police IIC y highlighted a lack of encryption encryption of personal data at this news agency it is regularly au- provide the National Security enthusiastically endorsed by Modi Sandhyarani Behuria along with

of personal data at the National the NPCI which forms the dited in the interests of security Council with an overview of the who has likened its use to a na- other police personnel reached the

k y m c Payments Corporation of India backbone of the country’s and senior management reviews NPCI’s defences against cyber- tional duty. It has grown to account spot and started an investigation. (NPCI) which forms the backbone digital payments system all findings, which are then “re- attacks. The PMO and the finance for almost two-thirds of nearly 900 The victim’s family alleged that of the country’s digital payments mediated to (the) satisfaction of the Ministry did not respond to a re- million debit and credit cards issued the youth from the same village system and operates the RuPay The audit was undertaken to provide the National Security Council with an auditors”. This includes the findings quest for comment. in India as of October, according to was repeatedly harassing the card network championed by overview of the NPCI’s defences against cyberattacks cited here, it said. The audit’s findings underscore NPCI and central bank data. minor girl. P2 EMMY AWARDS 2020 TO GO VIRTUAL TRACY, MEGAN HEAD FOR DIVORCE FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR The Primetime Emmy Awards will be held online Actor Tracy Morgan and his wife, Megan Wollover, this year owing to the Covid pandemic. The event is are splitting after five years of marriage. “Sadly, scheduled to take place September 20. Emmy after nearly five years of marriage, Megan and I executive producers sent a letter to key acting are filing for divorce. This is a challenging time, nominees informing them that this year’s ceremony so I ask all to respect our privacy,"

y leisure would be virtual, a report in variety.com said. hollywoodreporter.com quoted Morgan as saying.

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FORTUNE FORECAST RADHIKA SHARES Sambalpuri films to get ARIES ‘RIGHT PROFILE’ global audience soon Your temper will be vol- canic today. You're ready to pop and bust at the : Actress Radhika Madan has upcoming romantic comedy Shiddat, POST NEWS NETWORK snap of a finger; but it just won't do. given fans a peek of her right profile on which also stars Mohit Raina, Diana Instead of punching your boss, Ganesha social media. Madan and Sunny Kaushal, and is BHUBANESWAR: Eminent filmmaker suggests you burn that energy clocking Radhika took to Instagram, where she directed by Kunal Deshmukh of has joined hands a hundred laps at a pool side or simply shared a picture of herself. In the image, Jannat fame on a script by with internationally acclaimed film pro- run back home. Yes, all the 22 miles! she is flaunting her side profile and flaunt- Shridhar Raghavan ducer and promoter Jitendra Mishra to ing her perfect skin. and Dheeraj reach out to the global audiences. Jitendra’s TAURUS Alongside the image, she wrote: Rattan. IANS team will be exploring the international “Right profile.” distribution and festival opportunities A still from Adim Vichar There is an unexpected Radhika, an avid social media user, to showcase Sabyasachi’s select films occurrence waiting at has been keeping her fans entertained with in like Pahada happy and positive about the outcome of our every bend and turn in your path today. With maturity for sword her pictures and the captions. Recently, Ra Luha, Aadim Vichar (both National association. I am sure, we will succeed in telling and mellowness as shield, you will sift she shared a picture of herself Wednesday award winners) and Sala Budha. the tales of our beautiful history, culture and tra- through everything that life throws at you. and borrowed a line from the song “Om Speaking to ditions to the world.” Some long-standing problems will also be shanti om” picturised on late actor Orissa POST, the Jitendra, on the other hand, said, “I solved by today evening, says Ganesha. Rishi Kapoor. di- have been a great admirer of “Kya tumne kabhi kise se pyaar rector said, Mohapatra’s style of filmmaking. I GEMINI kiya?! Kabhi kisi ko dil diya?” “Jitendra is was deeply inspired by his film Radhika will next be seen in the a rare talent Bhukha when I was a kid. I feel priv- It is possible that your having a ileged to take such path-breaking emotional nature is the cause of many of the great eye for films to the global viewers and to problems currently plaguing you. Vicky Kaushal good cinema. I spread the essence of the rich art, cul- Therefore you need to curb your emotions admire the fact ture, and traditions of our region.” when reacting to any situation. You will shares reason that he has been able Sabyasachi Mohapatra is known for cap- concentrate on family matters today, and to find a niche for himself turing the colourful culture of tribal society in spend time with your family. for his regrets on global platform. I am extremely western parts of Odisha on the celluloid. Mumbai: Actor Vicky Kaushal has shared what CANCER he regrets, on social media. Ikat rakhis this year to celebrate sibling love Meditation will be the Vicky took to Instagram and posted a selfie him- order of the day. Your self after a workout. In the image, the actor CHAITALI SHOME,OP rakhis across the country.” need to find inner peace flaunts post-work sweat, in a white T-shirt and PANDEMIC EFFECT Making money from rakhis is likely to push you to look inward and explore the alter- black baseball cap. He wrote: “Sweat > Regret.. BHUBANESWAR: was not her motto, says Reemly. nate school of thought. You are like- Although regret wasting time in between sets for Raksha Bandhan festi- “ I want to promote Odissi hand- ly to get inclined towards the mysti- a (taking a photo emoji). Adios!” val, since ages, has been loom in the country through cal and the metaphysical. Vicky Wednesday shared that he yearns to break an occasion to celebrate these ‘threads of love’ made free. The actor shared his thoughts along with a still sibling love. Whether it’s from ikat fabric,” adds the de- from his 2018 release Manmarziyaan on Instagram. a bond between a brother signer. LEO In the picture, he can be seen jumping from the and a sister or two sis- Her team is also home de- Today, you shall have terrace of one building to another. ters or two brothers, livering these traditional rakhis the unique ability to put Vicky was last seen in Bhanu Pratap the festival is all about in the city, it was learnt. up with any disparity Singh’s Bhoot Part One: The Haunted loving, caring and pro- Reemly claims that she is and inequity, predicts Ship. His upcoming film brings alive the tecting each other ir- the only designer in state to sell Ganesha. Blessed with this, you can look story of revolutionary Udham Singh, respective of gender, ikat rakhis. Apart from offer- forward to a seemingly endless number of favours and wonders later in the day. who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh age and tradition. ing more options to the buyers, Speaking of love, your partner can massacre of 1919 by assassinating However, the pandemic she is also helping her team to expect a lot of serene words from you, General Michael O'Dwyer. Singh was is set to dampen the spirit survive in these dark hours, she even as you live up to his/her expecta- subsequently tried and convicted of of the celebration with says. tion, says Ganesha. murder, and hanged in July 1940. IANS makeshift shops selling “My workshop remained ‘rakhis’ in the city are yet shut for several months fol- VIRGO to put up their stalls. Expectedly, many lowing the outbreak and the Rasika displays acting-from-home skills families are planning to give the festival a workers left for their homes. Today will be an Mumbai: Actress Rasika home skills with the short She is now awaiting the miss given the situation the country is fac- However, they soon wanted to unusually lucky day Dugal is delighted to film, Banana Bread, di- streaming of her upcom- ing. But well known fashion designer Reemly return and work after failing full of unexpected things, but you will bring some cheer rected by Srinivas ing film, Lootcase. Its story Mohanty thinks otherwise. She has come to find any source of suste- manage to tackle them all with great through her work Sunderajan. She starred revolves around a turn of up with an idea to make rakhis using hand- nance at their villages. “I was maturity. If someone takes you for amidst the in the film with Mukul events that unfolds after a loom fabrics and deliver them to the cus- not in a position to run my granted, they will later regret their lack tough time. Chadda. The short film is middle-class man chances tomers online. boutique as orders had stopped of good judgement as you don't like Earlier, she gave a funny take on love and upon a suitcase full of cash. Speaking on her unique initiative, she coming. Left with no choice, I being pushed around. a glimpse of her loneliness in time of so- Rasika will be seen show- says, “A couple of weeks back I was first started making designer writing and cial distancing. casing her comic timing in searching online for some designer rakhis handloom masks and now ikat LIBRA acting- "During the lockdown, the film, which also stars for my brother but couldn’t find any- rakhis. I am happy that the from- with our short film Kunal Kemmu. thing of my choice as most of them looked Reemly explains a design workers are earning enough to It's not the Olympics, but for those associated with Banana Bread, I felt the “Shooting for Lootcase old fashioned. It made me think to make my own survive. I hope, things will change for the better if sports, today, you may need to create something was a lot of fun. Director designs which would look classy, attractive and at we can hang on,” says the designer. come across the oppor- relatable yet light- Rajesh Krishnan would the same time it won’t hurt customers’ pocket Ikat fabric has always been popular for its distinctive tunity to stake your claim to fame. Also, hearted...some humour to fill the scene with many much. Therefore, I zeroed in on ikat fabric to make elegance, says Arta Ranjan Mohapatra, the marketing expect the unexpected and be prepared keep us from slipping into quirks and Kunal’s super my rakhis which was perfect for my purpose. I kept manager of Boyanika. The global fashion has always for a lot of different turn of events in the afternoon. Ganesha can tell that you are a sense of doom and comic timing was a treat the designs simple and elegant which worked. So looked up to ikat, therefore, I hope these rakhis brimming to the top with energy and gloom,” the actress said. to play off,” said Rasika.IANS far, I have delivered more than 1,000 pieces of will certainly catch the fancy of customers, he adds. enthusiasm in the evening.

SCORPIO SUDOKU It's time to live your post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, dreams. You may just land PEANUTS CROSSWORD up in your dream house or column and box must contain the numbers drive in a plush car, you 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. once dreamt of. Evening time is spared for family and loved ones, says Ganesha. You may even go shopping to buy object de art for your new cosy corner.

SAGITTARIUS Ganesha says the day will be eventful and full of excitement. Differences in opinion might just crop up at work, but don't let them dampen your spirit. A romantic, candlelit dinner with your beloved could well be the high point of your day. You are set to make an impact on your near and dear ones. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN It is your day today! You'll feel like everything is coming your way, without you making any effort whatsoever. Though sub-con- SOLUTIONS sciously, you will want to showcase your talents and achievements to impress people around. And, you will succeed at that, says Ganesha.

AQUARIUS Excellence is the buzz- word today! But that implies only to your work and not to the results. BREVITY Nothing earth-shattering is on the cards, CROSSWORD so slog away. Kids may howl or your spouse may yell in the evening, but you will simply pull your feet up and relax!

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It is a day where you are

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will return to haunt you at the end of CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU the day, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 FESTIVE TIME FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Lord Krishna and Sriradha World 1,72,95,790 1,07,89,545 6,72,364 are being worshipped as part of the Jhulan Utsav at India 15,86,414 10,22,489 35,016 Radheshyam mutt in , downtown Odisha 30,378 19,746 169

Thursday

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Seismological study in by 2022 POLITICKLE MANJUL POST NEWS NETWORK CITIES UNDER THREAT Cuttack, July 30: Even as the n The Centre is mulling a plan to Millennium City and 29 other cities safeguard all prominent cities of the of India figure in the list of danger country from earthquakes zones for earthquake, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has planned to n Surveyors will conduct multi-channel conduct a comprehensive survey in analysis of surface wave, standard these cities to know the possible penetration test, cone penetration impact of tremors. test and down-hole test to find out The survey is likely to begin by the causes of earthquakes 2022 and the final report is expected n The Centre will issue a guideline for to come by 2024, sources said. construction of buildings in the According to sources, the Centre quake-prone zones by taking into is mulling a plan to safeguard all account the expert panel suggestions prominent cities of the country n An earlier survey by Geological from earthquakes. This is the rea- Survey of India had placed Cuttack, son why the Ministry of Earth which is located in the Sciences has planned to conduct a delta, in the vulnerable zone for seismological study in cities like tremors Cuttack, Vijayawada, Patna, Surat, Vadodara, Srinagar, Jammu, Dhanbad, Kochi, Indore, Nasik, Seismology. It is learnt that the to protect buildings from the earth- management work to take necessary Pune, Amritsar, , surveyors will conduct multi-chan- quakes. steps to reduce the impact of earth- Coimbatore, Agra, Varanasi, Meerut, nel analysis of surface wave, stan- The Centre will issue a guide- quakes. Bareilly and . dard penetration test, cone pene- line for construction of buildings It is worth mentioning here that All these 30 cities would be divided tration test and down-hole test to find in the quake-prone zones by tak- the Geological Survey of India had into three zones in accordance with out the causes of earthquakes. ing into account the expert panel sug- conducted a seismological study their vulnerability to earthquakes. A group of experts will analyse gestions. Besides, a guideline will on Cuttack in 2018. The survey had Actress Prakruti Mishra files The survey is supposed to be con- the final report and suggest meas- also be issued for civic bodies, pub- placed the city, which is located in ducted with technical assistance ures to deal with any possible tremor. lic works departments and other the Mahanadi delta, in the vulner- from the National Centre of The experts will suggest measures agencies involved in the disaster able zone for tremors. FIR against web channel Treatment under POST NEWS NETWORK pression for all the fake stories and unethical comments that were OSTF discontinued GST compensation sparks row Bhubaneswar, July 30: Odia ac- pouring in on my social media ac- tress Prakruti Mishra lodged a counts and other news portals,” she POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK State BJP general secretary complaint against a web channel at wrote. Prithviraj Harichandan said, “The Mancheswar police station here The actress said that cyber bul- Bhubaneswar, July 30: With the Bhubaneswar, July 30: Centre is giving its handholding Wednesday for harassment, defama- lying is not acceptable and urged oth- implementation of Biju Swasthya Disbursement of Goods and support to the state through several tion and cyber bullying. ers who are facing the same to Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), the state Services Tax (GST) compensation schemes. It has also increased as- Taking to her official Instagram speak up and expose those people government has decided to dis- by the Centre to Odisha has trig- sistance to the state through GST account, Mishra shared copies of the taking the help of police and other continue treatment under Odisha gered a political row with the compensation. It has helped the FIR that she filed against the mis- law enforcement agencies. State Treatment Fund (OSTF) Congress questioning the silence of state by providing several other fi- creants. “I am an actor by profession and from August 1, 2020. the state government over amount The ruling BJD seems nancial assistances too.” In her complaint she wrote: “I was my identity is not my father’s name “As per the decision of of the compensation which the to be unhappy with the Meanwhile, the ruling BJD seems a victim of cyber bullying after when it comes to my professional Empowered Committee of OSTF party says is ‘less’. to be unhappy with the compen- posting a brand endorsement pho- families. I would like to take this life. It’s the duty of an actor to get Society held July 13, no hospital The Union government has re- compensation amount sation amount and urged the Centre tograph on my social media ac- opportunity to thank and per- associated with brands and en- inside the state will be allowed to leased Rs 5,122 crore as GST com- and urged the for timely payment of the com- count a few days back. Many of us, sonally show my gratitude to dorse them legally and lawfully. I treat patients under OSTF after pensation to Odisha recently. pensation especially during such celebrities, irrespective of gender, Odisha Cyber Crime Department, have lodged an FIR against the July 31. Hence, your are requested “There are norms which say Centre for timely times. face vicious cyber attacks at personal the Commissionerate of Police- news portal and every individual not to admit any patient under about timely payment of GST com- payment of the same BJD legislator Sashi Bhushan level which sometimes drag our Bhubaneswar, DCP-Bhubaneswar, who came up to harass me and my OSTF after the date,” Director of pensation to the state. Also, I’m Behera said that the Centre must families as well.” DG Police-Odisha, IIC- Mancheswar family unethically,” she stated. Medical Education & Training surprised to see why the state prefers The BJP said the central flow of release the pending dues to the “These types of attacks some- Police Station-Bhubaneswar for The Odisha-born actress stressed (DMET) CBK Mohanty wrote to to keep silence on the payment funds has only increased with the state as soon as possible keeping in times turn into real threats caus- helping me and my family dur- that she won’t hesitate to take a five major hospitals of which is less,” said party’s leader time including those of several mind the financial crunch trig- ing a great deal of mental agony ing this trying period, where we firmer step if her parents are sub- Bhubaneswar. Panchanan Kanungo. central government schemes. gered by the Covid-19 crisis. and harm to individuals and their were going through mental de- jected to cyber bullying further.

COVID WARRIORS’ DEATH DELUGE ON ROAD Casting couch charge `15L sanctioned for against Pintu Nanda deceased scribes’ kin Nayapalli polie registers a case after the victim lodges an FIR PRESS TRUST OF INDIA health care professionals -- who POST NEWS NETWORK die due the infection during the Bhubaneswar, July 30: Odisha course of their work. Bhubaneswar, July 30: Nayapalli Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik It had also promised a compen- police has registered a case against Thursday sanctioned an ex gratia sation of Rs 15 lakh to the next of Odia cine actor Pintu Nanda for al- of Rs 15 lakh each for the families kin of journalists who succumb legedly seeking sexual favours from of two journalists who died of to the infection. a girl at a shooting set in COVID-19, official Similarly, family Bhubaneswar. sources said. -based members of deceased The case was registered after Ganjam-based ASHA and Anganwadi the girl lodged an FIR at Nayapalli Priyadarshi Priyadarshi workers have been as- police station Wednesday evening. Patnaik of local Patnaik and sured a monthly pen- According to the FIR, the girl daily Samaja and sion till the age of 60. was to act with Nanda in a pro- Gajapati resident Gajapati Meanwhile, teachers gramme at CDA area in Cuttack. renowned persons in the film in- K Ch Ratnam of resident K Ch in Ganjam have de- However, the location was can- dustry and make her a star Eenadu newspa- Ratnam have manded due recogni- celled and shifted first to Patia and overnight. In turn, he allegedly per succumbed to tion for their colleagues then to Nayapalli. At the sched- asked her to take care of him, di- the viral disease succumbed to engaged in making uled location in Nayapalli area, rectors and producers. The police earlier this month. the viral disease arrangements for mi- the girl waited for a long time but have summoned the actor to ap- "I thank the grant workers at tem- no shooting took place. Meanwhile, pear in person at the police sta- chief minister for supporting the porary medical centres, set up in at the shooting location, Pintu of- tion within 15 days. The actor could journalists' families," Manas local schools. fered to help introduce the girl to not be reached for his reaction. Mangaraj, the adviser to the state The administration in Ganjam Information and Public Relations has already feted some teachers, department, said in a statement. who lost their lives in the fight The state government had in against the pandemic, as ‘COVID April announced an ex-gratia of Warriors’, but the state is yet to Rs 50 lakh for families of all front- make any announcement in this re- Vehicles ply on a waterlogged service road near Iskcon temple at Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar soon after rain lashed line workers -- doctors and other gard, an official said. some parts of the Capital city, Thursday OP PHOTO ECoR cyber cell to curb white collar crimes ‘Vaccine will first reach affluent nations’

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Covid-19 may go in munity infection. If this nears around Bhubaneswar, July 30: With a a few years but 50 to 60 per cent, that can hint at view to collecting digital evidence Bhubaneswar, July 30: Dr Ashok coronavirus will stay community transmission. and using cyber investigative tech- Mohapatra, former director of All longer as it is mutating Maharashtra seems to be heading to- niques, the Railway Protection Force India Institute of Medical Sciences faster. Some new form wards that,” he said. (RPF) cyber cell of ECoR was in- (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar said the of the virus may appear He also said that the reluctance of augurated by General Manager Covid-19 vaccines, when developed, later some private hospitals to treat non- Vidya Bhushan here, Thursday. will first go to affluent countries and Covid patients has affected the peo- Additional general manager reach the developing and poor coun- DR ASHOK MOHAPATRA I VICE ple. “Many private hospitals in the Sudhir Kumar, principal chief se- tries later. CHANCELLOR OF SOA UNIVERSITY state are now reluctant to treat and curity commissioner Rajaram, He said, “Many countries like the operate on non-Covid patients (with- principal heads of departments of United States and others have pre- avirus would stay longer as it is mu- and it would take 8-9 more months out Covid report). Many are framing DRM/Khurda Road and other sen- booked the vaccines for a large sec- tating faster. Some new form of the for that to complete. The medical their own internal norms. This has ior officers were present. Vidya tion of their countrymen. So, when- virus may appear later. Many pan- expert, however, claimed that the added to the sufferings of such pa- Bhushan said that the cyber cell will ever the vaccines will be developed, demics have affected the population recent serological survey in parts tients. Now, they are suffering more,”

certainly help in better detection and it will reach the affluent countries first earlier but we have learnt to manage of Odisha allay the fears of herd im- said Mohapatra.

k y m c prosecution of white collar crimes and the middle income and poor them,” he said. munity or community transmission He said that there are guidelines that involve hi-end technologies countries will be benefited later.” Dr Mohapatra, who is now work- here. issued by the Union and state gov- and IT systems. He also empha- He also said that Covid-19 may go ing as the Vice Chancellor of SOA “The recent sero survey of parts ernments which must be adhered sised on more technological train- but the novel coronavirus would be University and working at SUM of Odisha puts the results upto 1.4% to by the hospitals so that citizens get ing to the security personnel to there for a longer period. “Covid-19 Hospital, said that the first phase of which is very low and does not hint better healthcare services during tackle increasing online fraud cases. may go in a few years but coron- trials at SUM Hospitals have started towards any herd infection or com- this critical time. P4 FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

Crime Branch probe into Aditya’s death begins State’s Covid caseload

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK The mutilated body of Aditya Dash, a istering a case, the GRP had reaches grim milestone social activist, was found along the THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS launched a probe to ascertain the Bhubaneswar, July 30: The Crime railway tracks near Lingaraj Temple COMMISSION HAS SOUGHT AN circumstances that led to the death PNN/AGENCIES also suffering from diabetes and a Branch (CB) of the state police Road station in Bhubaneswar July 7 ACTION TAKEN REPORT FROM of Dash, who was running a NGO 65-year-old male of dis- Thursday launched a probe into THE TWIN CITY and had set up an old-age home as Bhubaneswar, July 30: State’s trict also suffering from chronic kid- the death of social activist Aditya Although police strongly suspected COMMISSIONERATE POLICE IN well. novel coronavirus disease (COVID- ney disease with uremic en- Dash whose mutilated body was Dash committed suicide by jumping in CONNECTION WITH THE Police have also recovered CCTV 19) count crossed 30,000-mark with cephalopathy died during the last found along the railway tracks here front of a train, his friends and relatives MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER’S DEATH footage from the activist’s house 1,203 fresh infections reported in a 24 hours. A 67-year-old male COVID alleged foul play and conspiracy a few weeks ago, a senior official said. and the railway station in course of day, while 10 more deaths due to the patient of district who The CB move came a few minutes its investigation. The post-mortem disease pushed the toll to 169, an of- was also suffering from hyperten- after Director General of Police The Crime Branch probe followed the directive of Director General of Police report had found that Dash died ficial of the Health and Family sion died. Abhay to take over investigation of the case from the Bhubaneswar GRP (DGP) Abhay took to the Twitter to File photo of Aditya Dash because of grievous injury on the Welfare (H&FW) department said Meanwhile, 807 persons recovered say that the CB has been directed head, they said. Thursday. from the disease Thursday. to take over investigation of the action taken report (ATR) from the of police, intelligence and law and cive process Under Section – 13 of His friends and relatives alleged The fresh cases were reported The recoveries include 431 from case from the Bhubaneswar twin city Commissionerate Police order of the state. the Protection of Human Rights foul play behind his death and re- from 28 of the state’s 30 dis- Ganjam, 62 from Cuttack, 47 Government Railway Police (GRP). within four weeks in connection The petitioner requested the Act, 1993 for the personal appearance fused to accept that Dash, known for tricts. Ganjam district re- from and 34 “I have ordered Crime Branch with Aditya’s death. NHRC to ensure fair investigation of the concerned authority.” his inspiring talks and encouraging ported the highest of from Gajapati. to take charge of investigation of The rights body move had come by agencies like CBI or CB-CID of The mutilated body of Dash, a acts, could have committed suicide. 250 new cases, fol- Of the total 30,378 BBSR GRPS case no 81/20 relating while hearing a petition filed by the state or by an independent team popular social activist and moti- A hand-written letter in Odia lowed by Khurda COVID-19 patients, to death of social activist Sri Aditya Supreme Court lawyer and social of experts immediately so as to un- vational speaker, was found along was also found with messages for (220), Cuttack (97), 19,745 have recov- Das (sic),” the DGP tweeted. activist Radhakanta Tripathy. cover the mystery behind the death the railway tracks near Lingaraj his family, friends and those asso- Sundargarh (74), ered. A CB team has reportedly vis- Tripathy contended the rights and ensure safety and security of all Temple Road station in the Capital ciated with the old age home es- Gajapati (72) and The twin cities of ited the GRP establishment here body that the delay in arresting the the RTI activists. City here July 7 and Bhubaneswar tablished by him. The letter was (65), Bhubaneswar and in order to obtain the required in- culprits, exposing the truth, and The rights body said, “In case GRP had been investigating into examined by the State Forensic the official said. Cuttack Thursday formation, the official said. uncovering the mystery over Dash’s the ATR is not received within the the case since then, the official Science Laboratory here and found According to the registered 156 COVID- The National Human Rights death pose a serious question on stipulated time, the Commission pointed out. to have been written by him, po- H&FW department, 19 cases and 129 re- Commission Wednesday sought an human rights as it involves the role will be constrained to invoke coer- According to sources, after reg- lice said. of the 10 persons, coveries. four died in AS ODISHA’S The Capital city Ganjam, two in Bhubaneswar saw 105 TPCODL PLANS TO COVID SCARE Khurda and one TOTAL fresh cases and 123 each in CORONAVIRUS recoveries. “Among IN PRISONS Virus test ‘must before remand’ Sundargarh, the fresh cases de- ENSURE SEAMLESS Sambalpur, CASES CROSS tected, 59 were re- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ons of circle, that also to check the spread of the virus in Meanwhile, authorities of the Rayagada and ported from quaran- SUPPLY OF POWER includes Ganjam district which jails. Upadhay said, “16,789 inmates special jail in Bhubaneswar con- Nayagarh. 30,000-MARK, tine centres while 46 Bhubaneswar, July 30: The Odisha has been hit hardest by the pan- have been released from jails across ducted antigen tests on 150 inmates “A 60-year-old DEATH TOLL contracted the virus POST NEWS NETWORK prison authority has asked the po- demic in Odisha. the state on parole to decongest and all the prisoners are being male of locally. At the same lice to conduct to detect coronavirus "We have urged the police to con- prisons in the wake of the pan- given a herbal concoction ('Kadha') Bhubaneswar who MOUNTS TO 169 time, 123 persons who Bhubaneswar, July 30: With the infection in accused before sending duct RT-PCR tests demic. Besides, the to boost immunity, said jail super- was also suffering had earlier tested pos- rise in Covid-19 positive cases as them to judicial custody, an offi- of the arrested per- authorities have intendent Dhiren Kumar Barik. from diabetes and chronic kidney itive for COVID-19 recovered well as the fatalities in Odisha, cial said on Thursday. sons before sending shifted over 1,200 in- Meanwhile, OHRC asked the state disease and another 60-year-old fe- Thursday,” a Bhubaneswar the state government has imposed According to sources in the state them to jails," mates to other pris- home secretary, additional chief male also suffering from diabetes Municipal Corporation said, adding lockdown in four districts in- prison directorate, 96 inmates of Director General, ons in order to re- secretary to Health & family welfare died due to COVID infection. that two of the 10 COVID deaths in cluding Khurda. 10 prisons in the state were found Prison, S K duce crowding.” department and prisons and cor- Similarly, a-50-year-old male of state were from Bhubaneswar. Under these challenging cir- to have been infected by the novel Upadhay told PTI. Of those released rectional services to submit re- Rayagada district who was also The Cuttack Municipal cumstances, the TPCODL has coronavirus. Seventeen staff of A total of 17,509 on parole by July 28, sponse regarding the steps have suffering from chronic obstruc- Corporation, on the other hand, come up with comprehensive plans four jails have also tested positive inmates are lodged in the 85 prisons 16,639 are undertrials and 150 con- been taken in connection with pro- tive pulmonary disease, died dur- detected 51 fresh cases of the viral and procedures to ensure round- for COVID-19, they said. of Odisha, an official said, adding victs, he said. viding PPE kits to jail employees, ing treatment. The four deaths infection. “Among the new cases, the-clock operations and mainte- The officials expressed anxiety the first confirmed case was found The highest 5,231 inmates were proper arrangements for the treat- from Ganjam district included a 65- seven were reported from institu- nance services, company sources over the viral infection spreading in the Puri jail on May 17 when an released on parole under Berhampur ment of Covid patients in jails and year-old female, a 43-year-old male, tional quarantine centres, 33 were said. in prisons despite several precau- accused arrested by Kumbhapada circle keeping in view the vulner- child care homes. a 47-year-old male and a 33-year-old home quarantine cases and 11 per- The company’s detailed plan tionary measures. They said the police station tested positive. ability of Ganjam district, which has The commission has also directed male,” said the department. sons contracted the virus locally. Six ensures readiness and availability highest 54 cases of coronavirus in- Adequate measures under so far reported 9996 positive cases the stakeholders to submit their It added that a 71-year-old male persons also recovered from the of trained personnel and facili- fection have been detected in pris- COVID-19 protocol are being taken and accounted for 90 deaths. responses by 28 August. of Sundargarh district who was infection,” it said. ties necessary to provide seam- less service to its consumers. TPCODL’s frontline employees work 24X7 to carry out various operations and also the mainte- Agri dept adopts Dakshyata system TINY HANDS nance of its equipment to ensure that its consumers receive unin- Chief Secretary directs other departments to emulate the system through customisation terrupted power supply. These frontline warriors are POST NEWS NETWORK online MPR reporting with geo- level operations will be considered the unsung heroes who work day tagging of the operations and the under this initiative, he said. and night amid the pandemic to Bhubaneswar, July 30: As part of beneficiaries. The performance would be as- provide uninterrupted power sup- 5T model of governance, the state sessed in every month and each ply to the consumers. government has adopted a robust PERFORMANCE one can see own position in the As many as 234 technicians and performance management system MANAGEMENT Dakshyata portal, Garg added. engineers of TPCODL are work- in agricultural sector to monitor per- Agriculture director Muthu ing hard to maintain 8,559 trans- formances of agriculture officials. Kumar said, “The performance formers, 2.492 km HT and 4,196 The system will come into effect would be based on the broad com- km LT line network in from this Khariff season. ponents like scheme implementa- Bhubaneswar city, sources added. Through the new system, the tion, 5T implementation, priority government will recognise the top area interventions and risk man- performers through various non- agement”. STATUES UNVEILED monetary incentives in their serv- Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy re- ice carrier. Agriculture secretary cently reviewed various contours Bhubaneswar: The full bodied bronze Saurabh Garg said, “Dakshyata and parameters of the system and statue of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan system has been designed through Das and Theatre personality Asim Basu advised other departments to em- were unveiled by Minister, Odia a consultative approach spreading ulate basic architect of the sys- Language, Literature and Culture Jyoti over nine months with various All Group-B and Group-C offi- tem through customization as per Prakash Panigrahi through virtual stakeholders. More than 400 sug- cers including assistant agricul- their schemes and programmes. mode here Thursday. The statue of gestions received from ground level ture officer, assistant agriculture en- “The objective criteria of assess- Madhu Babu has been installed at officers have also been considered gineer, agriculture overseer, asst ment will identify the real per- Madhu-setu near Bidanasi, Cuttack and addressed while developing horticulture officer, horticulture formers by eliminating the sub- while that of Asim Basu is installed in the system.” overseer and soil conservation ex- jective prejudice and human Kids of artisan families dust the idols of Lord Ganesh at Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar, Thursday. This year, Ganesh Puja the premises of Rabindra Mandap. The software would have inbuilt tension worker engaged in field errors,” Tripathy had said. will be a low-key affair owing to coronavirus pandemic OP PHOTO BMC RE-OPENS UNIT IV MARKET HARIDASPUR-PARADIP RAILWAY LINE ‘NEP 2020 only aimed at CREDIT TUSSLE FOR PROJECT luring foreign investment’ POST NEWS NETWORK no use,” he added. POST NEWS NETWORK Secretary of association Subash Bhubaneswar, July 30: Members Nayak said that the policy is only Bhubaneswar, July 30: BJP and of All India Democratic Students aimed at commercialisation of ed- BJD, who are ruling at Centre and Organisation (AIDSO) Thursday ucation sector. The main motive state, entered a fresh battle to grab opposed the new National Education is to attract foreign investment for credit for the new railway line proj- Policy that was re- which the policy ect connecting Haridaspur-Paradip cently approved by facilitates institu- POST NEWS NETWORK Association have submitted and through district. the Union Cabinet. tional collabora- undertaking with regard to ad- Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leg- AIDSO president tions and allows Bhubaneswar, July 30: Following herence of all the guidelines is- islators from Ganesh Tripathy entry of top a 14-day sealing of the city’s promi- sues by the BMC and government Thursday submitted a memorandum said that the new ranked universi- nent market area, Unit IV market, the of India and Odisha relating to so- to Union Railway Minister Piyush policy was ap- ties to open cam- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation cial distancing. Moreover, after Goyal through general manger of proved just for the puses in our coun- (BMC), Thursday, allowed resump- conducting multiple testing and East Coast Railway. The ruling party commercialization try. tion of services after submitting un- sanitizing the area properly we are MLAs demanded commissioning Goyal to set a date for formal in- trying to take credit for the project. and privatization Tripathy also dertaking from the vendors and of view that the services may re- of passenger trains on the line. auguration of Paradip – Haridaspur This railway project is being ex- of the education said that voca- traders working in the area. sume,” the order stated. “The Haridaspur-Paradip project railway line, in the presence of ecuted through a special purpose and not for welfare of students. Its tional education in schools from the Issuing an order, the BMC ob- It is worth mentioning that the in final stage and very soon it will Prime Minister Narendra Modi vehicle, in which state government, main focus is only to attract for- 6th grade is not a good decision as served that the wholesale market BMC, July 17, had sealed the entire start functioning. We have sub- and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Ministry of Shipping and Indian eign investment. He also said that it will do more harm than good. The which caters to supply of essen- Unit-4 market and markets adja- mitted a memorandum requesting Pradhan wrote the letter to his Railways have similar share in eq- merging of anganwadi sector decision is highly immature and tial commodities, food and grocery cent to its areas after several pos- Union Railways Minister to start colleague following Chief Minister uity in the SPV. The project tool ex- with the school curriculum will childish. Students will be confused items is a vital area in the city. itive cases were detected in the passenger train service in the route Naveen Patnaik’s letter to Goyal tremely long for commissioning bring no change in education. if such a system is implemented. However, the BMC, Thursday, stated vicinity. As per the sources, multiple along with goods trains,” said BJD to start operation of passenger but with continuous monitoring, it Instead of strengthening the areas, The new national education pol- that it is satisfied from multiple of these cases were identified among legislator Sashi Bhusan Behera. trains on the new line from August. has finally come to the final stage. they are trying to avoiding the icy is just a new version of National rounds of mass testing and services fish and meat vendors residing in In a bid to get credit for the proj- Meanwhile, former Kendrapara The 82-km line connects Kendrapara problem. “We also oppose the de- Policy on Education 1986 which can resume from July 31st. various slums and operating in ect, Union Minister Dharmendra MP and BJP leader district to the railway map for the cision of UG education for 4 years was introduced by the Congress

“All the members of Vendor the Unit IV market area. Pradhan Wednesday requested has also jumped into the fray by first time. instead if three as it will be of govt, he alleged.

k y m c P5 FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR state

Bhitarkanika shrinking under space crunch, pollution Keonjhar village gets

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK ted a report which has become a electricity after 72 yrs RICH IN BIODIVERSITY cause of concern for the residents Kendrapara, July 30: The n The colourful birds, rare sea turtles and saltwater crocodiles and nature lovers. POST NEWS NETWORK Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and a variety of other wildlife animals inhabit the eco-system The total dissolved solids (TDS) under Rajnagar block in this dis- at Bhitarkanika National Park which is one of Asia's most as well as harmful chemicals like Patna, July 30: Residents of trict spread over 672 sqkm is fast los- spectacular wildlife sanctuaries chloride, phosphate and magne- Saradhapur village under ing its cover due to various rea- n The Central Groundwater Board conducted a groundwater sium have increased in the water. Chakundapal panchayat in Patna sons and being pushed into the study in 2011. It found excess presence of harmful chemicals This has happened because of lack block of Keonjhar district are a vicious circle of pollution, a like nitrate, iron and fluorides in the groundwater which is of management of industrial and happy lot after the village was report said. likely to destroy the bio-diversity of the sanctuary urban wastes. The team examined electrified 72 years after If this trend continues, the sanc- Independence. n The total dissolved solids (TDS) as well as harmful the water of Hansua river at Jambu, tuary might lose its national park chemicals like chloride, phosphate and magnesium have the water in the mangrove forest in The development in the village status. This will seriously hit the increased in the water. This has happened because of lack of Kharinasi, the waste water of the came days after Orissa POST pub- tourism industry in the district. management of industrial and urban wastes prawn firms at Triveni and Nuagada lished a report about the plight The Bhitarkanika National Park is as well as the discharged waste of the residents due to lack of elec- one of the wonders in the world its natural environment, landscape, areas where the tenure of the land the bio-diversity of the sanctuary. water of IFFCO and PPL fertilizers tricity. The report was published known for its rich biological di- biological diversity and 62 types is currently under dispute. The board advised the state gov- plant in the Mahanadi river. July 19. The villagers pointed out that the versity. The colourful birds, rare of mangrove forests and 215 types It was noted that human impacts ernment to recharge groundwater Their report claimed that there About 12 days after this report, Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har sea turtles and saltwater croco- of wildlife. from communities situated within through construction of artificial is a presence of 4389 mg to 12,575 mg the energy depart- Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) diles and a variety of other wildlife UNESCO made an attempt to Bhitarkanika are extremely high dams in the rivers and other water of chloride in the drinking water in ment and the admin- is being implemented in animals inhabit this eco-system place Bhitarkanika in World as land use in this area is pre- bodies. Later, a team of researchers the area which is higher than the istration were jolted the district to provide which is one of Asia's most spec- Heritage Site in 2016. The UNESCO dominantly agricultural includ- comprising BC Behera from North permissible limits of 250 mg. awake. electricity to the poor, but tacular wildlife sanctuaries. conducted a survey but ing livestock grazing, shrimp cul- Odisha University in , RR This apart, phosphate content Following a direc- they were deprived of These are a real feast to the eyes Bhitarkanika missed the World tivation and construction of houses Mishra from MITS School of in the water has increased a lot tion from electrical benefits, despite the vil- of tourists and a subject of im- Heritage Site tag as the mangrove within the sanctuary by destroying Biotechnology, HN Thatoi from while nitrate is at a standard level SDO Chandra lage having been included portance for the researchers. The eco-system was found wanting on the mangrove forests. College of Engineering and and calcium content is increasing Sahu and engineer in it two years ago. large stretch of mangrove forests several counts. The Central Groundwater Board Technology in Bhubaneswar, SK due to discharge of industrial wastes. Chiranjit Sahu, power was sup- As the village is located close to and medicinal plants attracts the It was reported that much of the conducted a groundwater study in Dutta from IIS in Bangalore, KK They warned that an increase in the plied to 24 families in the village a forested area, residents used to nature lovers. The Bhitarkanika land within Bhitarkanika Wildlife 2011. It found excess presence of Patra of NITS in con- chemical contents will pose a seri- Wednesday afternoon. panic at night fearing attack from is situated on the delta created by Sanctuary is privately owned by harmful chemicals like nitrate, ducted a survey of the Mahandi ous threat to the existence of man- They expressed happiness over wild animals. Children used to the Brahmani, Baitarani and local community of Bangaldesh iron and fluorides in the ground- delta region and the Bhitarkanika grove forests, saltwater crocodiles the electricity and thanked the study under earthen lamps, Dhamra sea mouths. It is known for refugees. Moreover, there are other water which is likely to destroy sanctuary in 2014. They submit- and birds in the sanctuary. newspaper. Sukanta Behera, a villager, added. Woodlands in focus of stone mafia PREVENTIVE MEASURES 2 YOUTHS DROWN POST NEWS NETWORK

Angul,July 30: Two youths in ; Sec-144 thrown to winds drowned in a canal while they were taking bath in Hemasurapada under Rampant stone mining is happening on 456.34 acres of forestland police limits Wednesday af- ternoon. The deceased were iden- at Bichhakhandi, Anjira and Kusunpur under Dharmashala tehsil tified as Brundaban Sethi and Babu Mohanty, both residents of is being transported in heavy ve- Hemasurapada in the town. Locals hicles every day even without sub- said Brundaban and Babu had gone mitting R-Forms, which are manda- to a canal to take bath at around 2 tory for mineral transportation. pm. The incident occurred when Locals alleged that officials who Brundaban lost balance and fell are tasked to check mineral trans- into the deep water due to strong portation have been facilitating current. Watching him drowning, supply of stone chips, boulders, Babu, who was at the canal bank, and spawls by taking bribe from the jumped into water to rescue him. stone traders. However, the current was so strong POST NEWS NETWORK est land to black stone traders. Some villagers had taken up the that both the youths were swept Rampant stone mining has taken issue with the Collector while a away, locals claimed. On being in- Jajpur, July 30: Stone mafia has a heavy toll on biodiversity, natu- case was failed in the High Court formed, police and fire service per- occupied some forest land under ral resources and wildlife. in this regard. Locals had earlier sonnel launched a rescue opera- Dhamashala tehsil in Jajpur district In the report given to the ADM opposed illegal stone mining in tion and fished out the bodies from even though section 144 has been im- and DFO, it was stated that over September, 2019 when a group clash With a spurt in Covid infections in Sambalpur, a temple and its periphery being sanitised, Thursday OP PHOTO the canal, a police official said. posed in the areas since 2019, a re- 100 stone mines are being operated took place over the issue. port said. at Bichhkhandi, Kusunppur and Surprisingly, a case had been reg- According to the reports, mafia Anjira forests. istered against 32 people who had Three bodies found; has been carrying out stone min- Besides, some stone crushing been fighting for protection of for- ing on 456.34 acres of forest land at units have been set up on the for- est land. When asked about the al- witchcraft suspected Bichhakhandi, Anjira and est land. Illegally extracted black leged illegality, Cuttack DFO Sana Ghagara wears a deserted Kusunpur. This was stated in an stoner is supplied to these stone Sudarshan Patra said a task force investigation report submitted by crushers. These areas are wit- has been formed by Jajpur Collector POST NEWS NETWORK Balanag revenue inspector to nessing massive air pollution owing to check illegal stone mining, but look amid Covid-19 in Keonjhar Dhamashala tehsildar. The report to stone quarrying and stone crush- it is not working properly. Angul, July 30: Panic gripped was also given to Jajpur ADM. ing. Significantly, due to illegal However, he pointed out that the Dimiripada village under POST NEWS NETWORK It was alleged that Dhamashala stone mining, the government is los- department is struggling with a Chhendipada police limits in Angul tehsildar had drawn attention of ing huge revenues. staff crunch. “Only 27 forest guards district after bodies of three per- Keonjhar, July 30: Even as Sana the ADM and Cuttack forest divi- In 2019, the administration had are under the Cuttack forest divi- sons including a woman were Ghagara waterfall in Keonjhar sion towards the illegal stone min- tried to contain unauthorized stone sion whereas the division requires found hanging from a tree in wee district has been barricaded for ing in forest land. But no action mining on forest land. As part of it, 75 guards for proper monitoring hours of Thursday. over four months, the popular has been taken. the administration had imposed on such activities,” he added. Despite destination wears a deserted look People of the villages in these section 144 of the CrPc on September all this, efforts will be made to con- as it lacks tourist footfall. acres observed that some officials 11. Some conscious citizens of these tain illegal stone mining in forest Hundreds of tourists from out- have virtually handed over the for- areas wondered that black stone land in the area, he assured. side the district and the state throng Sana Ghagara through- out the year. However, amid the infrastructure has run down Khandadhar, Handibhanga, Two girls end life Covid-19 outbreak in Keonjhar due to lack of maintenance. A Gundichaghagi, Bhimkund and Drought fears in Angul district, visitors are not being al- boating facility and a children’s Murga. Famous shrine of god- after fake HSC results lowed here. park in the vicinity have become dess Tarini also suffers the POST NEWS NETWORK hectares only, out of the total 24,811 Crores of rupees spent on its in- dilapidated. Similar gloomy sit- same fate. POST NEWS NETWORK hectares in Banarpal block. frastructural development have uations prevail at other tourist Following imposition of Section Banarpal, July 30: Even as the It is known that, about 2,000 Sources said, a resident of the gone for a toss in such a precari- destinations in the district. 144 during the month of Shravan /Kendrapara, July 30: state government gives emphasis hectares in the block depend on village had gone to a jungle to ous situation. Keonjhar is renowned for its at all shaiva peethas in Keonjhar, After the results of the Board of to boost farming in the wake of lift irrigation. There are about 101 graze goats where he reportedly Over last couple of months, popular waterfalls like Gonasika, Kushaleswar and Secondary Education (BSE) were hundreds of returnees coming LI points at village areas like noticed the bodies hanging from Murga shaivaite shrines in the declared Wednesday, two students home in Angul district, 33 defunct Gadatalamula, Mahidharapur, a tree. Upon seeing the horrific district do not witness kanwariyas from Bhadrak and Kendrapara lift irrigation (LI) points have Phulapada, Bauligada, Ramimunda, incident, he rushed to the vil- 48-hour shutdown in any more. district committed suicide after al- blocked farming activities on 660 Kalandapal, Juharapur, Patana, lage leaving his goats at the jun- KORAPUT: As the the shutdown will be screening of people. Keonjhar district tourism of- legedly receiving false news of hectares under Banarpal block. Kukudanga and Ekagharia, near gle and informed the villagers Covid-19 pandemic in force from the mid- The district ad- ficer Ramesh Chandra Nayak their failure in the examinations. The district has been facing a several nearby water bodies under about the same. continues to spread night of July 30 to the ministration has re- said, “The pandemic has badly The two deceased have been drought-like situation amid scanty Banarpal block limits. While most of villagers hesi- its tentacles across midnight of August 1. stricted movement of hit the tourism industry in identified as Ranismita from rainfall. This has added to the woes 33 LI points are still defunct tated to go to the spot suspect- Koraput, the district During the 48-hour public and vehicles Keonjhar which was largely con- Hatapokhari Sahi under of local farmers. It was targeted by under the block as a few pumps ing it is as a case of sorcery, a administration shutdown, the district within and outside tributing to the district’s econ- police limits in Angul agriculture department that were stolen and others have no group of youths went to the spot Thursday declared a administration will the district. Entry and omy.” The entire tourism indus- Bhadrak district while the other farming activities will be carried power supply. As a result, 660 to verify the incident. There they 48-hour complete undertake contain- exit points have been try is in tatters, Nayak added. girl is the daughter of Arjun Sahoo out on 24,811 hectares under hectares under Banarpal block spotted three hanging bodies. shutdown across the ment measures like closed. All the resi- “Directly or indirectly, local res- of Balipadar village under Banarpal block alone. were badly hit. The villagers suspected that the district. contract tracing, dents in the district idents and small vendors were Pattamundai Municipality. When As against this, paddy was to be Lift irrigation department jun- trio could have been murdered According to symptom checking, are strictly advised largely being benefited. Lockdown the results of Class-X examina- cultivated on 10,825 hectares non- ior engineer Newton Kumar said, and their bodies left hanging to Koraput District ensuring isolation of to remain at home. restrictions have changed the sce- tion were announced Wednesday paddy crops on 13,986 hectares this “We have already sent proposals to give it a look of suicide. Collector suspected cases and 66 new cases nario altogether,” said social ac- morning, a friend of Ranismita Kharif season. However, there is pro- the government for repair of at Chhendipada police said they Madhusudan Mishra, door to door health detected Thursday. tivist Debaraj Acharya. called her and said she had failed vision of irrigation facilities for 9,615 least 11 defunct LI points. are unaware of the incident. in her attempt. Without checking for the authentic result on the of- ficial website, she consumed poi- son out of embarrassment. Knowing about the incident, ‘MOBILE CINEMA’ STILL HAS ITS UTILITY, AUDIENCE her family members immediately took her to Bhadrak District THIS CAN BE A POWERFUL MEDIUM TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG PEOPLE IN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN ITS RURAL POCKETS Headquarters Hospital where she breathed her last. Meanwhile, her POST NEWS NETWORK state of ‘mobile cinema’ programme. said, “I put up hundreds of cinema bile cinema’ can get back its lost family members found out that This programme used to be the shows during the period between sheen,” he added. she had passed the exam with good Dhenkanal, July 30: There was a best medium for both the central and 1978 and 1995. Films like Mobile cinema has not lost its marks and the information pro- time when villagers used to throng state governments to make people ShreeJagannath, Bandhu Mohnaty, importance even today because vided by her friend was incorrect. to a place in a village where a white aware about their various schemes Amadabata, Matira Manisha, there are still villages where there Bhadrak police reached the spot screen was tied to two bamboo poles and plans. At the same time it used Mathura Bijaya, Krushna Sudama, is no electricity or mobile connec- and launched a probe. A similar on two sides to watch cinema in to be the best medium of enter- Sindura Bindu and Dharitri used to tivity. ‘Mobile cinema’ shows can be incident was reported from the evenings. tainment for people in villages. be showed then and people are still restarted to cater to these villagers,” Kendrapara district where a Class- Films like Shree Jagannath, There were documentaries that wistfully remembering those days.” maintained Shatrughan Mati, a X student hanged self at home Bandhu Mohanty, Amada Bata, used to be played at the beginning “To reach some villages we had theatre director. after a friend told her that she had Matira Manisha and Mathura Bijaya and at the intervals of the film to travel in boats as then there were Seconding him, Debashis Mishra, failed in the examinations this were being screened with villagers shows. But this ‘mobile cinema’ no bridges across rivers Brahmani a serial director, said, “The films year. Arjun Sahu, father of the watching the movies attentively. which established a relationship or Ramial. We were given a warm shown under ‘mobile cinema’ are deceased said, “A friend told that These films were screened under between villagers and the govern- welcome by the villagers. Para Jhia milestone films in Odia. People

she failed to secure passing marks ‘mobile cinema’ programme of the ment for as long as 30 years is dying in the sixties with an aim to make this unit used to visit villages to Ghara Bhangena was the last film used to learn many things from

k y m c in the examination. Depressed government. But this programme a slow death. The growing popu- illiterate and semi-literate people in put up cinema shows. to be showed under ‘mobile cin- these films. Besides, they used to over the news, she decided to hang was stopped in 1995. A thick layer of larity of TV, mobile phones and the villages across the state aware of var- Remembering the golden era of ema’,” he reminisced. know about schemes and pro- herself inside her room.” dust gathered on the reel canes and government using more of folk art ious government schemes and pro- ‘mobile cinema’, Lokanath Das, “If the government infuses life grammes of both the central and “However, the school authorities projector machines at the district in- forms to disseminate its messages grammes. There is a film unit at the now in his 60s and a retired em- into it by using it for the same pur- state governments. If the ‘mobile cin- later informed that she had cleared formation and public relations office are said to be the reasons. information and public relations ployee of the district information pose of making people aware of its ema’ is restarted, it will be highly the examination,” added Sahu. in Dhenkanal explains the sorry The ‘mobile cinema’ was launched department and the employees of and public relations department schemes and programmes, the ‘mo- appreciated by people.” P6 FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS WORLD When mind is still, then truth

gets her chance to be heard in

k y m the purity of the silence. c SRI AUROBINDO CHINA’S IRAN CARD

ran says it is negotiating a 25- Pakistani port of Gwador. The years’ agreement with China Chahbahar port allows India to encompassing trade, energy, circumvent Pakistan – another Don’t lower guard I infrastructure, telecommu- rival – in its trade with Central nications, and even military co- Asia. But, despite the port's rec- fter unveiling a raft of austerity measures earlier this month to meet operation. For Teheran, the ognized importance, US sanctions the spiraling expenditures entailed by the fast spreading Covid-19 prospect of a strategic partner- are forcing India out of Chahbahar Apandemic, a cash-strapped state government has followed this up by ship with China comes at a criti- and frustrating Iran. In fact, Iran cutting down this year’s Budget allocations under different heads. Finance cal time. The Iranian government is reportedly forcing India out of Minister Niranjan Pujari had presented a record `1.50 lakh crore state has been confronting popular dis- a railway project that bypasses Budget for 2020-21 in February – a 11 per cent jump over the revised estimate content over a sinking domestic Pakistan to connect with of 2019-20. The record Budget targets were proposed to be supported through economy, which has been battered Afghanistan and Central Asia. receipts of `1,24,550 crore and borrowings of `24,450 crore. However, with by American sanctions and, now, News of that rupture came just the economic slump having taken a toll on economy and the Covid-19 now Covid-19. after China and Iran announced killing whatever economic activities were left behind, revenues from internal Making matters worse, a recent a preliminary deal. sources have come down by a whopping 70 per cent during April and May. series of explosions across the The recent border skirmishes This works out to a 20 per cent fall in the annual revenue collections. Further, country has deepened the sense In addition to opening the door for China to between China and India show the Centre is expected to cut down the size of its assistance under different that the regime is under siege. control Chahbahar and monopolize trade routes just how seriously China takes its heads to the state government. In such difficult times, the state government Vali Nasr and Damaging at least two sites asso- footprint in West Asia. In addi- had no way but to tighten its belts. The government has already incurred ArianeTabatabai ciated with the Iranian nuclear into Central Asia, the Iran deal also appears to tion to opening the door for China expenditure of around `1,900 crore under various heads in managing the Covid- and missile programmes, these offer opportunities for China to develop naval to control Chahbahar and mo- 19 pandemic. blasts appear to be part of a broader nopolize trade routes into Central While the government had set out to keep the expenditures under leash strategy by the United States and facilities on the Gulf of Oman. Though the US Asia, the Iran deal also appears to through the austerity measures, the latest announcement of a downward WITH THE US Israel to cripple Iran's capabili- has long wanted to shift away from the Middle offer opportunities for China to revision of budget allocations is a direct corollary to that. The govern- ties.News of a large deal with develop naval facilities on the Gulf ment has announced that it will resort to borrowings insofar as its inter- SET TO LEAVE China is thus a welcome diver- East to focus more on China, the emerging of Oman. Though the US has long nal accruals and central aid won’t add up to expectations. The state government AFGHANISTAN, A sion for the Iranian government, Sino-Iranian deal reminds us that the two wanted to shift away from the has done well by deciding that it will not go for borrowings from the open and may even buy it time to main- Middle East to focus more on market. Availability of funds at cheap rates under the Compensatory PARTNERSHIP tain the status quo until the theaters are by no means separate China, the emerging Sino-Iranian Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and Odisha WITH IRAN WILL November 2020 US presidential deal reminds us that the two the- Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation will come in handy for it. election. The outcome of that con- all its eggs in the Western basket. losing some access to the US mar- aters are by no means separate. In May, the Centre had eased the FRBM norms and raised the borrowing GIVE CHINA A test will determine the trajectory The message to the Iranian people ket (which is far larger than that By increasing pressure on both limits of states from 3 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) NEAR-STRAN- of US-Iranian relations and the is they are not isolated, and may of Iran). Not surprisingly, Chinese China and Iran, the US has en- to 5 per cent in 2020-21. This will make available an additional `4.28 lakh crore fate of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, even enjoy economic improve- officials have been relatively qui- couraged the two countries to for states. The Centre has laid down certain conditions to use that window. GLEHOLD OVER known as the Joint Comprehensive ments despite US sanctions. eter about the negotiations than forge a common front. Though The preconditions entail state government must bring in reforms on ease Plan of Action (JCPOA), while At the international level, Iran their Iranian counterparts have the Sino-Iranian relationship is of doing business, power distribution and universalisation of One Nation THE STRATEGIC also influencing Iran's own pres- has always sought to balance one been. Likewise, China does not still a long way from becoming a - One Ration Card, among others. In sync with these conditions, the state CORRIDOR idential election in June 2021. great power against another. Over want to upset its regional part- new axis, the recent negotiations government has rushed in to implement these reforms. Chief Secretary Asit To be sure, Iranians histori- the past decade, in response to US nerships with Israel or Saudi show that such an arrangement is Tripathy reviewed the implementation of district-level business reforms STRETCHING cally have been averse to align- diplomatic and economic pressure, Arabia, each of which is currently possible. action plan (BRAP) to improve the state's position in the ease of doing FROM CENTRAL ing too closely with any great its security forces looked to Russia, engaged in proxy wars with and American foreign policymak- business. A better show on the ease of doing business index will improve power, and they are even less will- key economic sectors looked to covert operations against Iran. ers should take note. The US will the business eco-system in the state. It will help attract more investors to ASIA TO THE ing to accept economic tutelage. China, and the Rouhani govern- Nonetheless, China obviously need to try placing a wedge be- the state. As a major policy initiative to improve the ease of doing business, ARABIAN SEA With Iran's relationship with China ment reached out to . Now, sees some value in forging a com- tween China and Iran, which re- the government has done away with the need for industries to go for peri- already a source of domestic con- with Sino-American tensions rising, prehensive arrangement with Iran quires deciding which one poses odical license renewals -- a good move that will not only hasten industrial- troversy, it is possible that the Iran is looking to China to shore up – a large, important regional player the greater threat. Americans may isation and processes, it will also reduce corruption in the system. The need country's parliament will refuse to its economy and balance the US. whose vast energy resources and want nothing more than to leave for periodical renewal of multiple licenses from the authorities by indus- ratify the deal unless it is revised Closer ties with China would give tremendous economic potential the Middle East once and for all. trial houses spun off systemic corruption and slowed down the pace of in- to meet certain concerns. Iran more leverage in future talks make it a natural candidate for But the fact is that the strategic dustrialization in the state. An end to this policy is a welcome move. But Iran's economy has been with the US and Europe when it China's westward-looking Belt competition with China will not However, the government must keep vigil on industrial activities and in a free-fall since 2018 after the comes to revising or restoring the and Road Initiative. China already play out only in East Asia. processes lest companies should resort to shortcuts. Covid-19 is an evolv- Trump administration withdrew JCPOA, as well as in its dealings with buys discounted oil from Iran – not ing crisis. Nobody really knows how much longer the crisis will drag or its from the JCPOA and launched its regional rivals such as Saudi Arabia exactly a negligible benefit for the Vali Nasr is Professor of repercussions. Nor is the government in a position to assess the scale of the "maximum pressure" on Teheran and the United Arab Emirates. world's foremost consumer of en- Middle East Studies and damage that the disease will potentially inflict on the human race and the byimposing heavy sanctions de- By contrast, a strategic part- ergy – and has become Iran's key International Affairs at economy. Thus, any preparation for the eventuality can only be haphazard. signed to squeeze the regime. nership with Iran is a minefield for trading partner, including as a Johns Hopkins University's The government should not lower its guard. Moreover, with the regime as a China. Although China contin- principal supplier of heavy ma- School of Advanced whole facing a public backlash, ues to trade with Iran and invest chinery and manufacturing goods. International Studies. Ariane President Hassan Rouhani's gov- in the country's infrastructure, a As part of this expansion, China Tabatabai is a Middle East WISDOM CORNER ernment has been under tremen- deepening of ties could raise could even gain control of the fellow at the Alliance for dous internal pressure. The an- America's ire at a critical and in- Iranian port of Chahbahar, which Securing Democracy at the nouncement of a deal with China creasingly sensitive diplomatic its main Asian rival, India, has German Marshall Fund of the An ‘eye for an eye’ only ends up making the world blind. MAHATMA GANDHI allows Rouhani's government to juncture. By potentially exposing been developing as a counter to United States. demonstrate that it is not putting itself to US sanctions, China risks China's development of the nearby ©PROJECT SYNDICATE The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all. WALT DISNEY It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, SPECTRUM EDUCATION and what is done in love is well done. VINCENT VAN GOGH

WORDSWORTH Online teaching cannot ‘shape’ students o students learn to respect students are attentive to the teach- ment the resources available in she feels finewiththe chalk and Synthetic biology the time of the teacher? Are ing or not. How is a student pro- the four walls of a live classroom black board in the classroom, or D they obedient and disci- gressing with his or her learning at anyeducational institution. while handling test tubes in the iotechnologists are beginning to move on from modifying organisms plined when it comes to actions process? There are some indica- Computer-based instruction is gen- lab in a chemistry practical class. Bthrough changing their DNA (by genetic engineering) to building them such as spending their allotted tors to judge this by way of sense erally limited to power point, video In this pandemic-induced crisis from scratch. Synthetic biology refers to such creation of artificial life from time on the laptop as is now the of comprehension, use of com- lecture etc, but it can’t be an al- period, when educational institu- raw materials. This new field is regarded by many experts as the next big case? Do we, as parents, help the munication skills, vocabulary, co–re- ternative to discussion or the par- tions remain closed for a quarter thing in science, but one which may also have disastrous consequences if teachers with our child’s learning lation with other objects or sub- ticipatory method of a classroom. of a year already, this situation mishandled.It was in the news in the UK some time ago, as the result of a experiences and perceptions? These jects, critical thinking etc. All these Can we think in terms of group ac- could be used effectively by IT ex- visit by the maverick US scientist, Craig Venter, who ran one of the two are all frequently asked questions aspects have no role to play in on- tivities, or co–operative learning, perts. But, whatever it may be, our projects that mapped the human genome. He has hinted that his team has Ramdas Roy related to online classes in the pan- line teaching, which is mostly a in an online class? time-tested and trusted live class- already created a minimal bacterial genome from its chemical building demic times. mechanical process. A robot can do It is true that there is a limit to room teaching can’t be replaced blocks and may shortly succeed in making an artificial organism. He Academicians say the digital di- the teaching as well. what a student learns from pre- by any new mode of teaching. attempted to allay the fears of critics, who worry that artificial life such as ONLINE TEACHING vide may turn on-line classes into A large majority of parents are scribed textbooks. No instructional Classroom is live and the atmos- bacteria might escape into the environment and cause unpredictable GETS A FILLIP IN an operational nightmare. Due to out of sync with the online teach- technology or material has been de- phere therein also helps develop a consequences, or be used to make military bioweapons. The former Covid-19, a tendency is spreading ing system. They are basically veloped to replace group activities student’s personality in immense eventuality has been called bioerror by the astronomer Sir Martin Rees, the THESE COVID across the country towards digi- handicapped in information tech- or student’s learning from the Labs. ways. It also instills discipline in president of the Royal Society. Other critics object on religious grounds, tal teaching-learning though its nology (IT), computers, internet The topics discussed in the class- group behaviour. arguing that scientists ought not to “play God” by such experiments.The TIMES, BUT IT HAS feasibility is weak, and more so in etc, and these are the ones whose room makes the class At the same time, there is merit term synthetic biology was first applied to this field of research in 2003 but is ITS SERIOUS rural areas. There is a growing first priority and day’s sole obses- vibrant.Teachers as well as stu- in the argument that online classes only slowly becoming known to the general public. A researcher is a tendency to use the teaching Apps, sion is to work and ensure there is dents miss-a lot if there is no face- will in future be the norm rather synthetic biologist, a term that may make the humorists among us smile. LIMITATIONS E- learning tools, video confer- fire in the family hearth. to-face interaction as in a tradi- than an exception. That’s part of hu- encing facility etc, but all these ac- Online learning is just like build- tional classroom. A teacher in a manity’s constant catch-up and cessories have ultimately proven to ing castles in the air, many still classroom can do miracles, and adaptations with new technology. Syzygy be less acceptable, set against the feel. It is proven in a research stud- able to motivate all learners as per What is important is to attune chil- traditionaland live classroom teach- ies that students enrolled in distance their capacity; instantly so. This is dren’s mind to new ways of learn- f you look up at the sky and see the full moon, you’re witnessing an ing, which involves a good amount learning aremanaging themselves impossible in digital teaching. It in- ing. This takes time and cannot be Iexample of syzygy.From our point of view, the Sun is then on the opposite of student-teacher interaction, and to be average performers, and are flicts a process of participation in done in a huff, as the pandemic side of the sky to the moon, and so is said to be in opposition to it. The three a charm of its own. a step or two below the students in learning, physical proximity; and has forced the society to do in these are also in syzygy at new moon, this time with the moon and the Sun It’s a fact that teachers are being regular classrooms. Apparently, face-to-face interaction can at- critical times. apparently next to each other in the sky — a state called conjunction. locked out of their virtual classes online teaching in the context of tribute the best in the students. The author is a former fac- Halfway between these states, when the moon is half full, the sun and moon by tech – expert students and it’s also Covid-19 can’t give any benefit to A teacher in physics or chemistry ulty at the Regional Institute are in quadrature. “Spring tides form during syzygy (full and new moon), true for the teachers that they don’t good and proficient students. might not be feeling as comfort- of Education (NCERT), whereas neap tides form during quadrature (the waxing and waning phases have any tool to check whether the Online resources can’t supple- able in an online class just as he or Bhubaneswar. of the moon).” -- Science, 5 Jul. 1996.The word appeared in English in the 17th Century, and at first could apply only to conjunctions. It comes via late Latin from the Greek suzugia, which derives from suzugos, yoked or paired. It was not until a century later that its meaning was extended to cover Bad deal to the old Youths, work astronomical opposition, in defiance of its etymology.Syzygy has a variety of other meanings in mathematics, poetry and zoology, all of them developed Sir, Traditionally,India has been home to elderly people who are treated with Sir, Most of the youths have returned to their homes from the idea of things being joined together. For example, “As a soldier reverence in the family as also in the society.But, with the passage of time,the from other states after the eruption of the Covid cri- studies his guns, and a dentist his tools, so a writer must study the laws of etters table seems to have been turned against them. Even after contributing immensely sis. Now, earning money and getting daily job is too dif- rhythm, accent, phrasing, alliteration, phonetic syzygy, run-on and double- to the development process in the prime of their youth,they not only neglected ficult for these men and women in Odisha. The central ending lines, rhyme, and, last but not least, the melodies of common in the very social edifice in old age.Family members apart,the society too starts government has declared many plans and policies to speech.” --The World’s Best Books, by Frank Parsons, 1893.Phonetic syzygy is TOL THE EDITOR looking down on them. Governmental measures for their safety and security deal with the financial crisis, but the ordinary man is a little like alliteration, in that a consonant is repeated throughout a passage. Readers of Orissa POST helps, but these are too little. Many old men and women are dumped in old- not getting much of these benefits. It is very difficult are most welcome to contribute letters age homes. They are now hard-hit by the slashing of various interest rates for an ordinary citizen to get loans from banks for any (200 words), articles and by banks, by way of reducing the income on their life's savings.Added to this project, while the cash chests of PSBs are wide open columns (between 750-1250 LOL words). Contributors are predicament,they have to cough up huge taxes on the interests earned on fixed to the rich and the influential to engage in outright loot requested to send their deposits.These double-edged government policies require reconsideration. The via the system of loans. The state should engage youths contact numbers and full tax rate slabs in the graded structure of senior citizens must be suitably re- in rural areas by providing them opportunities in agri-

postal address/email ID. They may also vised to give adequate relief to these people. It needs mention that, among the culture, animal husbandry, horticulture, fishing, farm-

k y m BABY send in their valuable comments, opinion c and suggestions, preferably by email, population of more than one billion, senior citizens account for 8.6 per cent. house, and small business, all depending on local con- t the chapel, a three-year-old boy Woman: to: [email protected] Can this segment be allowed to languish simply because they have grown in ditions. Banks must change their ways and help the nation Asits near a pregnant woman. Sure, the baby age? Besides, observing occasions such as Senior Citizens Day carries no sig- and its people. Only then can the development process Boy: You look so fat! isfine, a very good nificance at all in the present grim context they are in. be facilitated. Woman: I have a baby inside me. baby. B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, Boy: Oh My God, how the baby inside? Boy: And you ate it! My God! Bhubaneswar-751010 Sanjib Das, CUTTACK Santosh Kumar Mohanty, CUTTACK BIHAR PUNJAB P7

FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m c The deluge in Bihar worsens CONG ‘BALANCING’ CASTE EQUATIONS BEFORE POLLS OVER 38 LAKH PEOPLE OF THE STATE AFFECTED, 11 PEOPLE DEAD SO FAR TWO DAYS AGO, THE AGENCIES PARTY TRIED TO GIVE Patna, July 30: The flood havoc in Bihar is continuously worsening as A MESSAGE TO people in 12 districts are bearing the STRENGTHEN THE brunt of floods due to overflow in almost all major rivers and tribu- CASTE MATRIX taries in the state. Over 38 lakh peo- THROUGH ple of the state are affected by the floods, while 11 people have died NOMINATION OF so far in various incidents. DISTRICT PRESIDENTS Meanwhile, the government is claiming relief and rescue work is on. AGENCIES The report of the Department of Water Resources states that Kosi Patna, July 30: Almost all parties has a trend of increasing the water have started preparations for the Policemen stand guard in the premises of Gyan Bhawan ahead of the mon- level. The water level of Kosi near likely Assembly election in Bihar soon session of the two houses of Bihar legislature, which will be held from Veerpur Barrage was 1.83 lakh this year. The Congress, which is fac- August 3 in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, in Patna, Thursday. The four-day cusecs at 6 am Thursday, which • Water level of Kosi near ing allegations of neglecting the session of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council will be con- has increased to 1.86 lakh cusecs. Veerpur barrage increases A young girl teaches flood-affected children near their makeshift backward community within the ducted on separate floors of the Gyan Bhawan at the Samrat Ashok International Water level of the Gandak river re- to 1.86 lakh cusecs from homes along a road on NH-77, at Mithan Sharay in Muzaffarpur district party, is now engaged in balanc- Convention Centre REPRESENTATIVE PIC mains stable. The drainage of 1.83 lakh cusecs ing the caste equations. Gandak has reached 1.91 lakh cusecs affected by the floods. About 38 lakh He said that teams of NDRF and Two days ago, the Congress tried Paswan have been given the re- at 8 am at Balmikinagar Barrage. • Water level of the Gandak population in these areas have been SDRF have so far evacuated more to give a message to strengthen the sponsibility of acting president. Almost all the rivers of the state river remains stable affected by the floods. than three lakh people trapped in caste matrix through nomination A Congress leader also accepts are flowing above the danger mark. • Almost all the rivers of the He claimed that 19 relief camps the floods. of district presidents. The this, saying on condition of Ganga, Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, have been opened in these areas, Due to floods, the problems of party tried to appease anonymity, “While the state are flowing above the While Kamala Balan and Mahananda are danger mark where more than 25,000 people are people have increased in the flood- Muslim voters by nom- Congress has tried to flowing above the danger mark in staying. Apart from this, a total of affected areas. People are leaving inating Parvez Alam the Congress help the upper many areas. 989 community kitchens are being their homes and taking shelter on as the president in has tried to help the caste and upper caste and Muslim Additional Secretary of Disaster 901 panchayats of 102 run in the flood-affected areas, in the roofs of pucca houses or other Bhagalpur district, Muslim com- Management department which more than five lakh people high places. The situation in while in the same communities through the munities blocks in 12 districts of nomination of these leaders, Ramchandra Do said that 901 pan- Bihar have been are getting food daily. Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, district, nomi- through the Campaign Committee meeting in chayats of a total of 102 blocks of He said that NDRF and SDRF Gopalganj, East Champaran nated Abhyanand the backward community nomination of the past, in front of several senior affected by the floods 12 districts of Bihar have teams are doing relief and rescue is quite grim. Jha and Vipin within the party itself has these leaders, leaders, who accused him of ne- been RAMCHANDRA DO | ADDITIONAL work in all flood-affected districts. Bihari Yadav as rebelled and it has also the backward glecting the backwards in the party. SECY, DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPT executive presi- started pacifying the community After this, the head of the election dent, in a nod to the voices within the party campaign committee and Rajya upper caste and back- CONG LEADER | ON CONDITION itself has re- Sabha MP Akhilesh Singh also had wards. OF ANONYMITY belled and it to come forward and he said that the Similarly, while the re- has also Congress respects all communi- sponsibility of Sheikhpura dis- started trying to pacify the ties and will take care of them. trict has been given to Sundar voices.” Kailash Pal expressed satisfaction Sahni, the leadership of Patna city Four of these nominated leaders over the preference of all the com- has been handed over to Sashiranjan have previously been in the Youth munities in the nomination of the Yadav. In addition, the Congress Congress. district presidents and said that has made Sridhar Tiwari acting It is noteworthy that Kailash Pal, this is a good initiative. He said, People use boats to move across a flooded Houses are submerged in floodwaters following heavy president in Bhojpur district, while who was the state vice-president “This is a good start. What else do village in East Champaran monsoon rain, in Gopalganj district FILE PHOTOS Satish Kumar is president of of the Congress, had resigned from we want in Congress? We only want Nawada district, and Bengali all posts in the Congress Election social justice in the party.” Plasma will be provided Punjab may not go Centre’s way CM Amarinder Singh including wearing of masks and free of cost: Punjab CM UNLOCK 3.0 social distancing, to check the says he will take a final spread of the pandemic. Expert K.K. Talwar pointed out Contrary to the CM, state decision on this and that scientific data show that wear- AAP president Bhagwant other relaxations after ing of masks is as effective as lock- Mann said the party down, as it not only prevents the receiving DCs’ inputs spread of infection but also low- would not allow the ers mortality. government to sell the AGENCIES Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta informed the meet- donated plasma to Chandigarh, July 30: Punjab ing that from March 23 to July 29, private hospitals for to buy or sell plasma. tals for Rs 20,000 per unit. “We Chief Minister Amarinder Singh a total of 14,384 FIRs have been reg- The Chief Minister also appealed strongly oppose the open ‘loot’ by Thursday sought the views of the istered and 19,850 people have been `20,000 per unit to the recovered patients to come for- the government allowing sale of ‘do- Deputy Commissioners on open- arrested for various violations. ward to save the lives of others. nated’ plasma at a price. We will ing of gyms and coaching cen- Expressing grave concern over AGENCIES He urged the Deputy hold peaceful and symbolic protests tres. He said that he will take a final Commissioners to think through would be explored before a decision the increasing mortality, the Chief Commissioners and health de- against this decision on Friday all decision on this and other relax- and submit their views to Chief can be taken. Minister called for concerted efforts Chandigarh, July 30: With the partment officials, during a Covid across Punjab, strictly observing ations under Unlock 3.0 after re- Secretary Vini Mahajan, following Taking serious note of reports to bring down the fatality rate. main opposition AAP announcing management virtual review meet- the essential safety corona stipula- ceiving their inputs. which a final decision will be taken of violation of social distancing Punjab has so far lost 361 lives statewide protests against the de- ing, to motivate such patients to tions,” Mann said in a statement. At a review meeting on Covid- by the government after due de- and other Covid protocols by some to the virus, with 25 people suc- cision to sell ‘donated’ plasma to pri- donate plasma. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister 19 containment and management liberations. shopkeepers, the Chief Minister cumbing to the deadly disease vate hospitals, Punjab Chief Currently, there are around 10,000 asked the Health Department to arrangements, the Chief Minister Underlining the need for strict directed the Deputy since Wednesday night, he pointed Minister Amarinder Singh recovered virus patients in the expedite setting up of two new said that while the Central gov- enforcement in view of the in- Commissioners to order shut- out, adding that this was not ac- Thursday said it would be provided state, he said, adding that his gov- plasma banks at Amritsar and ernment had announced certain creasing number of Covid-19 cases down of shops for three days in ceptable. free of cost to all the Covid patients ernment’s priority was to save each Faridkot towns to supplement the relaxations, including permission in Punjab, the Chief Minister said case of first offence and for a The Deputy Commissioners of who need it. and every life in Punjab. one already operational in Patiala. to reopen gyms, under the Unlock that while there was a lot of de- higher number of days on sub- some of the worst affected dis- An official statement quoting Contrary to the Chief Minister, He was informed by Minister 3.0 guidelines, he will decide on the mand from youngsters for opening sequent violations. tricts – Amritsar, Jalandhar, Singh said he has directed au- state AAP president Bhagwant O.P. Soni that the approvals for the matter after an assessment of the of both gyms and coaching centres, He further asked the Deputy Patiala and Mohali – briefed the thorities to strictly ensure Covid pa- Mann said the party would not new banks had already been re- ground situation. the modalities would have to be Commissioners to strictly enforce meeting on the situation in their tients are not charged for plasma allow the government to sell the ceived and tenders were being floated He asked the Deputy thought through and all options all safety protocols and norms, respective regions. therapy and that nobody is allowed donated plasma to private hospi- for procurement of equipment. OPEN YOUR EYES TO SECESSIONIST Parties rush to bank in on Sushant’s death THREAT: AMARINDER BLASTS BADAL AS THE BIHAR ASSEMBLY POLLS NEAR, THE DEATH OF THE FILM ACTOR SEEMS TO GATHER POLITICAL ATTENTION SAD chief accuses state police of misusing anti-terror law and arresting Sikh youth AGENCIES nored. The actor was found hang- ing from the ceiling of his Bandra “indiscriminately” for “minor misdemeanours” Patna, July 30: The Maharashtra residence June 14. We raised the demand (CBI enquiry) government’s refusal to hand The RJD, senior alliance part- AGENCIES as part of India.” shortly after Rajput’s tragic death, over to CBI the investigation into ner of the Congress in Bihar, Welcoming the UK’s statement, when actor Shekhar Suman had actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s claimed it was the first political Chandigarh, July 30: Punjab the CM expressed surprise that come from Mumbai and was refused death met with strong disap- party to have demanded a CBI in- Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Badal continues to turn a “blind appointment by Chief Minister proval from across the political quiry into the actor’s death. Thursday tersely told SAD chief eye” to the threat posed by Pakistan- Nitish Kumar with whom he wanted spectrum in Bihar Thursday. The RLSP, a junior partner of Sukhbir Singh Badal to open his backed SFJ, and other terrorist to share some startling observations Parties sympathetic as well the Congress-RJD combine, eyes to the secessionist threat of and radical forces working to desta- as hostile to the Shiv Sena-NCP- termed as hasty the stance anti-Indian forces instead of in- bilise India, particularly Punjab. TEJASHWI YADAV | RJD LEADER Congress combine in adopted by the Maharashtra dulging in “political theatrics” “Can’t he (Badal) see that the Maharashtra were unanimous home minister. over the alleged misuse of anti- arrests under the UAPA which he It should be understood that the in criticising its Home Minister The JD(U), which is headed terror law UAPA. is opposing are part of the state sentiments of 13 crore people of Anil Deshmukh’s assertion that Police, it should be extended all in TV interviews that the Mumbai by Kumar, came out with a The Chief Minister made the government’s strategy to combat Bihar, besides that of millions of there is no need to transfer the possible cooperation, he said. Police has been trying to derail guarded statement. cutting retort days after Badal ac- this threat?” Singh asked. Rajput’s fans across the country are case to the central probe agency. But if they want a CBI inquiry, the investigation. The party expressed hope that cused the state police of misusing The CM said it was unfortunate involved in the case The deceased actor’s family that sentiment should be re- He has claimed that the fam- the Maharashtra government the anti-terror law and arresting that instead of playing the role of MADHAW ANAND | NATIONAL GENERAL SECY, RLSP is yet to disclose in public what spected as well, he added. ily members had told a top will appreciate the right of the Sikh youth “indiscriminately” for a constructive opposition in the they think of handing over the The lawyer of the actor’s fam- Mumbai police official way back actor’s family and fans to know “minor misdemeanours”. state, the SAD was “wasting” it’s It is the prerogative of Maharashtra case to the CBI. ily, Vikas Singh, who practices at in February that Rajput faced the complete truth about his The Chief Minister hit back at time with its “baseless charges” government to hand over the case Bihar MLC and AICC media the Supreme Court, has alleged a threat to his life, which was ig- death and instruct its police to SAD chief while welcoming the and comments.

panelist Prem Chandra Mishra conduct the investigation ac- UK’s rejection, after Canada, of He reminded the SAD chief of

k y m to the CBI not. But the fact remains c that 40 days of investigation by the said the investigation by the That it took the Bihar police to lodge an FIR under IPC cordingly. the pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for his earlier offer to look into any Mumbai police had led nowhere, a Mumbai Police has left many sections since the Mumbai police had merely registered JD(U) ally BJP reacted with Justice’s ‘Referendum 2020’, with case of misuse of the Unlawful loopholes. outrage and accused the Shiv a categorical statement that “it is Activities (Prevention) Act and reason why the bereaved family a UD (unnatural death) case proves that Maharashtra’s The bereaved family has lodged Sena, the Congress and NCP of not involved in any way in this un- wrongful arrest under the same if lodged an FIR in Patna ruling dispensation was engaged in an eyewash an FIR in Patna and if they have “harbouring friendships with official and non-binding referen- Badal brings any such incident NIKHIL ANAND | SPOKESMAN, BIHAR-BJP RAJIV RANJAN PRASAD | SPOKESMAN, JD(U) trust in a probe by the Patna Bollywood mafias.” dum…and considers Indian Punjab to his notice. P8 TN EXTENDS LOCKDOWN FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR Most of the ventilators are Tamil Nadu Chief Minister being made within the K. Palaniswami Thursday country now. India is announced the extension of supplying hydroxychloroquine Covid-19 lockdown till August drug to nearly 150 countries 31, with certain relaxations in y national HARSH VARDHAN | MINISTER OF HEALTH the existing restrictions

AND FAMILY WELFARE

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of the day uote HC sends notice HERD IMMUNITY NOT AN OPTION: GOVT to Raj Speaker The Sushant INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Bhushan said that as many as one Singh Rajput million people have recovered till PRESS TRUST OF INDIA death case is OVER 50,000 NEW CORONA CASES New Delhi, July 30: The Union now and the recovery rate is in- getting murkier. I New Delhi: India Thursday reported more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases for think there should Health Ministry Thursday said that creasing. "In April first week, the Jaipur, July 30: The Rajasthan herd immunity cannot be a strategic rate of recovery was 7.85 per cent, the first time, driven by a surge in infections in rural areas at a time when the gov- High Court on Thursday issued no- be a CBI probe into ernment is further easing curbs on movement and commerce. There were 52,123 option in a nation the size of India in June, it increased to 48.31 per tices to the speaker and secretary the matter to ensure new cases in the previous 24 hours, according to federal health data, taking the justice for the bereaved family and this can only be achieved through cent and 64.44 per cent in July. total number of infections to almost 1.6 million. Some 775 people died of COVID- of the state legislative assembly and immunisation in the future. Recoveries are 1.9 times the num- six MLAs, who contested elections MAYAWATI | BSP PRESIDENT related conditions over the same period, raising total deaths now just under Addressing a press conference, ber of active cases." 35,000 - low compared to the total number of cases, but showing little sign of on BSP tickets and then defected Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan As many as 16 states and UTs slowing. While major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai have seen their cases ease, to the Congress. Cases lodged said: "Herd immunity is an indi- have a recovery rate more than the infections in rural areas are continuing to rise sharply, alarming experts who fear against 150 rect protection from a disease. In a national average of 64.44 per cent. weak healthcare systems there will be unable to cope. The court heard the people for country the size of India, it cannot at a time India has logged over 15 Highest number of recovered pa- arguments Wednesday, allegedly attacking be a strategic choice or option. It can lakh coronavirus cases and con- tients are in Delhi, Ladakh, Haryana, rate. "In June, it was 3.33 per cent the lowest in the world as compared a police station, only be achieved through immuni- tinues to have the fastest growth rate Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and now it is 2.21 per cent and is con- to the developed western countries which remained after a key was sation but that is in the future." of infection. and Gujarat. Besides this, there is tinuously decreasing." or neighbourhood countries." inconclusive jabbed into a man's He said that the ministry, too, The Ministry again reiterated a decrease in the percentage of ac- "If compared to other countries, Bhushan said that testing forehead by a policeman, will be believes that the herd immunity is that there is no community spread tive cases and deaths due to Covid- the case fatality rate is 2.21 per cent. infrastructure has also increased and the hearing withdrawn far in the future and hence, it is in the country, and that there are 19, the Health Secretary said, adding Barring Russia, all the major coun- and almost one crore tests resumed Thursday TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT | UTTARAKHAND important to adopt Covid appro- merely clusters of cases and pock- that effective clinical management tries have a case fatality rate six- were conducted in the span of CHIEF MINISTER priate behaviour. The remarks came ets of localised transmission. has led to the decrease in case fatality seven times more than India. It is the last one month. The court issued the notices while hearing the writ petitions After the assembly filed by the Bahujan Samaj Party session was FESTIVE FEVER (BSP) and BJP MLA Madan Four Covid patients Dilawar against the six lawmak- announced, the rates of horse ers defecting to the Congress. "The trading have notices have been issued to the increased. Earlier, speaker and secretary of the the first instalment was of `10 crore booked for spitting Assembly and six MLAs. They and second was of have to submit their replies by `15 crore. Now it has become INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE August 11," a counsel for Dilawar unlimited and all know who is doing told reporters here. horse-trading Agartala, July 30: Four COVID- In his petition, Dilawar has also ASHOK GEHLOT | RAJASTHAN CM 19 patients were booked after they challenged the speaker's July 24 de- allegedly abused and spat on a cision to reject his complaint filed woman doctor at a health facility in March against the BSP MLAs here, police said Thursday. joining the Congress. SHORT TAKES A police official said that the four The bench of Justice Mahendra accused, who have recovered from A police official said that Kumar Goyal issued the notices Hardik appointed the disease, will be arrested after the the four accused, who while hearing the petitions. completion of their seven-day in- have recovered from the Separate notices have been issued PS to PM stitutional quarantine period. on the petitions. New Delhi: Gujarat cadre "Some coronavirus patients last disease, will be arrested The court heard the arguments Indian Administrative Service week spat at and aggressively after the completion on Wednesday, which remained (IAS) official Hardik abused West Tripura District Health inconclusive, and the hearing re- Satishchandra Shah was Surveillance Officer Sangita of their seven-day sumed on Thursday. The next hear- Thursday appointed as the Chakraborty at a Covid care cen- institutional ing in the matter is on August 11. Private Secretary to Prime tre in Agartala when she had gone The merger of the BSP MLAs Minister Narendra Modi on there on Friday to admit five women quarantine period with the Congress was a boost for co-terminus basis. At who had given birth to babies a the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan present, Shah, a 2010 batch day before," the police officer said. Welfare Department Director Radha government as the tally of the official, is the Deputy Chakraborty also told the media: Debbarma said that the appropri- ruling party increased to 107 in the Secretary in the Prime "One of the patients rinsed his ate authority would take stern ac- People buy flowers on the eve of Varalakshmi Vratam festival in Bangalore, Thursday PTI PHOTO 200-member House. Minister's Office. mouth and spat on my head from tion against the accused persons. the roof of the Covid care centre, Stating that Chakraborty, a young forcing me to rush inside the cen- doctor, worked hard to take care of Premises of ex-IITM tre." She said they had reached the COVID-19 and other patients, care centre with a health depart- Debbarma said: "We will not tolerate CBI BOOKS FOUR NAVY OFFICERS scientist raided ment team and police personnel any unruliness in the health in- New Delhi: The Central Bureau to admit the new patients when a stitutions and Covid care centres." PRESS TRUST OF INDIA till Wednesday midnight and re- money which led to pecuniary gain ration of the bills i.e. approvals, fi- of Investigation (CBI) group of people, men and women, Demanding 'exemplary punish- sulted in the recovery of `10 lakh to themselves," according to the nancial sanction, purchase orders, Thursday carried out searches obstructed and falsely claimed that ment', the All Tripura Government New Delhi, July 30: The CBI car- cash, they said. CBI FIR. receipt vouchers, etc. are available at several locations in there were no vacant beds in the cen- Doctors' Association (ATGDA) gen- ried out searches at 28 locations Captain Atul Kulkarni, The bills were allegedly raised be- at HQ," the CBI FIR said. Maharashtra's Mumbai and tre. eral secretary Rajesh Choudhury across four states after registering Commanders Mandar Godbole and tween January and March in 2016 The Navy had introduced a Pune after it registered a case "When requested by the other said they had raised the issue with a case against four Navy officers for R P Sharma, and Petty Officer LOG at the Western Naval Command in Financial Information System (FIS) against a former scientist and doctors and nurses to return to higher authorities, including Sanjay allegedly siphoning off `6.76 crore (F&A) Kuldeep Singh Baghel al- Mumbai for supplying informa- in 2012 for budget monitoring and ex-officials of the Indian their beds, some of them started ag- Kumar Rakesh, Additional Chief by generating fake bills for pur- legedly prepared seven fraudulent tion technology and networking ensuring authenticity of the bills Institute of Tropical itating using filthy language, spat Secretary (in-charge of the Health ported supply of IT hardware to bills of `6.76 crore, they said. related hardware. submitted. All bills bear a unique Meteorology (IITM). The CBI at me and threatened to touch me and Family Welfare Department). the Western Naval Command, of- "All these accused naval offi- "None of the items mentioned FIS number. The bills of any work has named then scientist and infect me with coronavirus," the "If they failed to take any action, ficials said on Thursday. cers abused their official position in the bills were supplied to HQ, executed by the naval authorities Gurfan Beig, then senior health officer said. we would take appropriate legal The searches in Delhi, Mumbai, to defraud the naval authorities WNC (Western Naval Command). are first entered on the FIS, thus gen- technical officer IITM staff Tripura Health and Family steps," Choudhury said. Gujarat and Karnataka continued and rob the exchequer of public No documents pertaining to prepa- erating a FIS number. Vipin Mali, Anil Chandrakant, Managing Director of Mumbai- based Video Wall India Pvt Ltd, Director of the company SOMEN MITRA Manisha Anil Girkar and other MP WOMAN PUNISHED unknown public servants PASSES AWAY India rejects China’s claim under several sections of the IPC and Prevention of AGENCIES FOR ALLEGED ADULTERY Corruption Act on June 30 this Australia backs India year on allegations of causing New Delhi, July 30: India Thursday INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE In the video, a woman loss to IITM. said the process for disengagement New Delhi: In veiled criticism of of troops in eastern Ladakh has China over the border row in Jhabua, July 30: In a bizarre in- is seen carrying her not yet been completed though eastern Ladakh, Australia cident, a woman resident of husband on her One arrested some progress was made, an as- Thursday said it opposes any Ranwas village under Para police sertion that came two days after attempts to unilaterally alter the post in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, shoulders and walking for cheating China claimed frontline troops of be meeting in the "near future" to status quo along the Line of was forced to carry her husband around the village the two countries have "completed" work out steps to complete the Actual Control (LAC) as it will on her shoulders as a punish- New Delhi: The Delhi Police this exercise at most locations along process of disengagement. "As we only serve to increase tension ment for her alleged illicit rela- claimed to have solved a case their border. have stated earlier, the mainte- and the risk of instability. tions with another man. on her shoulders and move of cheating with the arrest of Australian High Commissioner INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE China had also said that the sit- nance of peace and tranquility in The video of the incident has around the village. A case has one person in Surat, Gujarat. Barry O'Farrell also said According to the police, a uation on the ground was eas- the border areas is the basis of our Australia remains deeply gone viral on the social media. In been registered against seven retired school vice-principal Kolkata, July 30: Veteran ing."There has been some progress bilateral relationship," Srivastava concerned by "actions" in the the video, a woman is seen car- persons on the complaint of the was duped of `1,05,000 from Congress leader and West Bengal made towards this objective but said. South China Sea and that it rying her husband on her shoul- woman. The police said an in- his pension account. A person, Pradesh Congress Committee the disengagement process has yet "Therefore, we expect that the rejected China's "unlawful ders and walking around the vil- vestigation is underway and ap- posing as an executive officer (WBPCC) president Somen Mitra not been completed," Ministry of Chinese side will sincerely work maritime claims" in the region. lage. The woman's husband had propriate action will be taken of Paytm, asked him on phone died at a city hospital early External Affairs(MEA) spokesper- with us for complete disengage- Referring to the situation in accused his wife of having an once it concludes. to share his card number and Thursday. He was 78. son Anurag Srivastava told an on- ment and de-escalation and full eastern Ladakh, he said Australia extra-marital affair with another No arrests have been made in four-digit card verification Mitra was hospitalised here line media briefing when asked restoration of peace and tranquil- "urges" restraint along the LAC, man. A panchayat was called the case so far. This is the second value (CVV) for updating his with increased creatinine level, about the Chinese claim on Tuesday. ity in the border areas at the ear- and supports continued moves and it was decided that the woman such incident in Jhabua in the Paytm KYC (know your fever and respiratory troubles. He also said the senior com- liest as agreed to by the Special towards de-escalation. will have to carry her husband past one month. customer) details, in Jamia He was undergoing dialysis. manders of the two militaries will Representatives," he added. Nagar of southeast Delhi. According to sources, Mitra was During the investigation, admitted to an Intensive Care details of bank account, Unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Paytm, mobile phone and IP south Kolkata. Though his health address of transaction were condition slightly deteriorated Lab technician held for taking vaginal swab for Covid test collected and the district on Monday night but later it got cyber cell team succeeded in tracing the accused Abdur stable after treatment at the hos- INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE others to the TCTL for a corona and 376. He will not be spared. This Rehman, 32, in Surat. pital. He was responding to the test. After the test, the technician is shocking that such an incident can treatment well. Amravati (Maharashtra), July 30: - identified as Alpesh A. Deshmukh, take place in a district which gave Sources said Covid-19 tests In a shocking development, a gov- 30 - called up the woman to inform India its first woman President were also done on Mitra and the ernment hospital lab technician her that the Covid test was posi- (Pratibha Patil)," Thakur said in a Sonia hospitalised test report was negative. allegedly took a vaginal swab from tive and she was required to un- statement. New Delhi: Congress "Saddened to hear about the pass- a woman for conducting a Covid-19 dergo another test - a vaginal swab. Strongly condemning the inci- president Sonia Gandhi was ing away of veteran leader, for- test, officials said Thursday. He has "When she asked whether there dent, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade admitted to Sir Ganga Ram mer MP and Indian National now been arrested for molestation are any female technicians for the President Trupti Desai said besides Hospital Thursday for routine Congress West Bengal president and rape. second test, the accused replied in the first women President, Amravati tests, hospital authorities Somen Mitra. My deepest con- The incident occurred on Tuesday, the negative, but allowed her to district has a woman Minister and said. She was admitted to the dolences to his family, followers when the 23-year-old complainant bring a female companion if she Guardian Minister, and woman MP private facility here at 7 pm and well-wishers," Chief Minister had gone for a Covid test at the wanted," said Wanjari. Deshmukh Navneet Kaur-Rana, which made it y for "routine tests and Mamata Banerjee tweeted. Trauma Care Testing Lab of the took the swab and later informed her all the more shocking, and won-

investigations", the hospital Mitra took charge as the state Badnera government hospital in that the test was negative, which "She immediately lodged a com- Development Yashomati Thakur - dered what will be situation else-

k y m c said in a health bulletin. "Her Congress chief in 2018 and played the district, said Investigating Officer aroused suspicions in her mind. plaint and we arrested the accused. who is also Guardian Minister of where. condition is currently stable," a crucial role in forging an elec- Punjab Wanjari. The woman subsequently con- He was produced before a court Amravati district - demanding the "This is a sheer atrocity on the dig- Dr D S Rana, the chairman of toral understanding between the The woman, a mall employee, fided in her brother, who enquired and has been remanded to police cus- most stringent punishment for the nity of a woman. We urged the gov- the Board of Management of Left parties and Congress in the turned out to be a contact of a col- with a doctor and confirmed that tody till July 31," Wanjari said. accused. ernment to immediately clear the the hospital, was quoted as 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This was his league who tested Covid-19 posi- there are no vaginal swab tests in- The incident sparked off a furore "The accused technician has been proposed Disha Law to deter such saying in the bulletin. third stint as Bengal PCC chief. tive, and was sent along with 20 volved for Covid. with Maharashtra Women & Child booked under IPC's Sections 354 culprits," Desai said. Millions have lost their HONING SKILLS P9 jobs or livelihood in FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR the last 12 months. The collapse Teachers of Delhi government schools will now be of two major industries - able to enhance their skills in the English language telecom and aviation - will cost with the help of the US Embassy. The Delhi many more thousands of direct government has launched an online professional and indirect jobs development programme for English teachers in y P CHIDAMBARAM | government schools in partnership with the Regional

national FORMER UNION FINANCE MINISTER English Language Office (RELO) of the US Embassy

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of the day uote SUSHANT CASE Three Assam Rifles soldiers killed All my love INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE and support to A senior government family and Bihar govt files New Delhi, July 30: Three Assam officer said that a group friends of Somen Mitra at this difficult Rifles personnel were killed and of 15 soldiers were time. We will five injured in an ambush near remember him with India-Myanmar border at Chandel returning from an area love, fondness and respect caveat in SC area in Manipur Wednesday night. dominance patrol at A senior government officer said RAHUL GANDHI | CONGRESS LEADER that a group of 15 soldiers were re- Khongtal in Chandel turning from an area dominance pa- area when an It is a moment trol at Khongtal in Chandel area of proud when an improvised explosive de- improvised explosive privilege that vice exploded. Thereafter they came device exploded the sacred soil from under heavy fire from the mem- the auspicious bers of an insurgent group. Rudreshwar Temple "On 29 July, 2020, an area domi- Salim. The five jawans who sus- comprises of Indian Army soldiers basis, is that impeding the progress - Harvalem, Sankhali nation patrol in Khongtal, Chandel tained "minor injuries" have been and officers and their own cadre of- of India's Act East projects has as- Goa, will be used in the foundation dist, Manipur. At 18:45 hrs the pa- shifted to the military hospital. ficials and officers. On June 23, a re- sumed weight in China's strategic of the #RamMandir at Ayodhya! I trol party got ambushed on their way The government has stated that port published by the European thinking. The influx of Chinese offered my prayers at the back," said a senior government no insurgent group has so far Foundation for South Asian Studies weapons is, accordingly, in tune Rudreshwar Temple today officer. The incident happened about claimed responsibility for the attack. (EFSAS) stated that Indian insur- with such thinking," the EFSAS PRAMOD SAWANT | GOA CHIEF MINISTER three kilometers from the India- "The local administration and in- gents from the country's north east- said. Myanmar border. They were re- telligence agencies are working to ern states, who have been sheltered In 2015, in an attack by Naga turning to their post after three identify the insurgent group which for years in Myanmar, present se- group NSCN (K), a total 18 Indian I hope that days of operation along the inter- carried out the attack on the pa- curity challenges for India. Army soldiers were killed in you (Yogi national border. trolling party," said a senior gov- "In addition to being threats to na- Chandel district of Manipur. As Adityanath) Mohan seeks to be heard before The deceased have been identified ernment officer. tional security, they are also irritants retaliation, the force had carried out will look into the Rhea moved the top court any order is passed on the plea as Havildar Pranay Kalita, Rifleman Assam Rifles, a paramilitary that impact India's Act East Policy. strikes on Myanmar hideouts of matter in a sensitive Wednesday seeking of Chakraborty, who has sought Y.M. Konyak and Rifleman Ratan way and ensure that force under Union Home Ministry, The Indian suspicion, not without the group. Dr Kafeel Khan gets transfer of an FIR from transfer of the FIR, lodged by justice Rajput's father in Patna to Patna to Mumbai, which is Mumbai. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA | CONGRESS Priyanka vacates being investigated by the Rajput, aged 34, was found IN SYNC GENERAL SECRETARY hanging from the ceiling of his Bihar police on the apartment in suburban Bandra govt bungalow allegations of Rajput's in Mumbai on June 14 and since SHORT TAKES then the Mumbai police has been INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE father that she abetted probing the case keeping in mind 'suicide' of his actor son various angles. New Delhi, July 30: Congress 10 arrested Rhea moved the top court on General Secretary Priyanka Agartala: Ten persons have PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Wednesday seeking transfer of an Gandhi Vadra vacated her gov- been arrested in connection FIR from Patna to Mumbai, ernment bungalow in south Delhi's with the gang rape of a 17- New Delhi, July 30: Bihar gov- which is being investigated by the upscale Lodhi Estate, sources said year-old girl in Tripuras ernment Thursday filed a caveat Bihar police on the allegations Thursday. Khowai district, a senior in the Supreme Court seeking of Rajput's father that she abet- A top source close to Priyanka police officer said Thursday. that it be heard before any order ted 'suicide' of his actor son. said that she has vacated the house DIG, Northern Range, is passed on the plea of actor "Let nothing be done in the at Lodhi Estate. The government Soumitra Dhar said the girl in Rhea Chakraborty seeking above matter without prior no- had asked Priyanka, who is also her complaint said that five transfer of an FIR lodged against tice to the undersigned" Rajput's party in-charge for eastern Uttar persons have raped her in a her in Patna in connection father Krishna Kishore Singh Pradesh, to vacate the bungalow jungle in Khasiamangal area with the death of actor Sushant said in his caveat filed through by August 1 as she is no more a of the district on July 21. Dhar Singh Rajput. lawyer Nitin Saluja. Special Protection Group (SPG) said the police has arrested The Bihar government moved Senior advocate Vikas Singh, protectee. 10 people including three for the top court, hours after a sim- who is the family lawyer of the Priyanka has been residing in raping the girl and the rest ilar caveat was moved by Rajput's late actor, had said Wednesday the Lodhi Estate bungalow since had either collaborated or father. Caveat is a type of peti- that Bollywood actress Rhea 1997. The bungalow has now been given shelter to the accused. tion filed to pre-empt any ex- Chakraborty's plea in the allotted to BJP Rajya Sabha MP parte order by the court on the Supreme Court seeking trans- Anil Baluni. On Sunday, Priyanka plea filed by opposite side. fer of an FIR from Patna indicates PTI PHOTO Gandhi had invited Baluni over tea, Four killed The caveat filed through Bihar that "somebody in Mumbai police but the BJP leader politely de- Mandla (MP): Four persons government counsel Keshav was helping her". Rosy pelicans swim in a pond inside an enclosure, at Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati, Thursday clined, citing health grounds. were killed after a mini-truck However, he promised the Congress collided with a cargo leader a sumptuous traditional autorickshaw in Mandla Uttarakhand meal, once he shifts district of Madhya Pradesh LAC CLASH to the bungalow. Thursday, police said. The Must resolve conflict: SC accident took place on National Highway 30 under The apex court issued notice to state governments on permission given for Ayodhya priest tests Bichhiya police station area, MARTYRS’ NAMES TO killing of large number of blue bulls (Nilgai) to stop the destruction of crops located around 55 kms from positive for corona the district headquarters, BE ON WAR MEMORIAL they said. "Three persons AGENCIES killing of wild animals. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE travelling in the cargo auto, Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, including its driver as well as New Delhi, July 30: The Supreme representing Anubhav Mohanty, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA India calling it "a premeditated Ayodhya, July 30: Acharya that of the mini-truck, died in Court Thursday said a solution contended before the bench that and planned action by China" Pradeep Das, the assistant to the the mishap," district must be found to mitigate the ani- the presence of humans in these New Delhi, July 30: The names The Chinese soldiers used chief priest of the Ram Additional Superintendent of mal-human conflict without killing areas (wildlife areas) creates prob- of 20 Indian Army personnel, stones, nail-studded sticks, iron Janmabhoomi temple, said that Police Vikram Singh animals or destruction of crops. lems and encroaching in the area who were killed after valiantly rods and clubs in carrying out he has tested positive for coro- Kushwaha said. The apex court issued notice to also creates problems. fighting Chinese troops in Galwan brutal attacks on Indian soldiers navirus. state governments on permission The petition claimed that many Valley in eastern Ladakh on June after they protested the erection Besides, 16 policemen on duty given for killing of large number state governments like Bihar, 15, will be inscribed on the of a surveillance post by China at Ayodhya, where the 'bhoomi Sisters gangraped blue bulls (Nilgai) to stop the de- Himachal Pradesh and Kerala have National War Memorial here, of- around patrolling point 14 in pujan' ceremony for the Ram Balodabazar: At least 11 struction of crops. financially incentivized the killing ficials said Thursday. Galwan Valley. temple is scheduled to be held on persons, including two minor A bench comprising Chief Justice of wild animals such as blue bulls, They said the process for in- China has not disclosed the August 5, have also tested posi- boys, have been apprehended S.A. Bobde and Justices A.S. Rhesus Macaque, wild Boar etc. scribing the names of the Army number of casualties its troops tive for Covid-19. in connection with the Bopanna and V.Ramasubramanian state governments give permission "Not only do animals and children personnel on the memorial may suffered. According to an Prime Minister Narendra alleged rape and blackmail of asked the state governments and the for killing of blue bulls, which re- suffer because of these violent ac- take a few months. Chinese and American intelligence report, Modi is expected to attend the cer- two minor sisters in petitioner, Biju Janata Dal MP sulted in shooting down as many as tions, our farmers also incur heavy Indian troops clashed in Galwan the number of casualties on the emony along with about 200 Balodabazar district of Anubhav Mohanty, to devise a so- 50 animals in a day. The bench ob- losses due to inaction of the gov- Valley for several hours on the Chinese side was 35. guests. Chhattisgarh, police said lution to the problem. served that it will take this peti- ernments. By expediting financial night of June 15 in their deadliest During a visit to Lukung for- Last Saturday, UP Chief Thursday. The incident, which The Chief Justice noted that tion along with the other petition compensation for crop damage, we brawl in the last five decades. ward post in eastern Ladakh on Minister Yogi Adityanath had had taken place on May 31 in both should be avoided neither on the brutal killing of an elephant must support our food givers," said Colonel B Santosh Babu, the July 17, Defence Minister Rajnath visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Palari police station area, killing the animals nor destruc- with explosives in pineapple. the plea. commanding officer of the 16 Singh personally conveyed his ap- complex to review preparations came to light on Wednesday tion of crops was an option. "We Mohanty had moved the apex The petition was filed in response Bihar regiment, was among the preciation and compliments to the for the August 5 event. when one of the victims must find how best animal-human court seeking action and direction to the death of a child and several Indian Army personnel killed troops from the Bihar regiment Photos and videos from the contacted the women's conflict can be controlled without challenging the practice of re- animals after practices such as in the clash. The incident sig- for displaying exemplary grit day show the Coronavirus-pos- helpline to complain about killing of animals or destruction of warding wild animal killing in snares, explosives, bomb baits, poi- nificantly escalated the border ten- and courage in fighting the itive priest Pradeep Das stand- the offence, the official said. crops," observed the bench. The the country and sought directions son baits were reported to kill wild sion in eastern Ladakh with Chinese troops. ing next to the Chief Minister The victims, aged 14 and 16, petitioner had contended that the against the indiscriminate animals. during a ritual. had stepped out for an outing with two male friends, when eight accused intercepted them on the outskirts of a village, Balodabazar superintendent of police Pandemic parents: ‘First-timers’ navigate lockdown hurdles Indira Kalyan Elesela said. The spread of COVID-19 has deprived thousands of young couples of the support system of parents, parents-in-law and even distant relatives

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA In March this year, when the cleaning all on their own, and for Like Canada-based Baanipreet Couple booked lockdown to stem the spread of the EXCITING BUT SCARY everything else there was Google. Kaur and Tanveer Singh who had Thane: A case has been New Delhi, July 30: Parenthood disease was imposed, Vinolia was Whether it was reaching out to their baby last month, without any registered against a couple in can be daunting at the best of times nine months pregnant, just days their parents through video calls for clue about the basic do’s and don'ts Maharashtra's Thane city for but when it happens for the first time away from becoming a mother. It was advice on what to eat before deliv- of looking after a new-born and allegedly cheating over six and that too in the middle of a pan- a tense, anxious and physically ex- ery and what to feed the baby or without parental help from back women of `3.42 lakh with the demic without the family-friends hausting time. watching videos about pregnancy home in India. promise of getting them jobs, support structure, well that's when "Right after conceiving we were and parenting, Google was their Banipreet said they tried every- police said Thursday. it takes on a whole new dimension told it is going to be a complicated go-to guide. thing they could to fly her parents Jitendra Chandrakant Dhotre – exciting but oh-so-scary. pregnancy and we would have to go The process of having a child in from Gurgaon, across the Atlantic and his wife Kavita had The spread of COVID-19 has de- for a caesarean delivery. So obvi- itself is trying, and the stress in- to North York, but in vain. allegedly lured women from prived thousands of young couples ously we knew we would need a lot creased exponentially due to the “The plan was that my parents poor families working with of the support system of parents, of assistance. This was our first pandemic and the lockdown. "Access would come to Canada... but the self- help groups with the parents-in-law and even distant rel- promise of getting them child and we knew nothing," Vinolia, to nutritional food like fresh veg- visa got rejected because of COVID-

better jobs, inspector A E atives who are ready with tips and who gave birth to their daughter etables and fruits became chal- 19. Two months back we applied y Kaldate of Kasarvadavali tricks to help them transition into Ruhi on April 27, said. lenging. We were always worried if again, but the application is still

parenthood. And sometimes there In a classic case of so near and anything we consumed would infect in process," the 28-year-old new

k y m police station said. The c couple would ask the victims is no domestic help either. yet so far, Vinolia's mother who us and then jeopardise the baby's mother said. Banipreet, who gave to shell out anywhere Just ask Vinolia and Ravi Sadrani, lives in another part of Mumbai health. The lack of enough knowl- birth to a son, Ranveer Singh, on between `20,000 to 55,000 a Mumbai couple who had their first couldn't come and she couldn't ity of getting some extra help from year-old said. Her mother has come edge about the spread of the virus June 2, said she was relying on her and promise to find them baby during lockdown when they go either. our parents disappear but what- to her place now but the first two was very frustrating,” Vinolia said. parents to help her navigate through work, but would later evade were not stepping out of their homes "Once the lockdown was an- ever little help we had in the form months were harrowing. It has been worse for couples with the taxing times, but had to make them, he said. and no one was coming in either. nounced, not only did the possibil- of the maid was also gone," the 29- The couple was cooking and parents in other cities and countries. do with the internet. NEPAL OPENS MT EVEREST P10 The world FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR will not allow Nepal has opened Mount Everest Beijing to treat the and other Himalayan peaks from South China Sea as its Thursday after a nearly 5-month maritime empire closure due to the COVID-19 MIKE POMPEO | US SECRETARY pandemic, according to a Tourism

international OF STATE Department official

k y m c of the day uote Lawmakers batter Big Tech CEOs Pompeo insists ‘tide The UK government THE COMPANIES FACE LEGAL AND POLITICAL OFFENSIVES ON MULTIPLE FRONTS, FROM CONGRESS, THE will not is turning’ on China hesitate to TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORS AND EUROPEAN WATCHDOGS reintroduce emergency REUTERS measures to keep AGENCIES he CEOs testified via Among the toughest questions for the country safe as COVID-19 cases Tvideo to lawmakers, at Google and Amazon involved ac- Washington, July 30: US soar in Europe Washington, July 30: times appearing together cusations that they used their dom- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Congressional lawmakers finally on the committee room inant platforms to scoop up data said Thursday the “tide is turning” MATT HANCOCK | UK HEALTH SECRETARY got a chance to grill the CEOs of Big display as tiny individual about competitors in a way that in US dealings with China, say- Tech over their dominance and al- figures in a mostly empty gave them an unfair advantage. ing there is international support Face masks legations of monopolistic practices array of squares Bezos, who was appearing before for American policies even as he will be that stifle competition. But it's not n nearly five hours of Congress for the first time, said he said he was dismayed at the num- mandatory on clear how much they advanced Itestimony and couldn't guarantee that the com- ber of countries supporting the floor of the their goal of bringing some of the questioning, however, pany had not accessed seller data Beijing’s new security law for Democtar- world's largest companies to heel. there were a few startling to make competing products, an al- Hong Kong. controlled US House Invective flew as legislators ques- revelations or striking legation that the company and its Reflecting rising tensions be- of Representatives tioned Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, confrontations executives have previously denied. tween Washington and Beijing, NANCY PELOSI | SPEAKER OF THE US HOUSE Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai “We have a policy against Pompeo took a tough line on China OF REPRESENTATIVES of Google and Tim Cook of Apple and ability to exploit this power,” by independent sellers on its plat- using seller specific data to aid in testimony before the Senate at a hearing of the House Judiciary he said. “They can charge exor- form to compete against them — our private label business,” Bezos Foreign Relations Committee. number of countries that backed subcommittee on antitrust. bitant fees, impose oppressive con- would be “unacceptable” if proven said in a response to a question “We see the Chinese Communist Beijing’s crackdown on the au- No one In nearly five hours of testi- tracts, and extract valuable data to be true. from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Party for what it is: the central tonomy of Hong Kong. expected the mony and questioning, however, from the people and businesses Outside observers were able to Washington Democrat. “But I threat of our times,” Pompeo said. Pompeo declined to directly ad- Uruguay there were few startling revelations that rely on them.” “Simply put: draw radically different conclu- can't guarantee to you that that He said other countries are sup- dress reports that Russia offered Round to be the last or striking confrontations. The They have too much power.” The sions from the event. Richard policy hasn't been violated.” porting U.S. initiatives like the bounties for killing U.S. soldiers in global trading execs provided lots of data pur- push not to use Huawei round. Over the last four CEOs command corporations Hamilton Jr., a former Justice Pichai deployed an old Afghanistan. “The proper people two decades, porting to show how much compe- whose products are woven into the Department antitrust lawyer, said Washington trick — appealing to the Technologies Co Ltd equipment have been aware of every threat to countries like China and India got a tition they face and just how valu- fabric of everyday life, with mil- that everyone on the committee specific interests of legislators. In in 5G networks and stepped-up our soldiers on the ground in lot richer, but they've refused to able their innovation and essential lions or even billions of customers, seemed to be in agreement on the his opening remarks, he touted maritime maneuvers in the South Afghanistan,” he said, in response take on any more responsibilities services are to consumers. But they and a combined market value need for tougher regulation of all Google's value to mom-and-pop China Sea. to a question from Senator Bob sometimes struggled to answer greater than the entire German four companies — an “ominous” businesses in Bristol, Rhode Island, “Our vigorous diplomacy has Menendez, the top committee CHUCK GRASSLEY | TOPUSSENATOR pointed questions about their busi- economy. sign, he said. and Pewaukee, Wisconsin, which helped lead an international awak- Democrat. ness practices. They also confronted One of them, Bezos, is the world’s But Stephen Beck, CEO of the just happen to be located in the ening to the threat of the CCP. He defended the administra- SHORT TAKES a range of other concerns about al- richest individual; Zuckerberg is the management consulting firm cg42, home districts of Cicilline and Rep. Senators, the tide is turning,” tion’s decision to remove thou- leged political bias, their effect on fourth-ranked billionaire. And they said the tech companies and their James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, Pompeo said. sands of troops from Germany. US democracy and their role in had a few rough moments. Pichai brands emerged relatively un- the panel's senior Republican. Washington and Beijing each Republican Senator Mitt Romney Fresh Covid China. The panel's chairman, Rep. and Zuckerberg, for instance, ap- scathed. In particular, he said, Cook Pichai repeatedly deflected recently closed one of the other’s said he had spoken to senior David Cicilline, a Rhode Island peared discomfited when pressed was particularly polished and well Cicilline's attacks by asserting that consulates and Pompeo recently an- German officials who considered cases in China Democrat, said each platform con- about unsavory aspects of their prepared, enabling the Apple CEO Google tries to provide the most nounced an end to Hong Kong’s spe- the withdrawal “an insult to Beijing: China's COVID-19 trolled by Facebook, Amazon, Google companies' businesses, but got to put on what Beck called "a mas- helpful and relevant information to cial trading status. Germany.” cases have crossed the 100- and Apple “is a bottleneck for a respites when their inquisitors ran ter class in terms of how to handle the hundreds of millions of people However, Pompeo also noted Pompeo was testifying publicly mark for the second key channel of distribution.” out of time. Bezos also acknowl- these situations.” Cook drew less at- who use its search engine each day the difficulty of forming an in- at a Foreign Relations Committee consecutive day, belying the “Whether they control access to edged that alleged misdeeds at tention from lawmakers than did the in an effort to keep them coming ternational alliance, given China’s hearing for the first time since hopes that the country information or to a marketplace, Amazon — such as reports that the other CEOs after arguing that Apple back instead of defecting to a rival economic strength. He said he was April 2019, discussing the State managed to contain the deadly these platforms have the incentive company has used data generated isn't dominant in any of its markets. service, such as Microsoft's Bing. “surprised and dismayed” at the Department’s budget. contagion. The National Health Commission (NHC) Thursday said that 105 new coronavirus Lee Teng-hui, cases, including 102 LIFE AMID PANDEMIC domestically transmitted ones, NASA launches Mars rover to were registered in the Taiwan’s ‘Father of country on Wednesday, mainly in the Muslim Uygur Democracy,’ dies look for signs of ancient life majority Xinjiang province which reported a sudden spike in cases. ASSOCIATED PRESS The rover will carry an experiment to test Taipei (Taiwan), July 30: Former whether carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere Taiwanese President Lee Teng- can be used to produce oxygen for possible Tropical Storm hui, who brought direct elections hits Puerto Rico and other democratic changes to human stays on the planet the self-governed island despite San Juan: Tropical Storm missile launches and other fierce ASSOCIATED PRESS Isaias was battering Puerto saber-rattling by China, has died. Rico early Thursday with high He was 97. Cape Canaveral (US), July 30: winds and heavy rains, Taipei Veterans General The biggest, most sophisticated according to the U.S. National Hospital said Lee died Thursday Mars rover ever built — a car-size Hurricane Center. Isaias was evening after suffering from in- vehicle bristling with cameras, located about 100 miles (160 fections, cardiac problems and microphones, drills and lasers kilometers) west southwest of organ failure since being hospi- — blasted off for the red planet Ponce, Puerto Rico, and about 160 miles (257 kilometers) talized in February. Thursday as part of an ambi- southeast of Santo Domingo, tious, long-range project to bring Dominican Republic. the first Martian rock samples People practice social distancing as they visit a beach during the coronavirus outbreak, in Chipiona, Spain REUTERS back to Earth to be analysed for ity's first round trip to another evidence of ancient life. planet.” “Oh, I loved it, punching NASA’s Perseverance rode a a hole in the sky, right? Getting Quake rattles mighty Atlas V rocket into a clear off the cosmic shore of our Earth, Los Angeles morning sky in the world's third wading out there in the cosmic Trump floats election ‘delay’ and final Mars launch of the ocean," he said. “Every time, it Los Angeles: A magnitude summer. China and the United gets me.” 4.2 earthquake shook the AGENCIES without evidence, repeated his Arab Emirates got a head start In addition to addressing the Los Angeles region before Lee strove to create a separate, claims of mail-in voter fraud and last week, but all three missions life-on-Mars question, the mission dawn Thursday but no non-Chinese identity for Taiwan, Washington, July 30: US President raised the question of a delay, tweet- STERN MESSAGE should reach their destination will yield lessons that could pave significant damage was angering not only China, which Donald Trump Thursday raised ing: “delay the election until people onald Trump has alleged that in February after a journey of the way for the arrival of astro- reported. The 4:29 am jolt considers the island part of its the possibility of delaying the na- can properly, securely and safely DIndia, China and Russia do not take seven months and 300 million nauts as early as the 2030s. was centered in the care of their air, while America does, northern San Fernando territory, but also members of his tion’s November 3 presidential elec- vote???” miles (480 million kilometres). The US, the only country to Nationalist Party who hoped to tion, though the Constitution be- Trump’s tweet came shortly after noting that he withdrew from the The plutonium-powered, six- safely put a spacecraft on Mars, Valley and occurred at a “one-sided, energy-destroying” Paris depth of 5.5 miles (8.9 return victorious to the mainland. stows that power on Congress, not the United States reported its worst wheeled rover will drill down is seeking its ninth successful Lee later openly endorsed for- the President. economic downturn since the Great climate accord which would have and collect tiny geological spec- landing on the planet, which has kilometers), the US made it a “non-competitive nation”. mal independence for the island The move drew immediate ob- Depression: a second-quarter crash imens that will be brought home proved to be the Bermuda Geological Survey said. A Trump, in his address on energy and magnitude 3.3 aftershock but illness in his later years jections from Democrats and it in gross domestic product due to the Permian Basin in Midland, Texas, in about 2031 in a sort of inter- Triangle of space exploration, followed. The Los Angeles prompted him to largely with- was not clear whether Trump widespread shutdowns prompted by said that by imposing these punish- planetary relay race involving with more than half of the world's Fire Department found no draw from public life. Physically was serious. the coronavirus pandemic. ing restrictions and beyond restric- multiple spacecraft and coun- missions there burning up, crash- damage or injuries in a imposing and charismatic, Lee Trump also said he would not Trump, who is trailing challenger tions – “the Washington radical-left, tries. The overall cost: more than ing or otherwise ending in fail- survey by ground and air spanned Taiwan's modern his- trust the results of an election that and former Vice President Joe crazy Democrats” would also send USD 8 billion. ure. China is sending both a rover units, a standard procedure tory and was native to the island, included widespread mail voting - Biden in opinion polls, had previ- countless American jobs, factories, NASA's science mission chief, an orbiter. The UAE, a newcomer after earthquakes in the unlike many who arrived with a measure that many election ob- ously intended to focus his re-elec- industries to China and to other Thomas Zurbuchen, pronounced to outer space, has an orbiter en nation's second-largest city. Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, at the servers see as critical given the tion bid on the nation’s economic foreign polluting states. the launch the start of “human- route. end of the Chinese civil war. coronavirus pandemic. Trump, performance. Bolsonaro RAM TEMPLE GROUNDBREAKING keeps mum Brasilia: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday attended his first public Lord Ram’s images to be displayed in Times Square event since recovering from COVID-19, though he declined to speak. Brazil's PROMINENT COMMUNITY LEADER AND PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN INDIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE JAGDISH SEWHANI WEDNESDAY SAID THAT president is typically last to ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORIC MOMENT IN NEW YORK AUGUST 5 address at the presidential palace, but Bolsonaro only PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Minister Narendra Modi is sched- which are among the most striking the Ram Temple is a dream come watched the event uled to lay the foundation stone for and popular features of Times true for all over the world. recognizing women who New York, July 30: Images of construction of the Ram Temple Square, one of the most popular Till six years back, we never thought work in rural areas around Lord Ram and 3D portraits of the in Ayodhya. tourist destinations in the world. that this day will come soon but Latin America and left the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya will Sewhani told PTI that among Sewhani said that members of the due to Modi's leadership, this day room once it ended. be beamed across the giant bill- the prominent billboards that are Indian community will also gather has come and we want to celebrate boards in the iconic Times Square being leased for the occasion are the at Times Square on August 5 to it in a befitting way,” he said, adding here on August 5 to celebrate the tem- giant Nasdaq screen and the 17,000- mark the celebration and distrib- that on August 5, images of Lord Deadliest day in Oz ple's groundbreaking ceremony, square-foot wrap-around LED dis- ute sweets. Ram will flood Times Square. with organisers describing the com- play screen, considered among the “This is not a once in a lifetime Sewhani said that the Times Canberra: Australia memoration as a one-of-a-kind and largest continuous exterior dis- or a once in a century event. This Square commemoration is being Thursday recorded its deadliest day of the COVID- historic event. plays in the world and the highest- is an event that comes once in the made possible with the help and

Prominent community leader resolution exterior LED screen in life of mankind. We had to give it support of the community and spon-

k y m 19 pandemic so far, with 13 c new deaths and a record and President of the American Times Square. a befitting celebration and what sors. Prime Minister Modi had an- 744 confirmed cases. With India Public Affairs Committee Beginning from 8 AM on August better place than the iconic Times nounced the formation of the Shri the new tallies, the total Jagdish Sewhani Wednesday said 5 till 10 PM, images of the words Square to commemorate the ‘Ram Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra number of coronavirus that arrangements are being made ‘Jai Shri Ram' in Hindi and English, Janma Bhoomi shilanyas' (ground- Trust in February. The Trust has in- cases in the country stood to celebrate the historic moment Lord Ram's portraits and videos, 3D and architecture as well as pic- tion stone by Modi will be dis- breaking ceremony). “Under Prime vited Modi to lay the foundation at 16,303, with 189 deaths. in New York August 5, when Prime portraits of the temple's design tures of the laying of the founda- played across several billboards, Minister Modi, the construction of stone of the grand Ram Temple. Recovery in the residential TIKTOK PLANS $2 BN FUND FOR CREATORS P11 market is imminent and its FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR green shoots would first emerge in the TikTok has now raised the ante in the social media affordable and mid-segments across war with a plan to offer creators $2 billion globally the top cities. More than 50% of the in next 3 years as it fights rivals like Instagram prospective homebuyers surveyed are and YouTube. The TikTok move comes after the likely to buy their dream house within media said Instagram is reportedly offering business the next six months financial incentives to some popular TikTok

RAMESH NAIR CEO COUNTRY HEAD JLL INDIA creators in a bid to make them use Reels

k y m | & , c of the day uote ODISHA ENERGY MINISTER HOLDS To revive growth, RBI While FMCG to register flat disburse- REVIEW MEETING ments across should go for further segments are expected to fall 50- POST NEWS NETWORK 60%, AUM trajectory Bhubaneswar, July 30: Nobody rate cut: Experts will differ by growth in 2020: Nielsen should be deprived from power segment. Crisil’s analysis of the largest segments of the NBFC AUM facilities as it is a basic commod- pie shows that most segments SALES IN RURAL AND ity in today’s world, said Dibya could witness contraction in the SIGNS OF Shankar Mishra, state energy current fiscal SEMI-URBAN MARKET minister.

KRISHNAN SITARAMAN | SENIOR DIR, CRISIL RECOVERY Mishra made the statement dur- BOUNCED BACK IN ing a review meeting Thursday RATINGS Nielsen expect an JUNE, BUT THE BIG uptick in demand in while briefing on the status of CITIES CONTINUED October-December electrification works in Kalahandi Cyber- quarter during the district under centrally sponsored criminals TO STRUGGLE festive seasons as food schemes like Deen Dayal capitalise on categories are Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana drive-by download expected to see a (DDUGJY) and Pradhan Mantri AGENCIES Analysts at Barclays technique to target AGENCIES higher growth Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar yojana (SAUB- the organisations HAGYA). Mumbai, July 30: The Reserve acknowledged that and end-users with New Delhi, July 30: India’s fast The MGNREGA wages Principal secretary of energy de- Bank of India (RBI) should go for high inflation is adding the objective to steal valuable moving consumer goods (FMCG) are at an all time high partment, another rate cut at next week’s pol- financial information or intellectual sector is expected to witness a flat and rural disbursement Magistrate and officials from REC icy review to revive the economy, confusion to the RBI’s property growth in 2020 following severe against the programme Limited, NTPC Limited, OPTCL, despite the surge in headline in- policy outlook but is more than double of KESHAV DHAKAD | GROUP HEAD & ASST and extended lockdowns, restric- WESCO and OREDA participated flation lately, a foreign brokerage same period last year pitched for a 0.25% cut GENERAL COUNSEL, MICROSOFT INDIA tions on manufacturing units, so- in the review meeting through said Thursday. cial distancing norms and store video conferencing. Analysts at Barclays acknowl- to generate demand closures, according to data ana- During the meeting, the energy edged that the high inflation is lytics firm Nielsen. this year," said Nielsen. see some growth. minister reviewed the detail sta- adding confusion to the RBI's pol- Coal The FMCG industry started to This is the second revision of tus of electrical infrastructure icy outlook but pitched for a 0.25% tinue easing, by cutting the repo rate companies: According to the report, the Central witness slowdown from the last the forecast by Nielsen for 2020, FMCG industry would have rural works being executed by OPTCL, cut to generate demand advising the at least 0.25% at its next policy Coalfields Ltd, week of March and got amplified amid coronavirus pandemic and dividends, which has recovered NTPC and OREDA. He requested Central Bank to "throw caution to meeting," the analysts said, ahead Bharat Coking Coal in April-May 2020 when the in- subsequent disruption in the mar- and bounced back from the COVID- for collective efforts by NTPC, the wind". The Consumer Price of the meeting of the monetary Ltd and Eastern dustry declined by 28% as com- ket and supply chain. 19 impact. WESCO and OREDA to ensure Index (CPI) based retail inflation sur- policy committee to be conducted Coalfields Ltd are pared to the same period of 2019. Nielsen had January 21, pro- "Rural India has been compara- 100% energisation of all house- passed the upper end of the RBI’s between August 4 and 6. expected to mine out 742 million This was due to massive disrup- jected a 9 to 10% growth for the tively insulated from COVID-19 so holds in Junagarh constituency by target of 6% in June. They added that the impact on MT of coal in the next 4 years in tions in production and supply FMCG industry with a "stable" out- far; however its spread is now reach- August 15 this year. As per government data, retail the activity favours more easing Jharkhand, paying revenue of chain, and low consumer confi- look on the back of favourable ing the hinterland. Having said inflation had increased to 6.09% measures rather than less, and for almost Rs 18,889 crore dence. macroeconomic factors. that, we do expect an overall posi- in June, mainly on account of having the cuts faster rather than

PRALHAD JOSHI | COAL MINISTER Though the FMCG industry has "The bellwether FMCG indus- tive uptick due to reverse migration," higher prices of food items. RBI at a deliberate pace. shown some sign of improvements try, which was trying to revive from said Nielsen. mainly factors in the retail inflation "We do not believe the argument in June, but in the first half of the a difficult 2019, had a significant hit Moreover, Mahatma Gandhi while deciding its bi-monthly mon- of saving ''ammunition'' for future year (January-June) the industry in the April-June quarter with a 17% National Rural Employment etary policy. cuts holds water, given the inher- growth slipped to negative with decline in sales value as compared Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wages The Central Bank has cut rates ent lags in transmission of policy SHORT TAKES 6% decline. to the same quarter of 2019," said are at an all time high and rural dis- by a steep 1.15% in two actions rates into lending rates," it added. "Keeping these unprecedented Nielsen. bursement against the programme (REPRESENTATIONAL PIC) since the onset of the COVID-19 Meanwhile, Singaporean lender VAT on diesel dynamics in the market, Nielsen has However, they expect an uptick is more than double of same pe- pandemic, which has adversely af- DBS Bank said it sees "slightly revised its outlook and is expecting in demand in October-December riod last year, it added. Mishra emphasised that house- fected the economy. higher odds" for a pause in the rate lowered in Delhi the year to be in the flat growth quarter during the festive seasons Rural India contributes around holds in remote villages which A slew of other measures, es- cuts at the upcoming review of the range (-) 1% to 1% for branded cannot be connected through grid pecially to ensure greater liquidity, New Delhi: CM Arvind as food categories are expected to 36 to 37% of the total FMCG sales, monetary policy but added that Kejriwal has announced a FMCG industry in India, as against see a higher growth, while July- bulk of which is contributed by may be electrified by installing have also been introduced by RBI. there will be cuts of 0.50 per cent reduction in the Value Added a 5-6% growth projected earlier September quarter is also likely to food items. solar modules by OREDA. "We forecast the RBI will con- between October to March 2021. Tax (VAT) on diesel from the existing 30% to 16.75%, saying the move will help Instant lending app propel Delhi’s economy. The CCI approves acquisition BIZ BUZZ diesel price will be reduced ‘Navi’ gets positive by Rs 8.36 in Delhi due to the Zoom speeds up hiring Huawei trumps Samsung to VAT cut, Kejriwal said in a response in state virtual press briefing. He said of 49% of OPGC by Adani IT personnel in India top smartphone market there was a serious challenge As part of its commitment to expand Despite POST NEWS NETWORK of reviving the economy of New Delhi: New Delhi: and innovate further in India, US-based video the US trade Delhi. Price of diesel will now meet app Zoom is fast recruiting DevOps restrictions, Huawei Bhubaneswar, July 30: The Navi come down from Rs 82 a litre engineers, IT, security and business operations has overthrown Lending App which was launched to Rs 73.64 a litre, he said. personnel in the country. Zoom, which has an Samsung and Apple in June has received an over- office in Mumbai and data centres in Mumbai to become the whelming response in the state, and Hyderabad, recently announced to open a leader in with customers in the twin cities COVID-19 sinks technology centre in Bangalore. "We are smartphone of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack excited to hire key talent. Employees will work shipments globally availing instant paperless loans US economy from home until it is safe to move into the new in the second quarter of 2020, a new report said through the app. Washington: The US economy facility," Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Thursday. It marks the first quarter in nine years Aimed at middle-income contracted at its steepest POST NEWS NETWORK The proposed deal Engineering and Products at Zoom, said in a that a company other than Samsung or Apple has Indians, who are comfortable with pace since the Great blog post. "We continue to invest significantly led the market. Huawei shipped 55.8 million smartphones and technology, the Depression in the second Bhubaneswar, July 30: The relates to the acquisition in supporting devices, down 5% (y-o-y) in Q2. The second-placed Navi app provides instant loans of quarter as the COVID-19 Competition Commission of India of 49% of the total equity global Samsung shipped 53.7 million smartphones, a 30% up to Rs 5 lakhs with tenures of up pandemic shattered (CCI) approved proposed acquisition audiences, fall against Q2 2019, according to market research to 36 months, via a completely dig- consumer and business of 49% of the total equity share share capital of OPGC by and India will firm Canalys. "This is a remarkable result that few ital and contactless process for play a critical people would have predicted a year ago," said spending, and a nascent capital of Odisha Power Generation customers. recovery is under threat from Adani Power Limited role in that Senior Analyst Ben Stanton. "If it wasn’t for COVID- Corporation Limited (OPGC) by growth and 19, it wouldn't have happened. Huawei has taken Available for download at a resurgence in new cases of Adani Power Limited (APL). Google’s Play store, customers coronavirus. The bulk of the innovation," full advantage of the Chinese economic recovery to The proposed deal relates to the and the National Stock Exchange he added. reignite its smartphone business," Stanton said in can check their eligibility, select historic plunge in gross acquisition of 49% of the total eq- of India Limited. It is a part of the the loan and EMI amount, and domestic product reported a statement. uity share capital of OPGC by APL Adani Group, which is inter-alia en- enter their PAN and Aadhaar num- by the Commerce Department occurred in April (Proposed Combination). Odisha gaged in the business operations of ber to receive the loan amount in when activity almost ground government holds 51% stake in generation, transmission and dis- ArcelorMittal logs $599 mn net loss in Q2 their bank account within minutes. to an abrupt halt. OPGC. OPGC operates a 1,740 MW tribution of power in India. APL is The process is entirely paperless thermal power plant at Banharpalli primarily engaged in the business New Delhi: Steel giant ArcelorMittal Thursday reported a net loss of $599 million for and does not require uploading in , Odisha. of power generation. the second quarter of 2020. During the corresponding period last year, the company of any documents like pay slips or The plant has a long-term power OPGC, incorporated in Odisha, had reported a net loss of $447 million. Loss during the period under review bank statements. Wipro bags purchase agreement valid for 25 is a joint venture between narrowed down from $1.12 billion in the January-March quarter of 2020. Sales of the Navi’s official Samit Shetty said, years with the state-owned GRIDCO Government of Odisha, AES India Luxembourg-headquartered company fell 43% to $10.97 billion during April-June, the “Most of Navi’s loans were dis- multi-year deal and sources fuel from a nearby Private Limited and AES OPGC company said in a statement. Commenting on the performance, Chairman and CEO bursed to customers’ bank accounts New Delhi: IT major Wipro captive mine. Holding and operates as a state Lakshmi N. Mittal said: "The first six months of the year, and particularly the second in less than 10 minutes, while some Thursday said it has inked a APL, is a public listed company government company. OPGC is en- quarter, have been one of the most difficult periods in the history of the company, customers were able to avail loans multi-year contract with UK- and its shares are listed on the gaged in the business of power with demand for steel considerably disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic." in less than 5 minutes from the based Metro Bank to deliver Bombay Stock Exchange Limited generation. time they installed the app.” testing and environment management services. As part of this partnership, Wipro will leverage its digital and quality Royal Enfield engineering capabilities to ‘Economy on recovery path piggy-riding rural rebound’ drive transformation through launches ‘service automation, service PRESS TRUST OF INDIA realty, saying that many large com- their data storage capacities." on wheels’ virtualisation and DevSecOps panies are using the lockdowns as On the housing sector, he said (development, security and Mumbai, July 30: Mortgage lender a good opportunity to snap up good the inherent demand for home loans Bhubaneswar: Royal Enfield operations) enablement, it HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh properties when the continues to remain strong and the announced the launch and rollout said in a statement. This will of ‘Service on Wheels’. The help Metro Bank achieve its Thursday sounded confident of the prices are low. combination of low interest rates, pandemic-ravaged economy coming Listing out the fiscal incentives and soften- customer-friendly initiative is objectives around cost, pace aimed at safe, seamless and and quality of operations. out soon, as he expects Bharat to help reasons for his op- ing of realty prices nurture India back to economic timism, Parekh A bodes well for new hassle-free motorcycle service health earlier than the consensus said that there is good homebuyers. experience for customers. In an effort to provide customers the forecast. a misconception monsoon, He called up German economy convenience of getting their Base-case forecasts by many pen- that demand for strong on the states motorcycles serviced at their continue to shrink cils in a GDP contraction of 5% if the commercial real es- agricultural growth to offer some doorstep, Royal Enfield has lockdown is lifted by July and nor- tate will diminish and government support sweeteners deployed as many as 800 units of Berlin: The German economy malcy trundles back from September, tractors have risen, even though had recessions only thrice - 1958, 1966 with more opting to through rural employment for home Royal Enfield branded, purpose- contracted at its steepest and over 7.5% in the worst case as passenger and commercial vehicle and 1980 and all of the three was work-from-home. buyers by built Service on Wheels rate on record in the second guarantee scheme is each month of the lockdown shaves demand remains subdued on the caused by poor monsoons which However, many large giving a tem- motorcycles across dealerships in quarter as consumer enabling rural off 100 bps of the GDP. back of the timely onset of the hit agriculture...Today, the bright companies have in fact porary stamp the country. The Service on spending, company consumption to lead the "Signs of the wheels of the econ- monsoons," Parekh told the share- spot for us is the rural economy. A acquired or leased com- duty waivers Wheels motorcycles are purpose- investment and exports all overall recovery omy beginning to churn are evi- holders at the 43rd Annual General good monsoon, strong agricultural mercial properties dur- built, and equipped to carry tools, collapsed during the peak of apart for dent from the following facts: un- Meeting of HDFC. growth and government support ing this period, particu- DEEPAK PAREKH I CHAIRMAN, helping equipment and genuine spare the COVID-19 pandemic, HDFC

employment rates have tapered Advising people not to get too through rural employment guar- larly in Bangalore and migrant parts to undertake up to 80% of all

k y m wiping out nearly 10 years of c typical service and repair growth. The Federal Statistics down from their peaks in May, e-toll perturbed with the forecasts of neg- antee scheme is enabling rural con- Hyderabad. workers to return to their requirements at the doorstep of a Office said gross domestic collections are higher, as are e-way ative growth, he said the economy sumption to lead the overall re- "And also there is demand for workplaces as the hit on the com- customer including scheduled output in Europe’s largest bills, digital transactions and GST will recover for sure assuming that covery," Parekh said. real estate from newer sectors like mercial realty is largely due to mas- maintenance service, minor economy shrank by 10.1% q- collections which are back to the Rs there are no further lengthy and He also discounted the impact of warehousing, e-ecommerce com- sive reverse migration of labourers, repairs, critical component o-q from April to June after a 90,000 crore levels. complete lockdowns in future. the lockdown-driven work-from- panies and from cloud and data cen- which is making resumption of testing, parts replacement, revised 2.0% contraction. "Demand for two-wheelers and "Since the Independence, we have home culture on the commercial tre parks as they seek to increase projects a challenge. electrical diagnosis, and others. P12 FRIDAY | JULY 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR sports

y Mariana wants to become

k k y y m m c UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH c Indian boxer Vikas Krishan prefers US Pro bouts instead ‘world’s best midfielder’ of national camp in Patiala for mission Tokyo Olympics

cuit last year. The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold-winner will be making third Olympic ap- pearance in Tokyo next year. He is the most experienced among the five men who have made the cut so far. “I took a break from professional with due permission from my pro- moter to pursue my Olympic dream. Now that I have qualified, I will go back to pro to prepare myself,” he said. Talking of preparations, do High Performance Director Santiago Nieva and national coach CA Kuttappa know of his plans? “They know and they are sup- portive. They know what I am capable of and they have encouraged me. I have also got immense support from Boxing Federation of India Executive Director R K Sacheti,” he said. Less than a year away from his third Olympics, Vikas said he has never enjoyed boxing as much as he INDO-ASIANNEWSSERVICE in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, a at the Kalinga Stadium, like our does now. “If you watch me fight hockey hotbed of the country. senior teams do. They do not re- now, you can see the artistry. In my Mumbai, July 30 : Indian junior Growing up, Mariana was always in- alise that I am in the junior team, past two Olympics (2012 and 2016), women’s hockey team midfielder clined towards the sport because of but it is my dream to make them I used to be bothered by pressure and Mariana Kujur has said she idolises the hockey culture in her locality. very proud, and for them, that expectations, not anymore. I feel her fellow Odia stalwarts Lilima Reminiscing her early days, would happen if they are able to free of that. This has made boxing Minz and Namita Toppo and has al- Mariana said, “I come from an area see me on television,” expressed very enjoyable for me. Earlier there ways looked up to them since her where hockey is played in every the youngster. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA to return after an inquiry. tinues to have a contract with Hall was an element of stress,” he ex- initial days in the sport. village with the use of whichever Having established herself at “I will continue training here of Famer Bob Arum’s Top Rank plained. Speaking from her Railways’ of- piece of wood we can find. I was for- the junior level, Mariana says her New Delhi, July 30: Top Indian (in Bangalore). I have fallen into a Promotions. The welterweight (69kg His friend Neeraj, also a pro fice in Mumbai, the 21-year-old tunate to have my elder brother eventual dream is to play at the boxer Vikas Krishan has decided to rhythm and I don’t wish to disturb category) boxer will compete in the boxer, has been a constant in his life said: “When I had begun my hockey who was always very passionate Olympics, but wants to also be- revive his professional career in myself by once again taking the 70kg division in the pro circuit. for the past few years and Vikas career at the Panposh Sports Hostel, about the sport, and I would end up come the best midfielder in the the US instead of training at the na- trip to Patiala. I don’t see the point,” “As soon as I manage to get a said he is grateful for the support. both Lilima di and Namita di were playing with him and my friends in world. tional camp in Patiala as he be- Vikas, who is training under flight, I am going to the USA. I am “I don’t think I will be able to do in their early years with the na- my village.” “I am a midfielder and it gives me lieves conventional is just not good American coach Ronald Simms at in touch with Top Rank Promotions. as much for him as he has done for tional side, and I would just be so “It was in 2010 at the age of 11 huge joy to be able to play my part enough for a podium finish at next the IIS, told PTI in an interview They have promised to arrange me. He has come to train with me, happy to see them train at our acad- when I finally gave trials and got se- both in attack and defense. My over- year’s Tokyo Olympics. over phone. fights for me and I hope to com- support me whenever I have asked emy whenever they would come lected for the Panposh hostel. It all aim, like any other hockey player, Vikas is currently training in Asked about the controversy in pete in 3-4 bouts before the him,” he said. home from national duty.” was at the academy that I realised is to make it to the Olympics and Bangalore’s Inspire Institute of Patiala, Vikas offered a philosophical Olympics,” he said. Amid the strenuous prepara- “They have been inspirational in my true potential, and here I am tar- win medals for my country. But I also Sports (IIS) with another profes- take. “I have never harmed any- “That would help my Olympic tions, has he factored in the COVID- my career and I’ve also been very geting a place in the Indian team in think about being the best mid- sional boxer and close friend Neeraj one. I have made mistakes but the chances more than anything else be- 19 mayhem, the one which forced fortunate that they have been there the future,” she said. fielder in the world. Goyat after being asked to leave intent is only to do well for the cause it is in the pro circuit that I the Olympics to be postponed and to guide me along the way. When I With both her parents’ occu- “I have so many great players to NIS Patiala for alleged violation of country. I have never caused prob- learnt the crucial lesson of not be- which still is a threat to the Games see the journey that they have made, pation being farming in her native watch in our senior team, and I be- COVID-19 quarantine norms, later lems for anyone else. That’s all I lieving in luck. It is all about abil- going ahead even next year. I feel really excited and confident village, Mariana said it her dream lieve if I can pick up the good qual- deemed unintentional. have to say,” he said. ity, there is nothing called luck,” “I am destined to win an Olympic because that means I can do such to make them see her on TV one ities of all of those players, I can be- He has no plans of going back The 28-year-old Haryana-lad is added the former world bronze- medal. Olympics will happen be- things as well,” said Mariana. day. “When there is live hockey on come a complete player, and help my even though the Sports Authority more eager to talk about his plans winner, who won his two pro bouts cause God can’t be so cruel to me. The young midfielder hails from television, my parents are often team also become the best in the of India (SAI) decided to allow him to return to the US, where he con- before returning to amateur cir- I know that,” asserted the boxer. a small village of Timna, which lies asking me why I am not playing world,” she said. Virtual gaming in teams’ plans for non-match days Anand ends disastrous

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE “It is an area of focus for sure. In it comes to being creative with the campaign with defeat fact, I would say this is the biggest team room. New Delhi, July 30: With the 13th challenge this year. When you realise “See, watching movies on NetFlix edition of the IPL set to be played that the boys will be restricted for and all is fine. But that you can do in UAE, the franchises are working close to two months, you need to also even in your own room. We need to overtime when it comes to plan- provide them with options. Xbox and work on things we can do out of ning for non-match days. virtual gaming facilities will rule the box to engage the players. It The sole reason is that unlike the roost. Don’t be too surprised if will be a challenge for sure, especially other seasons, players cannot go they play more FIFA than cricket in if the families are not travelling out of the hotel when they are not these two months of IPL (laughs). with the team. playing due to COVID-19 concerns. “Also, fussball is something that “This is something that we will Moreover, the BCCI is yet to give the is big among players as is pool and get to know in the next few days from green signal for teams to get their table tennis. You cannot just brief the BCCI. We do have a meeting immediate family to UAE during the the players and tell them that do not planned with them post the IPL course of the tournament. step out. You need to create an at- Governing Council meeting Sunday,” Speaking to this agency, an offi- mosphere where the players are the official said. cial of one of the franchises said that excited to hit the team room and en- It is believed that franchises have player engagement on non-match gage among themselves on non- requested the BCCI to allow im- days is high on agenda for all teams match days,” the official explained. mediate families to travel with the this year as they cannot leave the Echoing similar sentiments, an- players and support staff, but in team hotels and will have to re- other official said that planning is batches and not for the whole du- main indoors. already on to hit a new level when ration of the tournament. Hardik, wife Natasha Sports Awards likely to be delayed

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA So, at this point of time, it is very being faced by them to find rec- blessed with baby boy difficult to say what will happen,” ommenders amid the lockdown. New Delhi, July 30: The National the ministry official told this agency. The self nomination has resulted Sports Awards ceremony this year “Currently, public gathering is in a huge number of applicants for is likely to be delayed by a month prohibited across the country due the awards but the sports ministry or two due to the COVID-19 pan- to COVID-19 so no functions are is yet to form a committee to select PRESS TRUST OF INDIA win record after nine matches in demic but a final decision will be being organised at the Rashtrapati the eventual winners with just a the preliminary stage. taken only after receiving guid- Bhavan. month left for the ceremony if it is Chennai, July 30: Indian chess The Norwegian will now play ance from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, “In the past also, the awards cer- held on time. It has been learnt ace Viswanathan Anand’s signed Russia’s Peter Svidler in the semi- a Sports Ministry official has said. emony has been organised with that the ministry is yet to start off second from bottom after his finals, while Anish Giri (Hungary) The National Sports Awards in- delays, so in case it cannot be held screening of the applications and disappointing campaign at the takes on Ian Nepomniachtchi clude the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, August 29, we can hold it one or a delay is inevitable. Legends of Chess online tourna- (Russia) in a repeat of their the Arjuna, Dronacharya and two months later. The well-being and “The sports awards this year ment ended with a loss to long- Chessable Masters semifinal. Dhyanchand honours, conferred safety of all should be the priority will definitely be delayed because time rival Vasyl Ivanchuk in the Legends of Chess is an event in every year by the President of India right now,” he added. screening of applications is a tedious ninth and final round. which Carlsen, Liren, Nepomni- at the Rashtrapati Bhavan August The pandemic had last month task which is yet to begin,” a min- It was Anand’s eighth loss in achtchi and Giri, semifinalists at 29. forced the sports ministry to ex- istry source told this agency. the USD 150,000 tournament. The the Chessable Masters (part of the “We haven’t heard anything from tend the deadline for submission of “But the awards will definitely 50-year-old ended in ninth position Magnus Carlsen Tour), received the Rashtrapati Bhavan yet. We online applications for the awards. be given away. There is no ques- above last-placed GM Peter Leko. an automatic invite and are up are waiting for a communication It also allowed athletes to self-nom- tion of denying deserving athletes After all the four games ended in against six legends aged 40-52, who INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE had read: “Natasa and I had a great with regard to the Sports awards. inate in view of the ‘difficulties’ and coaches their due recognition.” draws, the Anand-Ivanchuk contest have been at the top of world chess journey together and it is just about went into the Armageddon (a tie- at various points in their career. New Delhi, July 30: India all- to get better. Together we are excited breaker), which also ended in a rounder Hardik Pandya and Natasa to welcome a new life into our lives stalemate. The Ukrainian emerged RESULTS (ROUND 9): Vasyl Stankovic have been blessed with very soon. We’re thrilled for this new Roller-coaster start for Shubhankar victorious as he played black in Ivanchuk (Ukraine) beat a baby boy, the 26-year-old announced phase of our life and seek your the decider late Wednesday. Anand Viswanathan Anand (India) 2.5-2.5 via his social media handle. blessings and wishes.” PRESS TRUST OF INDIA birdies, two bogeys and two double started the match with a 57-move (Ivanchuk wins by playing black His Twitter post read: “We are Wishes immediately poured in bogeys in an eventful round at the draw and the tie progressed in a sim- after Armageddon is drawn); Magnus blessed with our baby boy.” It was with India skipper Virat Kohli Birmingham, July 30: Indian Hero Open, which is the second ilar vein with the players opting for Carlsen (Norway) beat Vladimir posted with the picture of the baby’s being one of the first to wish the golfer Shubhankar Sharma began event on the UK Swing, at the Forest quiet draws. Kramnik (Russia) 3-1; Boris Gelfand hand. The delivery happened in cricketer. He was followed by not with a flourish, but two slightly of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country The Armageddon game was a (Israel) beat Ian Nepomniachtchi Vadodara. just the other Indian players, but wayward tee shots cost him heav- Club. 59-move affair before the former (Russia) 3-2; Anish Giri (The The duo had earlier announced also chief coach Ravi Shastri. ily as he ended the first day with a Spain’s Sebastian Garcia world champion signed peace with Netherlands) beat Peter Svidler in May that they were expecting a Earlier this year, Hardik had an- roller-coaster one-over 73 in the Rodriguez fired a stunning 62 to Ivanchuk. The 50-year old Indian (Russia) 2.5-1.5; Ding Liren (China) y third member in their family. Fast nounced his engagement to Natasa Hero Open Thursday. hold the clubhouse lead on day one, finished ninth in the standings beat Peter Leko (Hungary) 2.5-1.5.

forward a couple of months and via social media as well. Hardik The 24-year-old Indian, who has as fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal with 7 match points and a solitary

k k y y m m c c they shared the good news with had shared an image of him pro- two wins on the European Tour, shot 64. Veteran Miguel Angel win (over Boris Gelfand) on his FINAL STANDINGS: 1. Carlsen 25 their fans and followers on social posing to Natasa January 1 and had a birdie followed by an eagle on Jimenez, the 56-year-old playing debut in the Magnus Carlsen Tour. match points, 2. Nepomniachtchi 20, media, with the photo of their had captioned it: “Mai tera, Tu the second and third holes, but dou- his record 707th European Tour In other matches, World No.1 3. Giri 18, 4. Svidler 14, 5. Ivanchuk newly-born child. meri jaane, saara Hindustan. ble bogeys on the 10th and 13th on drop a bunch of shots. event, was five-under through 10 Magnus Carlsen defeated Vladimir 13, 6. Kramnik 12, 7. Gelfand 11, 8. Hardik’s Instagram post in May 01.01.2020 #engaged.” the tougher back stretch saw him Overall, he had an eagle, three holes with five birdies. Kramnik 3-1 to finish with an all- Liren 7, 9. Anand 7, 10. Leko 6.

1 Printed and published by Tathagata Satpathy on behalf of Navajat Printers and Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Navajat Printers, B-15 Industrial Estate, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar -751010, Odisha;Phone:7894447142(Marketing). Editor: Tathagata Satpathy, RNI No. ORIENG/2011/37159