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CAUSE AMBASSADOR EYE ON PRIVATE HOSPITALS AIRSTRIKES ON GAZA Actor Aahana Kumra has backed a drive CM Naveen asked senior officers to keep tabs on Israel unleashed airstrikes on Gaza early Tuesday, that helps victims locate beds private Covid hospitals to ensure Covid hitting a pair of high-rise buildings believed to be housing ultras at Covid centres LEISURE | P2 patients are not fleeced DOWNTOWN | P3 INTERNATIONAL | P10

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 41 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00 Boost to state’s Covid infra ODISHA TO SET UP RT-PCR TESTING LABS IN 16 DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS HOSPITALS

POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, May 11: A day 7 O2 plants by DRDO after deciding to open a global ten- der to procure vaccines from open Oxygen plants will come up in Boudh, Cuttack, Bhadrak, markets to ensure mass inoculations in the state, the state government Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh and Koraput districts STATE FARES Tuesday decided to set up RT-PCR testing laboratories in 16 district POST NEWS NETWORK headquarters hospitals. Health and family welfare de- Bhubaneswar, May 11: With an aim to partment issued a notification to enhance medical oxygen production to MISERABLY this effect. The testing labs will be meet the rising demand, the Defence set up at the district headquarters Research and Development Organisation of Bhadrak, Boudh, Bargarh, (DRDO) will set up seven medical oxy- Dhenkanal,Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, gen plants in Odisha. ON COVID-19 Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, The DRDO is setting up 500 oxygen Khurda, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, plants in the country within three months POST NEWS NETWORK Nuapada, Sonepur and Sundargarh. day. And it is delaying the time for Bhubaneswar is having a high with the help of its indigenous developed Odisha Covid Another district is Rayagada for getting results, the source said. throughput laboratory. technology. Of which, seven will be es- New Delhi, May 11: Amidst which a machine has been ordered At present, the state has 20 Private-run labs are there in tablished in Odisha, CGM of National the rapid surge in COVID- toll up by 18 by the Odisha State Medical RTPCR laboratories of which 13 are Apollo Hospitals, SUM Hospital, Highways Authority of India (NHAI), 19 cases in the state and the BHUBANESWAR: Odisha's Corporation Ltd (OSMCL). government-run and seven are run InDNA Life Sciences Pvt Ltd, GenX Odisha, Ram Prasad Panda, said. government’s efforts to curb COVID-19 caseload Tuesday The approximate cost of the by private organizations. All seven Diagnostics, AMRI Hospitals, The plants will come up in Boudh, its footprints, the Covid pos- rose to 5,54,666 after 9,793 each laboratory will be around state-run medical colleges at Kalinga Institute of Medical Science Cuttack, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, itivity rate of Odisha stood more people tested positive `1.20 crore. The government has ap- Cuttack, Berhampur, Burla, (KIMS) and Kalinga Hospital Ltd. Nayagarh and Koraput. The NHAI has at 24.4 per cent, more than for the disease, while 18 proved recruitment of staff in- Koraput, Baripada, Balasore and TrueNAT testing facility is there been asked to carry out the civil and elec- the national positivity rate fresh fatalities pushed the cluding one microbiologist and Bolangir have the facility. in 32 healthcare facilities across trical work of the plants while DRDO will of 21 per cent. state's death toll to 2,215, a three lab technicians for each shift Similarly, RTPCR labs are func- the state while only KIMS has a look after technical part, he said. At a presser on the status health department official (eight hours) duty. The move will tioning at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, CB NAAT testing lab. The state Panda said land has been acquired of the pandemic, joint sec- said. Accordingly, the num- not only enhance the daily testing Ispat General Hospital—Rourkela, had tested 46,241 samples for Covid for the plants while the NHAI has al- retary, Union health min- ber of active cases climbed rate but also reduce the time period Institute of Life Sciences— May 10, out of which RTPCR tests ready commenced the civil construc- Once the plants become functional, istry, Lav Agarwal, said 26 to 94,829, he said. Of the now required for testing, official Bhubaneswar, International Centre accounted for 16,717. Though the gov- tion work at two places- Boudh and hospitals can generate oxygen from the on- states have a case positivity 9,793 new cases, 5,534 were sources said. Due to lack of suffi- for Foot and Mouth Disease— ernment has aimed to increase the Cuttack. The oxygen plant is designed site plant instead of depending on other rate of more than 15 per reported from various quar- cient number of RTPCR testing Khurda and Indian Institute of daily testing rate to 50,000, it is yet for a capacity of 1,000 litres per minute sources. It would also be cost-effective for cent. The health ministry antine centres while the rest detected during contact labs, samples collected from vari- Science Education & Research to achieve it. Chief Minister Naveen (LPM). The system can cater for 190 pa- the health centres. The plants would be use- also said that Odisha is tracing. Khurda district ous parts of the state are being (IISER)—Berhampur. Regional ` tients at a flow of 5 LPM and will ful for patients, especially those who are among top five states that Patnaik has sanctioned 20 crore for reported the maximum transported to nearest lab each Medical Research Centre (RMRC), the purpose, an official said. charge 195 cylinders per day. suffering from Covid-19. have been witnessing in- number of new cases at creasing trend of new cases 1511, followed by with 5,908 cases reported Sundargarh at 1,018 and IRREGULAR by MANJUL April 27 to over 10,000 new Cuttack at 641. The health cases May 10. department said, "Regret to FUEL RATES UP AGAIN The Union health min- inform about the demise of O2 crunch kills istry also said that 533 dis- 18 Covid positive patients AGENCIES CITY FUEL PRICES tricts across the country, while under treatment in including 27 from Odisha, hospitals." PETROL ` New Delhi, May 11: Petrol and diesel 92.81 (+0.59) have a case positivity rate of prices Tuesday were hiked for the sixth time DIESEL `90.03 (+0.64) more than 10 per cent. While Goa tops the chart 26 at Goa hosp this month, propelling prices to cross the Fuel prices differ from state to state de- Two Odisha districts with 49.6 per cent of posi- `100-a-litre-mark in places from Nanded in pending on the incidence of local taxes such –Kalahandi and Sambalpur tivity followed by CM BLAMES DEARTH OF OXYGEN TRUCK DRIVERS Maharashtra to Rewa in Madhya Pradesh as VAT and freight charges. Rajasthan have the highest positivity Pondicherry, West Bengal, to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. levies the highest value-added tax (VAT) rate of 46.7 and 46.6 per cent Haryana and Karnataka, AGENCIES Petrol price was hiked by 27 paise a on petrol in the country, followed by Madhya respectively. Similarly, four Odisha stood at the 11th po- litre and diesel by 30 paise per litre, ac- Pradesh. Sri Ganganagar district of districts in the state have a sition with 24.4 per cent pos- Panaji, May 11: Lack of expert cording to a price notification by state- Rajasthan had the costliest petrol and positivity rate between 30 itivity rate. ` It’s better than winning a lottery. drivers manning trucks ferrying owned fuel retailers. The rise took petrol diesel in the country at 102.70 per litre and and 40 per cent – The state has been wit- oxygen has led to the oxygen short- and diesel prices to their highest-ever `95.06 a litre respectively. Also in Rajasthan, Sundargarh 34.2 pc, Angul nessing a surge in new cases He has successfully booked ` a slot for vaccination! age crisis in Goa's top hospital, level across the country. In Delhi, petrol now petrol crossed the 100-mark in Jaisalmer 34 per cent, Khurda 33.3 pc with 5,908 cases reported Goa Medical College, Chief Minister comes for `91.80 per litre and diesel is (`100.71) and Bikaner (`100.70) while it and Bargarh 32.6 per cent. April 27 that went up to Pramod Sawant said Tuesday, even priced at `82.36. This was the sixth increase neared that mark in Barmer (`99.82). As many as 11 districts, 9,793 cases May 11. It said as Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in prices since May 4, when the state- Petrol in several districts of Madhya including Cuttack and Bangalore urban, Chennai, 3 LeT militants killed claimed that 26 persons died within owned oil firms ended an 18-day hiatus Pradesh, including Shahdol (`102.06), Puri, have a positivity rate Ernakulam, Malappuram four hours due to shortage of oxy- in rate revision they observed during as- Rewa (`102.04), Chhindwara (`101.67) and between 20 and 30 per cent and Khurda among others SRINAGAR: Three Lashkar-e- gen at the apex health facility. Rane has urged Bombay HC to sembly elections in states like West Balaghat (`101.98) crossed the physiolog- and 10 districts including are showing a rise in the probe the oxygen shortage Toiba (LeT) militants were killed Rane, who has been at logger- Bengal. The price increase led to petrol ical mark. It neared that mark in Indore Dhenkanal, Kendrapara number of cases. Khurda issue at Goa Medical College in an encounter with security forces heads with Sawant over control of rates crossing the `100-mark in more (`99.90 a litre) and Bhopal (`99.83). If rates and Kandhamal have pos- district has been showing an in Anantnag district of Jammu the state's Covid management ap- The cause of deaths was places of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and continue to raise, Bhopal will be the first itivity rate between 10 and upward trend in Covid in- because oxygen tanks could and Kashmir Tuesday, police said. paratus, has now urged the Bombay Maharashtra. state capital to see petrol at `100. 20 per cent. fections for three weeks. not reach the patients in time Security forces launched a search High Court to probe the oxygen operation at Vailoo in Komernag shortage issue at the Goa Medical The patients admitted to the area following information about College and take over the Covid Covid ward died between 2 am presence of militants there. "During management system at the health and 6 am Tuesday morning Russian school the search operation, as the pres- facility. Rane Tuesday said that 26 Covid hits Naxals, many ailing ence of terrorists got ascertained patients admitted to a Covid ward yesterday we got only 400," Rane also shooting kills 7 they were given an opportunity at the hospital, had died between said. Sawant Tuesday morning AGENCIES COVID-19 or food poisoning. But we to surrender. However, they fired 2 am and 6 am Tuesday morning. visited the Covid ward, which are trying to get more details," he pupils, 2 others indiscriminately upon the joint "I request the High Court to witnessed over two dozen fatal- Dantewada, May 11: Police said. Police had confirmed infor- search party which was retaliated check if there is mismanagement ities, insisted that it was not oxy- Tuesday said that at least ten nax- mation that around 500 naxals had AGENCIES leading to an encounter," a police or shortage and bring out a white gen shortage which led to the als have reportedly died of COVID- gathered near Pidia village two official said. He said the security paper using experts... High Court deaths. The cause of deaths was 19 or food poisoning in the Bastar weeks ago and some of them con- Moscow, May 11: A gunman at- forces also rescued all the civil- should take over Covid manage- because oxygen tanks could not region of Chhattisgarh and even sumed medicines and packaged tacked a school Tuesday morning ians trapped in the gunfire and ment of GMC," Rane said, adding reach the patients in time, he some senior rebel leaders are suf- the border of Bijapur and Sukma foods whose expiry date had ex- in the Russian city of Kazan, killing halted the operation for the time to that the key issue was not mis- said. Sawant also met patients and fering from the viral infection. districts Monday night," said pired, the SP said. Following the nine people — seven eighth-grade ensure safe evacuation of people. management, but shortage of oxy- kin of patients at the Covid ward, "According to local villagers, Dantewada Superintendent of meeting, several cadres complained students, a teacher and a staffer — gen which led to the deaths. "We who complained about regular naxals burnt the bodies of at least Police Abhishek Pallava. of food poisoning or developed and leaving 21 others hospitalised MARKET WATCH need 1,200 (jumbo) cylinders, but drop in oxygen supply. ten colleagues in the forest along "The deaths were caused by cough, cold and fever, Pallava said. with wounds, Russian officials said. Russian media said some stu- dents were able to escape the build- INDEX VARIATION ing during the attack, while others were trapped inside. Dozens of am- SENSEX 49161.81 340.60 New vax blocks Covid-19 and all its variants bulances lined up at the entrance to the school after the attack, with

BOURSES NIFTY 14850.80 91.60 CALLED PAN-CORONAVIRUS VACCINE, IT WAS FOUND EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING MONKEYS AND MICE access to the building fenced off DOLLAR 73.91 `0.01 by police. Rustam Minnikhanov, AGENCIES that allows it to bind to the body's "The mRNA vaccines were already found a person who had been in- governor of the Tatarstan repub- EURO 89.51 `0.02 cell receptors and is formulated lic where Kazan is the capital, said CURRENCY under development, so we were fected with SARS developed anti- New York, May 11: US researchers with a chemical booster called an looking for ways to sustain their ef- bodies capable of neutralising mul- four boys and three girls, all eighth- GOLD `47,560 `391 have developed a potential new vac- adjuvant. Success in primates is ficacy once those variants appeared. tiple coronaviruses, suggesting grade students, died in the shoot- SILVER `71,568 `24 cine, which has proven effective highly relevant to humans, said "This approach not only pro- that a pan-coronavirus might be pos- ing. Minnikhanov's press service BULLION against the original SARS-CoV-1, researchers from the Duke vided protection against SARS- sible. They identified one particular later said a teacher was also killed. SARS-CoV-2 as well as its UK, South University in North Carolina, US. CoV-2, but the antibodies induced receptor-binding domain site that “The terrorist has been ar- Africa and Brazil variants and re- The findings, published in the by the vaccine also neutralised is present on SARS-CoV-2, its cir- rested, (he is) 19 years old. A WEATHER lated bat coronaviruses that could journal Nature, showed that the variants of concern that origi- culating variants and SARS-re- firearm is registered in his name. y BHUB CTK potentially cause the next pandemic. nanoparticle vaccine, in monkeys, nated in the UK, South Africa and lated bat viruses that makes them Other accomplices haven't been

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TEMP MIN 27.4° 24.8° fective in protecting monkeys and elicited significantly higher neu- all viruses, mutations would occur of coronaviruses," Haynes said. designed a nanoparticle display- after visiting the school, adding Forecast Humidity 93% 88% mice. Pan-coronavirus vaccine trig- tralising levels in the animals than in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which The team built on earlier stud- ing this vulnerable spot. The that security had been restored. Light rain gers neutralising antibodies via a current vaccine platforms or nat- causes Covid-19," said senior author ies involving SARS, the respira- nanoparticle is combined with a Authorities said additional security Rainfall 16.9mm 24mm very likely nanoparticle. The nanoparticle is ural infection in humans. Barton F Haynes, director of the tory illness caused by a coron- small molecule adjuvant, which measures were immediately put composed of the Coronavirus part "We began this work last spring Duke Human Vaccine Institute. avirus called SARS-CoV-1. They boosts the body’s immune response. into place in all schools in Kazan. P2 DREW BARRYMORE SUPPORTS CRUISE RETURNS GOLDEN GLOBES WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR PRIYANKA’S COVID RELIEF FUND TO JOIN PROTEST AGAINST HFPA Hollywood star Drew Barrymore has urged everyone Superstar Tom Cruise returned his three Golden to contribute towards Priyanka Chopra and her Globes to join the protest against the Hollywood Free husband Nick Jonas’ Covid-19 relief fund for India. Press Association (HFPA), the organisers behind the

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FORTUNE FORECAST I am flowing RETURN GIFT Aahana Kumra with tide: Jackie Shroff Ruskin Bond’s ARIES Mumbai: Actor Jackie Shroff Ganesha is very backs ‘Find A Bed’ has been working in Hindi film impressed with you today for the way you industry for around four delectable collection handle your relationships. You will decades. The actor, who will indulge in some furtive activity today. soon be seen in the Salman Ganesha warns you to be cautious drive for Covid-hit Khan-starrer Radhe, is about getting caught up in a fix where more than happy with you have to shell out money. Mumbai: Actress Aahana Kumra has extended sup- the kind of roles he is get- in the offing port for an initiative that aims at providing a one-stop ting now as he says mak- solution to locate a bed at a Covid centre. The move- ers are willing to experi- The compilation brings basis for his first novel, The Room TAURUS ment, named ‘Find A Bed’, has been initiated by over 20,000 ment while casting him. on the Roof. Today you are likely to students across 160 cities and Aahana is its cause am- “I love it. They are all together some of the “A Song of India marks 70 years reach out for things that bassador. experimenting with me. of my long writing career which are beyond your reach “As India grapples with the tough- Someone is doing OK evocative episodes began when I was sixteen. In these and capabilities. Ganesha, nevertheless, est times, Find A Bed is an ini- Computer, Phone Bhoot, from Bond’s life that seven decades, I have written hun- assures that you will succeed in attaining tiative for anyone who has mild Hello Charlie, Criminal dreds of stories for children and just your objectives through sheer force of you symptoms of Covid-19 but can- Justice, Sooryavanshi. as many for adults too, and I am still self confidence and self conviction. are sure to become not quarantine at home, may not I am just flowing with continuing to do so. I am very for- need to be hospitalised but have the tide,” he said. firm favourites tunate to have lived in a beautiful to find a bed at a Covid centre,” “Then, I am lucky to with readers part of the country, in the moun- GEMINI said Aahana. work in a film like Radhe. tains. I am blessed to have received You need to be cautious Aahana hoped that the “initiative by the It is a lot of fun,” he added. inspiration from the natural world and yet at the same time young students of IIMUN (India's “I am just keeping my head of his 87th birthday around me, from children and an- committed in any work International Movement to Unite Nations) health, my disciples, keep- May 19, Ruskin Bond, one imals, and all of this is reflected in that you do today. You believe in doing is not only going to save lives but ing the respect for people. Aof India’s most-loved writers my works,” Bond said. everything at a steady pace. Hence, make will also help thousands of peo- Trying to spread good of children’s stories, has carefully Born in Kasauli (now in sure that every work that you take up is ple in distress.” knowledge as much curated a mixed bag of 25 of his most Himachal Pradesh) in 1934, Bond performed in a scheduled manner. You need to pay special attention to your health On the work front, as I can about cherished stories in a new book, grew up in Jamnagar (Gujarat), today, says Ganesha. Aahana will be seen in plants,” said the All Time Favourites for Children. Dehradun, New Delhi and Simla Madhur Bhandarkar's veteran artiste. The collection brings together (now Shimla). film India IANS some of the evocative episodes from The Room on the Roof, written CANCER Lockdown and in Bond’s life that are sure to become when he was 17, received the John You have two options to the remake of firm favourites with readers. Heart- Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in over-come the unwant- the French tel- warming, funny and spirited, this 1957. Since then he has written ed sad events. One is to evision drama is a must-have on every bookshelf ! over 500 short stories, essays and run away and the other is to face boldly. Ganesha suggests you Call My The book, in fact, is the perfect novellas including Vagrants in the choose the second option. The evening Agent!. complement to A Song of India re- Valley and A Flight of Pigeons and promises a joyful mood. You will enter- IANS leased last July to mark the begin- more than 40 books for children. tain guests at home. ning of Bond’s 70-year writing ca- He received the Sahitya Akademi reer, in which he takes the reader Award for English writing in India back to 1951, his last year in in 1993, the Padma Shri in 1999, and LEO Dehradun before he set sail for the Delhi government’s Lifetime You will take some England and which later became the Achievement Award in 2012. AGENCIES important decisions regarding personal or professional matters today, says Ganesha. The later half of the day will be spent enjoying with your family and friends. An extremely progressive day awaits.

VIRGO You are a master craftsman when it boils down to inter- personal relationships. In the afternoon, you may feel very secretive about some things. An Karishma excited about insipid evening may make you miss the enjoyment you might otherwise have had. Nevertheless, Ganesha says it will be a happy and bright day. shooting in London Mumbai: Actress “It’s an out and out ro- “I couldn’t ask for more. It LIBRA Karishma Kotak re- mantic track. We had a great would be out soon. My prayers Ganesha says today cently shot for a time shooting for the song in are with Indians during this your children will make song with singer the lanes of London. It’s my difficult time. Let’s all stay you happy by imparting good news to you and Yasser Desai on the home and I could show the strong and this too shall pass,” you will be able to spend a nice and happy streets of London crew around as well. I have al- added the England-based time with them. This is a good day for you and, being on home ways loved a New York, model and actress who pre- in money matters as you may get a salary turf in the UK Capital city, London kind of set-up for sented a televised show called rise or even gain an inheritance from rela- she says she could show songs and here I am shoot- Extraaa Innings T20 during tives. Your interests in the finer arts will be appreciated. around the crew, too. ing for one,” Karishma said. IPL 2013. IANS

SCORPIO You are as inquisitive as a SUDOKU child today. There are a lot post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a of queries in your mind that PEANUTS need to be solved. At work, CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains you have umpteen challenges. But, this does the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. not stop you from fulfilling your responsibili- ties towards your family. Love and affection rule in the family, says Ganesha.

SAGITTARIUS Stars are aligned in a way that they shower both, luck & money on you today. Profits and achievements galore at business front, says Ganesha. You may go on a shopping spree with your partner and splurge on the exclu- sive jewellery. Tighten your purse strings. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN You follow your gut feel- ing when it comes to making decisions. But, today is a different day. You examine nuts and bolts of every situ- ation and make judgements accordingly. SOLUTIONS You will pay attention to your love life during the second half of the day.

AQUARIUS Do you feel slightly awk- ward in social gather- ings? Do you wonder how to break the ice and strike a conversation? Don't be conscious, in fact, be yourself to feel comfortable, feels Ganesha. You may find it difficult to BREVITY get rid of some petty issues today. Listen CROSSWORD to music, sing or play an instrument; it will relax your mind.

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k y m Ganesha you will face c fewer obstacles than you normally do. You will enjoy your favourite foods today. You will experi- ence less mental stress today and you will be full hopes and dreams. It will appear as though life is moving in the right direction. CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU You will feel happy and satisfied today. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 HIT BY STORM WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD The Patitapabana flag World 16,00,47,652 13,77,68,772 33,24,242 atop Srimandir has been tilted under the impact of India 2,29,92,517 1,90,27,304 2,49,992 Nor’wester that hit Odisha 5,54,666 4,65,133 2,215

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SC asks Bolangir man to move HC over khap order POLITICKLE by MANJUL

POST NEWS NETWORK chayat are in violation of the khap panchayat in Fundamental Rights. September 2018 had New Delhi, May 11: The Supreme A The petitioner submitted that ordered social boycott of the Court Tuesday asked a petitioner petitioner and his family for 10 the khap panchayat, 84 Ghar from Bolangir district to approach years for alleged violation of Agharia Samaaj, was established the Orissa High Court against the norms of the panchayat in 1937 in Western Odisha, decision of a khap panchayat that Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh ordered a 10-year boycott of the he petitioner was punished with an objective to uplift the petitioner’s family. Tfor alleged violation of khap Agharia Samaaj. A two-judge bench of Justices panchayat laws during the The khap panchayat has its own Dinesh Maheshwari and Vineet marriage of his son constitution and laws. The people Saran observed that since the mat- he petitioner alleged that his of Agharia caste are being pun- ter pertains to only one state and Tdaughter-in-law suffered ished for violation of these laws the petitioner has sought relief for miscarriage due to the trauma framed by it. himself, it would not entertain the in September 2018 ordered social caused by the decision of the The petitioner was punished for petition. The court dismissed the boycott of the petitioner and his khap panchayat alleged violation of khap panchayat petition with liberty to the peti- family for 10 years for alleged vi- laws during the marriage of his son. tioner to approach the Orissa High olation of norms of the panchayat. constitute a special cell in each He also alleged that his daughter- Court in the matter. The petitioner was ordered to live district and launch prosecutions in-law suffered the miscarriage A petition was filed in the in isolation without any coopera- against such unlawful acts by khap due to the trauma caused by the de- Supreme Court by Satyabadi Nayak tion from the community. panchayats through kangaroo cision of the khap panchayat and of Bolangir district contending Nayak had prayed the apex court courts. He contended that the con- no one from the village came to that a khap panchayat in Odisha had to direct the state government to stitution and by-laws of khap pan- the rescue of his daughter-in-law. Naveen for action Nor’wester leaves 540 slum dwellers homeless slum dwellers and tried to bring a HE ADMINISTRATION HAD solution to the impasse. TEARLIER EVICTED THE SLUM “We are ready to shift the home- against nCoV hosps DWELLERS FROM PILGRIM less people to the schools which ROAD, CHHATRA BAZAR AND have been shut due to the Covid-19 RANIHAAT AREAS OF THE CITY pandemic. However, the slum TO FACILITATE THE EXPANSION dwellers are not cooperating with fleecing patients OF SCB AND WIDENING OF us,” said an official of the district TALADANDA CANAL ROAD administration.

POST NEWS NETWORK ENTING THEIR ANGER ON VTHE ADMINISTRATION, THE Bhubaneswar, May 11: Expressing TACKLING HOMELESS SLUM DWELLERS concern over the reported ex- ENTERED INTO A HEATED ploitation of patients at some pri- EXPLOITATION EXCHANGE WITH THE POLICE vate Covid hospitals, Chief Minister he officials have been told PERSONNEL WHO REACHED THE Naveen Patnaik Tuesday asked Tto continue taking feedback SPOT FOR RESCUE WORK senior officers to keep close watch from patients under Mo Sarkar on such hospitals. initiative. They have been for the time being. However, the “They must charge within the instructed to take direct slum dwellers rejected the pro- ceiling fixed by the government. feedback from doctors who are posal,” said a source in the CMC. In case of any lapses, strict action manning the ICUs & HDUs, and Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvic should be taken against the hospi- act on their suggestions Biswal and former legislator Pravat tal management,” Naveen said in Biswal too held discussions with the A vandalised police van he Health dept and Puri a virtual meeting with all senior gov- Tdistrict officials have been ernment officers, district Collectors told to complete vaccination of Damaged sheds at the rehabilitation centre at Nuapara Balisahi in Cuttack, Tuesday and superintendent of police (SPs). all servitors and their family He asked the officers to members before Rath Yatra POST NEWS NETWORK evicted these slum dwellers from “The slum dwellers are adamant strengthen the helpline numbers Pilgrim Road, Chhatra Bazar and to return to their old places. A few in Covid hospitals and inform the Cuttack, May 11: At least 540 Ranihaat areas of the city to fa- security personnel were injured patients’ status to their families members of 134 slum dwellers’ cilitate the expansion of SCB and as the slum dwellers hurled stones regularly. “Use Chief Minister’s families were rendered homeless widening of Taladanda canal road, at the police party,” said a police of- Relief Fund (CMRF) to help people when several sheds at a temporary sources added. ficer. On being informed, senior in distress during this difficult rehabilitation centre at Nuapara Venting their anger on the officials including Cuttack Sub- time,” he said. Balisahi here were damaged by administration, the homeless Collector Pratap Chandra Beura, Many districts in Odisha have wit- the Nor’wester, Tuesday. slum dwellers entered into a heated Cuttack deputy commissioner nessed a huge surge in the Covid- At least four persons including exchange with the police person- Abinash Rout and local tehsildar 19 cases in the last one month. two children sustained injuries in nel who reached the spot for Sambit Gadnayak reached the spot However, with the hard work of all medicines free of cost to the peo- the incident. One of the injured rescue work. and tried to pacify the angry slum Covid warriors and the coopera- ple, Patnaik asked the officers to en- has been admitted to SCB Medical The slum dwellers hurled stones dwellers. tion of people, the state has been able sure quality services. College and Hospital, sources said. at the police personnel and van- “The officials proposed to relo- to manage the situation, Patnaik The officials have been told to con- The administration had earlier dalised two police vehicles. cate the homeless to a few schools A face-off between the slum dwellers and police OP PHOTOS said, adding, “Still the challenge tinue taking feedback of patients is huge and the battle is long.” under Mo Sarkar initiative. They To slowdown the infection rate, have been instructed to take di- the government has imposed lock- rect feedback from doctors who Capital records RESPITE FROM HEAT CM enquires down for two weeks. So far, the lock- are manning the ICUs & HDUs, down enforcement has been going and act on their suggestions. 16.9mm rainfall about LoP’s health on well. However, there is still scope On supply of medical oxygen to for improvement in some places, other states, the CM directed the BHUBANESWAR: Thunderstorm with POST NEWS NETWORK the Chief Minister pointed out. Collectors and SPs to give top pri- lightning accompanied by strong wind “Our successful model of disas- ority to the mission and monitor lashed several parts of the state includ- Bhubaneswar, May 11: Chief ter management is based on com- it round the clock. Patnaik further ing Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Water- Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday munity involvement and that is the told the officials to prioritise vac- logging was witnessed at several low- discussed with doctors about the sustainable way to face a pandemic cination programme and make lying areas in the twin city while trees health condition of Leader of as well. Involve local communities fool-proof arrangements for it. were uprooted under the impact of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik and various associations in urban “Vaccination will be our main gusty surface wind along the Ring Road who is being treated at AIIMS- areas, and Panchayati Raj Institutions strategy to control the pandemic in in Cuttack. According to India Bhubaneswar after he contracted (PRIs) in rural areas to effectively future and bring back normalcy in Meteorological Department, highest 39 the novel coronavirus. reach out to people,” he said. the state. Till then we have to be ex- mm recorded at Balasore, followed by He further advised the officials tremely cautious. Take care of eld- 37 mm at Sonepur and 30.2 mm at The doctors at AIIMS- Bolangir Tuesday. Similarly, Puri record- to take necessary countermeasures erly, women and other vulnerable ed a rainfall of 29 mm, whereas it was Bhubaneswar briefed for a possible third wave of Covid- sections in the vaccination drive. 24 mm at Cuttack, 16.9 mm at the CM that Naik is 19. The Health department and We are trying our best to mobilise Bhubaneswar, 26 mm at Talcher, 24.6 Puri district officials were told to adequate vaccines at the earliest pos- mm at Phulbani, 23.4 mm at Titlagarh currently Covid negative complete vaccination of all servi- sible time,” he said. and 22 mm at Boudh. Many others tors and their family members be- The CM again appealed to peo- places including Paralakhemundi, fore Rath Yatra. ple to wear masks, wash hands Chhatrapur, Nayagarh, Sambalpur, Naik is under treatment at Stating that the state govern- regularly, maintain social dis- Hirakud, Angul, Jharsuguda, Baripada, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar for the last 16 ment is providing testing, treat- tancing and stay at home unless it Gopalpur and Paradip have also days. ment, food, accommodation, and is absolutely necessary to go out. received showers. Capital city witnesses showers due to the impact of a Nor’wester, Tuesday evening OP PHOTO The Chief Minister interacted with the doctors at AIIMS and SCB who are taking care of Naik. The doctors briefed Patnaik that Naik is currently Covid negative. MCL comes forward to set up vaccination centres However, there is widespread in- flammation and lungs infection because of which he is on ventilator AGENCIES In the first quarter of current fi- rent fiscal, which was 15 per cent support and his condition contin- nancial year, MCL has taken a series higher than the dispatch of dry ues to be serious. Bhubaneswar, May 11: Mahanadi NOBLE of measures involving over `32 crore fuel during the same period of last They are making best possible Coalfields Limited (MCL) has of- to strengthen the fight against Covid- financial year 2020-21. efforts for his early recovery, sources fered the state government to es- INITIATIVE 19, besides ensuring increased quan- MCL CMD PK Sinha has stressed at the CMO said. tablish Covid-19 vaccination cen- CL has supported the tity of coal to power plants. on regular health monitoring of The AIIMS Director Geetanjali tres at five healthcare facilities in MOdisha government and It spent `135 crore in different coalfield workers, who are under Batmanabane thanked the state Angul, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda district authorities to set up and Covid-19 mitigating activities in treatment at various hospitals as government for its support to the and Sundargarh districts. run Covid-19 hospitals with Odisha during last financial year, well as at their residences. treatment of the Leader of In his letter to the state govern- 1,405 beds and has further extended its sup- MCL has lost 18 employees to Opposition, especially timely sup- ment, MCL director (Personnel) n the first quarter of current port to state government in estab- Covid-19 pandemic, while 420 offi- port of critical medicines. Keshav Rao has offered to establish Ifiscal, MCL has taken a series lishing Covid-19 hospitals and pro- cers and staffers are still under Patnaik appreciated the efforts Covid-19 vaccination centres while of measures at an estimated viding other infrastructure support. treatment for the infection. of the doctors and requested them seeking its help for the noble ini- cost of over `32 crore to The company is procuring 200 MCL, which contributes about 20 to provide the best health care to tiative. strengthen the fight against oxygen cylinders and concentrators per cent to the country’s total coal Naik and assured all support from

MCL, a Miniratna Subsidiary to help Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, production, has supported the state the state government. The CM

k y m Covid-19 c Company of Coal India Limited, will Sundargarh and Angul districts government and district authorities wished speedy recovery of Naik. ` establish the vaccination centres he company had spent 135 to combat Covid-19 pandemic. to set up and run Covid-19 hospitals Earlier, Union Minister for inoculating company employ- Tcrore in different Covid-19 Anticipating a rise in power de- with 1,405 beds, including 189 ICU Dharmendra Pradhan discussed mitigating activities in Odisha ees, contractors’ workers, their mand in the country, the company ones. The company is also con- with the doctors of AIIMS during last fiscal family members and peripheral ensured adequate daily supply of ducting sanitisation drives in pe- Bhubaneswar & New Delhi and A youth takes the Covid jab in Cuttack, Tuesday OP PHOTO population, a company release said. coal from its mines during the cur- ripheral localities, using fog cannons. SCB Medical College. P4 WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

State logs 9,793 fresh nCoV cases Chandan Yatra to be held with 50 to 65 servitors

k y m POST NEWS NETWORK The servitors, including palan- imum participation of the servitors c quin bearers and boat operators, and without the devotees during the Puri, May 11: The 21-day-long participating in the 21-day fete pandemic. Sources said that the TEACHERS DEMAND Chandan Yatra (water sport) of would have to undergo RT-PCR Chhatisha Niyog also agreed to the Srimandir deities will be ob- test and only those having negative start the construction of three served in a traditional manner at reports would be allowed. chariots for the annual car festival. COVID WARRIOR TAG Narendra pond with participation According to district Collector During the 21-day summer fes- of only 50 to 65 servitors begin- Samarth Verma, devotees can watch tival, Madan Mohan, Ramakrushna, Bhubaneswar: The All Odisha ning Akshaya Tritiya, May 15, an live telecast of the rituals. The dis- Bhudevi and Sreedevi from Lower Secondary Teachers’ official said Tuesday. trict administration will make the Srimandir would come to the Association (AOLSTA) urged the According to a standard operat- necessary arrangements for the Narendra tank in their respective state government to declare teach- ing procedure released by Chhatisha purpose. The district Collector has palanquins, covering about 1.5 km ers on duty as Covid warriors, Niyog after a virtual meeting with visited the Rath Yard earlier in along the Grand Road for boating Tuesday. Some teachers are not all the stakeholders, around 10 pla- the day so as to ensure arrange- (Chapa khela) and return late in the In a letter to the state government, even getting masks, toons of force will be deployed along ments for seamless construction of evening to the temple. the association said that the pan- sanitisers or PPE kits. We the Grand Road to Narendra pond. the three mega chariots for the up- Huge sun shades have been demic is on the rise in Odisha. At are getting reports of Section 144 under CrPC would be coming Rath Yatra. raised along the route while twin this juncture, the state govern- several teachers’ deaths promulgated around the Narendra Servitor Santosh Kumar Panda boats ‘Nanda’ and ‘Bhadra’ have ment is engaging teachers in Covid from different districts. We pond to restrict possible presence and expressed satisfaction over the de- been repaired as well as coloured duty, but it is yet to declare them demand the government to congregation of devotees. cision to observe the fest with min- for the purpose. as Covid warriors unlike healthcare immediately declare on- workers and journalists. duty teachers as Covid AOLSTA secretary Sukanta warriors A woman takes a jab at a drive-in vaccination camp at a shopping mall in Kumar Behera said that the gov- FOR A PRIZE CATCH SUKANTA KUMAR BEHERA I AOLSTA Kalpana area of Bhubaneswar, Tuesday ernment has been putting teachers SECRETARY in Covid-related duties such as PNN/AGENCIES form about the demise of eight- awareness drives, listing of people een Covid positive patients while coming from outside, distribution kits. We are getting reports of sev- Bhubaneswar, May 11: Odisha’s under treatment in hospitals.” of masks, ration and books to chil- eral teachers’ deaths from differ- Covid-19 caseload Tuesday rose to Four fatalities were recorded in dren since February last year. The ent districts. We demand the gov- 5,54,666 after 9,793 more people Angul, three in Khurda, two each second wave of Covid-19 is taking ernment to immediately declare tested positive for the disease, while in Kalahandi, Rayagada and a dangerous turn and the govern- on-duty teachers as Covid war- 18 fresh fatalities pushed the state’s Sundargarh. One each succumbed ment is putting more and more riors,” he said. death toll to 2,215, a Health de- to the infection in Boudh, Deogarh, teachers in this task which is jeop- Earlier, Umerkote MLA partment official said. Gajapati, Malkangiri and Puri. ardising the safety of their families. Nityananda Gond and Paralakhe- Of the 9,793 new cases, 5,534 This apart, 53 other Covid-19 pa- They should be given all neces- mundi Legislator K Narayana Rao were reported from various quar- tients in the state have died due to sary facilities like masks, sanitis- had written to the state asking it to antine centres and the remaining comorbidities. As many as 4,57,569 ers, PPE kits, drinking water and declare teachers on pandemic duty detected during contact tracing, patients have so far recovered from vaccines as soon as possible. as Covid warriors as they are work- the official said. the highly infectious disease. “Some teachers are not even get- ing in public area and having high Khurda district, of which state cap- Odisha's positivity rate currently ting masks, sanitisers or PPE chance of contracting the virus. ital Bhubaneswar is a part, reported stands at 5.23 per cent. Over 1.06 the maximum number of new cases crore samples have been tested in at 1,511, followed by Sundargarh at the state thus far, including 46,241 inoculation drive for the younger May 1 with 5,634 recoveries May 1 1,018 and Cuttack at 641. Monday, the official said. population is already underway in to 9,706 May 10. Sources said dur- Barring Malkangiri, Dhenkanal Meanwhile, vaccination for peo- areas managed by the Bhubaneswar ing May, while over a lakh posi- and Bhadrak, all 27 other districts ple in the 18-44 years age bracket Municipal Corporation (BMC), the tive cases have so far been reported reported over 100 new cases. began in four municipal corporation official added. in the state, 71,819 have been re- Taking to Twitter, the Health areas of Odisha -- Cuttack, Rourkela, There has been a steady rise in covered. The Covid-19 has claimed A fisherman casts his net in the river Daya on Bhubaneswar’s outskirts with the help of an inflated tube in an department said, “Regret to in- Sambalpur and Berhampur. The the recovery cases in the state since 161 lives during the last 10 days. overcast Tuesday afternoon OP PHOTO Vax for 18+ begins Procurement of pulses, Covid claims Vig in 4 more towns NHRC ultimatum to Mayurbhanj court judge oilseeds from May 13 POST NEWS NETWORK admin over rape of minor girl POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, May 11: The state POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, May 11: A judge government Tuesday started the POST NEWS NETWORK at the Vigilance court in Cuttack vaccination drive for 18-44 age he district authorities were Bhubaneswar, May 11: The state Tuesday succumbed to Covid-19 group in four other corporation Bhubaneswar, May 11: National Tearlier directed by the apex government has decided to com- while he was undergoing towns—Cuttack, Berhampur, Human Rights Commission (NHRC) rights body to submit the mence procurement of oil seeds treatment at a private hospital payment details within four Sambalpur and Rourkela. has issued a reminder to the District and pulses under Price Support here. The deceased identified weeks The state government had de- Magistrate of Mayurbhanj as well Scheme (PSS) from May 13. as Rajkishore Nayak is a resident cided to launch the vaccination as the Superintend of Police to owever, despite repeated Food Supplies and Consumer of Champatipur village in drive only in five municipal cor- submit particulars of compensa- Hreminders, the district Welfare (FS&CW) Minister Nayagarh district. He was 56. poration areas owing to shortage tion awarded to a minor girl who administration did not submit Ranendra Pratap Swain Tuesday Nayak was recently admitted of vaccines. While Covaxin is being was sexually abused. the details directed the officials to collect the to the private hospital after being administrated in Bhubaneswar The commission also expressed pulses and oilseeds from farmers diagnosed with Covid positive. He Municipal Corporation (BMC) area, its annoyance over the non-com- he commission mentioned in as per Covid guidelines and provide had joined the Vigilance court at Civishield is being given in four pliance of its order seeking details Tits order that it should have profit to farmers as per PSS norms. Cuttack April 30. other towns. from the Mayurbhanj district ad- taken coercive action against The Centre has fixed the MSP of The Centre has fixed Earlier, he was posted as a judge As many as 18,236 persons of ministration regarding the pay- the authorities for such non- moong (green gram) at `7,196 per at the Family Court of Bargarh. the 18-44 years group received the ment of compensation to the rape gave a final opportunity to the au- compliance during normal times quintal, biri (black gram) at `6,000 the MSP of moong first dose Tuesday. Of them, 7,352 victim under the Protection of thorities to submit the compensa- per quintal, groundnut at `5,275 (green gram) at got Covaxin jabs in Bhubaneswar Children from Sexual Offences tion details keeping in view the sion of requisite report within six per quintal and sunflower seed at while 3,919 persons from (POCSO) Act. Covid-19 pandemic. weeks,” the order mentioned. `5,885 per quintal. The procure- Rs 7,196 per quintal CP ISSUES NEW Berhampur, 1,929 from Cuttack, The district authorities were “In normal circumstances, such The rights panel warned the dis- ment process will continue till 1,228 from Sambalpur and 3,808 earlier directed by the apex rights non-responsive attitude towards trict administration of personal August 10. State agencies - Odisha State HELPLINE FOR from Rourkela received the first body to submit the payment de- direction of the Commission would appearance if it failed to send the The state government aims to col- Cooperative Marketing Federation dose of Covishield. The Health de- tails within four weeks. However, have invited issuance of summons compensation report within the lect 13,250 metric tonne moong, (Markfed) and Tribal Development SENIOR CITIZENS partment has planned 495 vacci- despite repeated reminders, the U/S 13 of the PHR Act, 1993 calling specified time. 700 metric tonne biri, 7,775 metric Cooperative Corporation of Odisha nation sessions Wednesday. district administration is yet to for their personal appearance before Notably, the father of the vic- tonne groundnut and 675 metric Limited (TDCCL). POST NEWS NETWORK submit the details. the Commission, but in view of the tim had lodged a complaint with tonne sunflower in the 2020-21 rabi The State agencies will procure The commission mentioned in pandemic situation in the country, Mayurbhanj Sadar police in 2017 season. oilseeds and pulses from farmers Bhubaneswar, May 11: The its order that it should have taken last opportunity is being given to the alleging that a miscreant had sex- The process will be undertaken through primary agriculture co- Commissionerate Police has is- New nCoV hosp in coercive action against the au- District Magistrate as well as the ually abused her daughter and by National Agricultural operative societies and large area sued a dedicated helpline number thorities for such non-compliance Superintendent of Police, District later made viral her objectionable Cooperative Marketing Federation multi-purpose cooperative soci- to address the grievances of sen- Jharsuguda soon during normal times. However, it Mayurbhanj, Odisha for submis- videos on social media. of India Ltd (Nafed) through two eties under PSS. ior citizens during the Covid-in- duced lockdown and weekend shut- POST NEWS NETWORK down period. In a video message, the Bhubaneswar, May 11: Following Mental harassment of minor Commissioner of Police Saumendra the demand from public repre- ECoR carries 1,134 tonne LMO Priyadarshi said, “the sentatives, the state government Commissionerate Police of the has decided to set up a Covid hos- alleged; pvt school in soup POST NEWS NETWORK twin city has started a helpline pital at Bandhabahal in Jharsuguda number to assist the senior citi- district, Health and Family Welfare POST NEWS NETWORK on any matter before or after re- Bhubaneswar, May 11: East zens during the period of lock- (H&FW) Minister Naba Kishore turning the cheque, flouting the Coast Railway (ECoR) has carried down. The helpline number is Das said here Tuesday. Bhubaneswar, May 11: Father of CBSE guidelines. He also mentioned over 1,134 tonne of Liquid Medical 8093028100.” It would be a 100-bed hospital a minor student lodged a complaint the notification issued by the NCPCR Oxygen (LMO) from different steel He further revealed that as many with 20 ICU beds that would be at Khandagiri police station seek- that advises the school officials to dis- plants under its jurisdiction to- as 25,000 elderly citizens have been managed by SUM Hospital, ing action against the principal of cuss the fee related issues with par- wards states like Maharashtra, registered with the twin city police. Bhubaneswar, Das said. At present, a private high school for allegedly ents or guardians of the children. Telangana, Haryana and Delhi, an “The helpdesk is trying to contact Jharsuguda has one Covid hospi- torturing his daughter. Khandagiri Bebarta alleged that his daughter official said Tuesday. around 70 to 80 senior citizens tal with a capacity of 220 beds in- police have started investigation started complaining about headache every day to find out their wellbe- cluding 20 in ICU. At least 160 beds into the matter after registering a and mental complications follow- Around 895.86 tonne of ing during this period,” the are being filled up as oxygen case in this regard. ing the incident in her school. LMO has been carried Commissioner added. pipeline work is going on in some According to the complaint, the Bebarta, then, informed the principal Sources claimed that the desk unoccupied portions of the hos- daughter of Bhumohan Bebarta is about the girl’s health status . to different states has managed to contact around 250 pital. a Class IX student of a private Meanwhile, the principal, al- through RORO services From Angul, three trains have Kalinga Nagar has been carried to elderly persons in the twin city till As the situation is turns alarm- English medium school at legedly through the class teacher, carried around 188.07 tonne of Delhi in seven cryogenic tankers now. Meanwhile, Priyadarshi in- ing day by day, the requirement Khandagiri. Bebarta had report- served notice to the student in class from Angul LMO in 14 tankers towards in a train. Similarly, 104.43 tonne formed about the further intensi- will surpass the capacity of the edly deposited a cheque in the that her name would be struck off Telangana, four trains have car- of the life saving gas was loaded fication of checking and patrolling hospital at Jharsuguda. Therefore, school’s drop-box to pay his daugh- the school register 30 August 2019. ried around 243.88 tonne of the life from Rashtriya Ispat Nigam in twin city during lockdown and the new hospital is being set up, ter’s tution fee 30 July, 2019. However, The complainant accused the school According to an ECoR state- saving gas in 16 tankers towards Limited in Visakhapatnam for shutdown period. He warned of sources said. sources claimed that the principal authorities of deliberately humil- ment, around 895.86 tonne of LMO Nagpur and 10 trains have carried Nagpur and Nasik Road in last strict action against the flouters. Similarly, the government has de- had returned the cheque to his iating his daughter before her has been carried to different states around 463.91 tonne of LMO stored week of April, 2021, it added. He revealed that several shops have cided to enhance the number of daughter before her batch mates in friends despite knowing her men- through RORO (Roll On/Roll Off) in 28 tankers towards Delhi and ECoR General Manager Vidya been sealed and fined for violating beds in Jagatsinghpur district 2 August, 2019. The complainant ac- tal health status. His daughter is now services from Angul, 133.2 tonne Haryana in the last 10 days. Bhushan had earlier instructed the Covid guidelines. He again urged headquarters hospital to 300 from cused that the school authorities under medication for mental and from Jajpur and 104.43 tonne from This apart, around 133.2 tonne officials to take the supply of oxy- the citizens of the twin city to fol-

existing 126. never contacted and consulted him neurological complications. Visakhapatnam. of LMO from Tata Steel Plant in gen during crisis as a challenge. low Covid appropriate behaviour.

k y m c P5 WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state Woman booked

for thrashing goat Unfair toll fee collection on NHs pinches commuters

k y m c POST NEWS NETWORK DESPITE ORDERS, THE NHAI IS YET TO SHIFT PANIKOILI AND SRIRAMPUR TOLL PLAZAS 60 KM APART

Kendrapara, May 11: Patkura POST NEWS NETWORK Following a heavy uproar, the The State Transport to pay toll fee twice on the route. police in Kendrapara district state government and the NHAI The anomalies in toll fee collec- Tuesday registered a case against Jajpur, May 11: Unfair toll col- had decided to shift the toll plazas Department directed the tion have sparked resentment among a woman for beating a goat. lection has allegedly crossed all at a distance of 60 km from regional transport the people and commuters on the The case was registered on the limits at the three toll plazas on each other. officers (RTOs) of Jajpur, highway. It is alleged that the agency basis of a complaint lodged by an- National Highways Nos. 16 and 53 Accordingly, the toll plaza on NH- managing the Panikoili toll plaza other woman. The two women in Jajpur district, a report said. 16 at Manguli in Cuttack district was Chandikhole, Balasore fears that the shifting of toll plaza happen to be sisters. Such irregularities have been re- recently shifted to Bandalo in Jajpur and Bhadrak to identify might result in heavy revenue loss. Rupa Mallick and Henna Mallick ported from the three toll plazas of district. However, the Panikoili toll As a result, they are opposing the reside in Madana village under the National Highways Authorities plaza on NH-16 in the district has not the sites for shifting of decision. They have allegedly man- Patkura police limits. The two of India (NHAI) functioning in the been shifted to Dahala in Bhadrak the toll plazas on NH-16 aged to put off the decision with the families had a long-standing dis- district. It has been five years since district, which is 60 km from help of an influential political pute over property. the state government decided to Bandalo. Panikoili toll plaza and 53, August 11, 2016 person. Rupa’s goat Tuesday entered shift the toll plazas on the highways Similarly, the toll plaza at A goods truck owner, Smruti Heena’s house to drink water. and establish them at a distance of Srirampur on NH-53 has also not ing of the toll plazas on NH-16 and RTOs were asked to consult the re- plaza on NH-53 near Chandikhole is Ranjan Ghadei alleged that a min- Heena, who had been looking for 60 km from each other. been shifted to Marshaghai in 53, August 11, 2016. spective executive engineers and only 47 km instead of 60 km. eral-laden truck has pay toll fee an opportunity to settle a score, at- However, except for shifting the Kendrapara district. Questions The additional secretary, chief engineer of the NHAI in their Moreover, the toll plazas at Panikoili twice at two toll plazas located tacked the animal. Manuguli toll plaza to Bandalo, the have been doing the rounds as to why Transport (Technical), in his let- areas while identifying the sites. and Hasanpur on NH-200 in Keonjhar within 50 km between Joda and Hearing the cries of the ani- two other toll plazas at Panikoili the toll plazas at Panikoili and ter (12448, dated-11.08.2016) issued The Transport Department de- district are within only 35 km. Paradip. Moreover, the Fasttag fa- mal, Rupa came out of her house on NH-16 and at Srirampur on NH- Srirampur are not being shifted to orders to the RTOs of Jajpur, cided to shift the toll plazas July A case in point is that a person cility is not being implemented and on realising that Heena had 53 are yet to be shifted. the designated sites even after shift- Chandikhole, Balasore and Bhadrak 19, 2016 and apprised the engineer- from Bhubaneswar wishing to properly at the Panikoili toll plaza beaten her goat, she took the mat- According to NHAI guidelines, ing of the Manguli toll plaza to districts in this regard. in-chief and the Works Secretary visit the Maa Tarini temple at for which commuters often have to ter to the police station and lodged the distance between one toll plaza and Bandalo. In the order, the additional sec- about the development. Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district pay toll fee twice. a complaint. another should be a minimum of 60 Reports said that the state retary directed the RTOs to select However, the distance between has to pay toll fee thrice – once Meanwhile, another vehicle According to Rupa, Heena had km. But commuters have to unnec- Transport Department directed the sites for the toll plazas which will the toll plaza at Bandalo and the one each at the Bandalo, Panikoili and owner, Subhas Dhal warned of an an enmity with her, not with the essarily pay twice or thrice the amount regional transport officers (RTOs) be at a minimum distance of 60 km in Panikoili is only 47 km. Similarly, Hasanpur toll plazas. Similarly, a agitation if the Panikoili toll plaza hapless animal. IIC Sujit Pradhan of the prescribed toll fee while com- of Jajpur, Chandikhole, Balasore and from one another and at 10 km from the distance between the Panikoili person travelling to Bhubaneswar is not shifted to Dahala in Bhadrak is now investigating the case. muting on a highway. Bhadrak to identify sites for shift- the localities and market areas. The toll plaza and the Srirampur toll or Paradip via Jajpur Road has district soon. Angul admin accused UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Ganjam: Fresh protocols of fudging Covid deaths for marriages, functions

POST NEWS NETWORK 10 forest personnel at POST NEWS NETWORK Angul, May 11: It has been more Satkosia test positive Chhatrapur, May 11: Family func- than a year since the first case of tions and marriage ceremonies can Covid-19 was registered in Angul ANGUL: At least 10 personnel of the be conducted in Ganjam district district, May 10 last year. In 2020, Forest department working in the only after providing Covid nega- the total number of cases reported Satkosia wildlife sanctuary have tive RT-PCR reports of those par- from the district has been a little over tested positive for Covid-19, assis- ticipating in the events. Family Kulange also asked officials, doc- 20,000, while more than 100 have tant conservator of forests (ACF) members of the bridegroom as well tors and healthcare workers in- died due to the virus. However, Subhendu Behera informed Tuesday. as the bride attending marriage volved in the fight against Covid-19 sources alleged Tuesday that the Behera said that among the 10 in- functions will have to undergo to attend all distress calls in a proper figures regarding fatality have been fected persons, one is a forester and Covid-19 tests. This decision was manner. He said that it is the duty fudged by the district administration. the other nine are guards. He said taken at a meeting chaired by the of the administration to save the A number of residents alleged that some of the infected are being District Collector Vijay Amruta lives of the people at any cost. He that Covid-19 patients are dying treated at the Angul district head- Kulange here Monday. further said that those who are in every day and their bodies are being quarters hospital (DHH) while the The state government had al- home isolation must also be at- cremated at Karadagadia crema- others are in home isolation. ready announced the protocols for tended to and taken care of. tion ground. “Last year 51 bodies It may be mentioned here that the marriage ceremonies and small Keeping the surge in the number were cremated and one was buried. Satkosia sanctuary has been closed public gatherings. However, the of cases in view, Kulange asked the However, the government figure for visitors since April 2 in the Ganjam district administration officials to keep additional 100 beds showed only 37 deaths. So there is wake of Covid-19. has issued fresh guidelines keeping ready in Berhampur and Chhatrapur discrepancy,” they pointed out. The Union Ministry of in mind the rising number of Covid temporary health centres. Environment, Forest and Climate cases in the district. Expressing concern over jour- Change (MoEFCC) had ordered Kulange said permission for mar- nalists succumbing to the disease, the closure of all national parks, riage ceremonies will be denied if he requested them, mostly those sanctuaries and national zoolog- any of the family members of the who work in block levels, to take pre- ical parks May 4 till further notice. bride or bridegroom tests cautionary measures while The order came after eight Asiatic A man carrying his ailing daughter on his shoulder to a hospital during lockdown in Sambalpur, Tuesday OP PHOTO Covid positive. collecting news. lions at Hyderabad zoo tested pos- itive for Covid-19.

only one per cent of those as Covid- 19 deaths. Collector stalls teachers’ transfer “Families of the deceased have the right to know the reason of POST NEWS NETWORK fer of some teachers was done after death of their loved ones,” he said. paying graft/commission at various Additional district medical offi- Nabarangpur, May 11: A large levels. MLAs and MPs had allegedly cer (PH)-cum-Covid manager, Dr number of teachers have been en- recommended the transfer 32 teach- Dhananjaya Behera said the bodies gaged in Covid-19 management in ers. It was stated that the transfer was of the Covid-19 patients are being Nabarangpur district, which is wit- done on the basis of a circular issued “During this second wave of the taken to the old mortuary. They nessing a surge in the infectious dis- by the School and Mass Education pandemic, patients are dying on a are sent to the Karadagadia cre- ease. Keeping the roles of teachers Department in 2018. daily basis. The way the bodies of mation ground only after receiv- in view during this pandemic, the Taking note of the complaints, the deceased pile up at the crema- ing the nod from the district Collector has stalled the transfer of Collector Ajit Kumar Mishra had is- tion spot is ample proof of the high Collector. 158 teachers in the district, a sued a show-cause notice to the dis- number of fatalities. So far 52 bod- When contacted, District Collector report said. trict education officer on why the ies have been cremated at the Siddharth Shankar Swain had an According to the report, many of teachers would not be transferred Karadagadia crematorium. explanation to offer. He said the the teachers have tested Covid pos- on the basis of a new circular is- However, the government says that district Health department is pro- itive and are currently under sued in 2021. only 47 Covid-19 patients have died,” viding the list of Covid-19 deaths to treatment. “Teachers can apply online for they added. the state government after con- Besides, the teachers are engaged their transfer. Why there would be no Noted advocate Bhupesh Chandra ducting an audit. in multiple works such as uniform ers transferred to various places transparency in showing reasons Pradhan expressed his concern The district Tuesday reported distribution among students, mid- April 29. However, the administration and motives behind the transfers,” over the fudging of data regarding 526 new cases and four more fatal- day meal rice distribution and ros- had received complaints about the pos- the Collector sought to know from fatalities. He alleged that hundreds ities. With this, the district’s Covid ter duty for students’ admission. sible outcome of teachers’ transfer the DEO. of Covid-19 patients have died. tally and death toll have gone up to The office of the district education during the pandemic. Consequently, the transfers were However, the government has listed 19,625 and 47 respectively. officer had published the list of teach- Besides, it was alleged that trans- cancelled Tuesday. Revolving car Advanced healthcare projects a non-starter unveiled at POST NEWS NETWORK on its infrastructure is in it is alleged that DMF fund full swing. But the trauma is not being spent for the de- Berhampur ITI Jajpur, May 11: Advanced care centre at Panikoili is velopment of the mining healthcare is still a dream still at the tender process. hub at Jajpur Road. POST NEW NETWORK for people in industrial dis- The Works Department had There are proposals for trict of Jajpur, as several floated a tender for the an Urban CHC and a 200-bed Berhampur, May 11: A revolving healthcare projects like an trauma care centre hospital at Jajpur Road. car developed by the Industrial ESI hospital, a trauma care November 23, 2020 but it was Jindal Super Specialty Training Institute (ITI) in Berhampur centre and a super specialty learnt that no bidder took Hospital has been proposed was unveiled Tuesday on the occa- hospital by Jindal and an part in the tender before its at Chhotraypur, but the land sion of National Technology Day. urban CHC are yet to take off. deadline expired. The de- for the project has not yet The innovative car revolves at According to reports, the partment floated another been identified. 1480 RPM and is driven by a two state government had pro- tender December 30, 2020. Executive engineer of the HP and 3 phase squirrel cage in- posed to the Centre to es- This time, only one agency Works Department, Arun duction electric motor, said ITI prin- tablish a hospital under the took part in the bidding, but Kumar Patnaik said that the cipal Rajat Kumar Panigrahi. Employees’ State Insurance it failed to qualify as per the first tender for the trauma Corporation (ESIC) at Duburi guidelines. care centre was cancelled in Kalinganagar area. The On the other hand, `66 and the second tender also ESI hospital holds much im- crore has been allocated for met with a similar fate. portance for the people en- As far as the 100-bed ESI ESIC to visit the earmarked building the proposed trauma gaged in various industrial hospital is concerned, the land and submit a report by care centre at Panikoili. The units in the district. district administration has May 14, 2020. Though almost trauma care centre holds However, the project has not gone beyond identifying a year has passed since then, much significance for the The car revolves at a height of failed to make headway dur- the land at Duburi. Three work on the project has re- district as accident cases are 10.6 feet and its speed can be re- ing the last seven years. patches of land, each com- mained a non-starter. on the rise on the three NHs duced to one RPM in five stages by Similarly, a trauma care prising five acres, have been There are three ESI dis- passing through the Jajpur. using a V pulley, helical gears and centre was proposed at identified at three places pensaries at Ferrochrome, Various outfits had de- bevel gears. Most of the parts used Panikoili. Sadly, the tender under Sukinda and Danagadi Pankapal and Dhanmandal, manded establishment of a to make the car are scrap materials, for construction of its build- tehsils. but workers say they fail to government medical college

while the other parts have been de- ing has been cancelled for A joint verification team avail of proper healthcare fa- at Panikoili, but the admin-

k y m c signed and developed in the CNC tool the second time. tasked to identify land for cilities at these dispensaries istration allegedly suppressed room and turner workshop of the Moreover, there has been the ESI hospital has sub- for shortage of doctors. the agitation with the prom- institute with the active participa- no progress on the proposed mitted its report February 4, However, the state gov- ise of a trauma care centre. tion of students and teachers. 100-bed Jindal Super 2020 to the government. The ernment has approved setting Jajpur Road with a popu- This is the second revolving car Specialty Hospital and an ESIC director had instructed up a medical college in the lation of nearly 1.5 lakhs is of the country, he added. Urban CHC at Jajpur Road. the regional director of the district and currently work close to Kalinganagar. But P6 WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS INDIA COVID CRISIS If you can always smile at life, life

will always smile at you.

k y m THE MOTHER GLOBAL CONCERN c

hen I was growing up in northern India’s Kashmir Virus Sans Frontier WValley, my physician father would often accompany me t a time when India is fast turning into a crematorium due to the fury when I received my annual vac- of the second wave of COVID-19, a ruthless and cynical private busi- cinations. I used to ask him how Aness has started within the country and outside over the production vaccines worked and where they and supply of vaccines to tackle the pandemic. The government and the Prime were developed. After explaining Minister Narendra Modi seem to have lost their voice and are watching the the basic biology of the human agony and helplessness of millions of people like mute spectators. The let- immune system, my father would ter written by the BJP president JP Nadda to Congress interim president Sonia highlight how vaccines were the Gandhi for her trenchant criticism of the government’s handling of the pan- result of global efforts, with sci- demic is even worse. He accuses the Congress of “weakening the fight entists and firms around the world against COVID-19” and makes the ludicrous claim that India’s fight against working meticulously to ensure the pandemic, led by Modi, is “driven by unwavering belief in principles of that all who received them were science, support to innovation, trust in our Covid warriors and cooperative protected. federalism.” The BJP is still continuing with its bombast. Today, only global action can In fact, the government’s policy of liberalising the two vaccines - Covishield address the ongoing COVID-19 cri- and Covaxin - looks like a ploy to wash its hands off the botched up deliv- sis in India, where the number of ery system and tailor-made for the private operators to make windfall profit daily cases recently exceeded cashing in on the people’s fear for their life. In the first place, all over the coun- Junaid Nabi 400,000 (a world record), and more try, it has led to wide differences in the prices that private hospitals are charg- than 245,000 people have died. The international community must join forces and develop a collective ing for the shots. In metros, this is not just inter-city, but also intra-city. One Epidemiological models from the approach to support India in this crisis, not only as a moral imperative, report reveals as per the Co-WIN portal at the beginning of this week the H THE MORE THE Institute for Health Metrics and N Reliance Hospital in Mumbai is charging `700 per dose for Covishield — Evaluation at the University of but also because the health of other countries’ populations and `100 more than the price at which the Serum Institute of India (SII) sold the CORONAVIRUS Washington project that infections economies are at stake... no country is safe until every country is safe vaccine to private hospitals. The Nanavati Hospital in the city has set a SPREADS AND in India will continue to grow ex- price of `900 for one shot. Other hospitals like Dr B L Kapur Hospital in Delhi ponentially, peaking in mid-May, and Max Healthcare in North India which, like Nanavati, are also charging REPLICATES IN and that the country’s total COVID- verely limited in poorer countries steps to mitigate the impact. which built a hospital in five days this rate as per Co-WIN data. 19 death toll could eventually top in Africa and in South America, First, the US, which has lost al- when infections surged in the Similarly, the current rate specified by Apollo Hospitals and Fortis INDIA, THE one million. While the implica- which is still recovering from the most 600,000 citizens to COVID-19 country earlier this year, can ad- Healthcare for a dose of Covaxin across the country is `1,250 on Co-WIN which MORE IT WILL tions for India are dire, global pol- unchecked spread of the Brazil (more than any other country), vise on how to scale up capacity. is `50 more than the price set by Bharat Biotech for the private market. icymakers would be reckless to variant. If B.1.617 can cause so should play a leading role. Although Nigeria and the US can provide However, those seeking Covaxin at Kolkata’s Woodlands Hospital would MUTATE. think that the impact will be lim- much damage in India – a country President Joe Biden’s adminis- technical assistance in convert- have to pay `1,500 per dose, going by Co-WIN. As of May 5, Bangalore’s BGS UNCONTROLLED ited to one country. with moderate health-system ca- tration has promised to donate 60 ing large sports facilities into Gleneagles Global Hospital was also charging `1,500 per jab for Covaxin. It, That is because the more the pacity – its spread could devas- million doses of the Oxford- COVID-19 patient-isolation units however, clarified that its `1,500 charge was set for walk-in patients “only for CIRCULATION OF coronavirus spreads and repli- tate less well-equipped countries. AstraZeneca vaccine, recent re- in order to reduce the burden on the first two days, before the pricing and delivery mechanisms were optimised.” THE VIRUS WILL cates in India, the more it will mu- India’s travails represent a sud- ports suggest that it could take hospitals. It currently administers Covaxin at `1,250 and charges `1,500 when it administers tate. Uncontrolled circulation of the den and sharp reversal. The coun- up to two months to deliver them. Countries that have partly re- the vaccine in corporate offices or apartment buildings, as they involve ad- LEAD TO THE virus will lead to the emergence try supplies more than 60 per cent This process needs to be expe- covered from the pandemic should ditional travel and logistic costs. of novel variants that can pro- of vaccines globally, and it was dited. The US should also lead ef- also share oxygen concentrators According to some experts, the different rates are likely to cause dispar- EMERGENCE long the pandemic. The B.1.617 supposed to lead efforts to manu- forts to share the raw materials re- and ventilators. And international ity in access to vaccines. Most of the supply to private operators is now cor- OF NOVEL variant responsible for the car- facture COVID-19 vaccines for nu- quired to manufacture COVID-19 professional medical organisa- nered by select private hospitals which are setting their own prices, while nage in India has already been merous countries. But with the vaccines to help increase pro- tions can combine their resources states are scrambling to access doses. The Orissa government has been VARIANTS THAT observed in 19 other countries, new variant crushing India’s health duction capacity in India. and develop protocols to deliver es- forced to float a global tender for getting enough vaccines to inoculate the CAN PROLONG including the United States. Recent system, it is unclear how long it will Second, the international com- sential supplies, including oxy- state’s entire population as the Centre and the private hospitals have sim- reports also suggest that this vari- take to increase production ca- munity should join the US in sup- gen, personal protective equip- ply failed to supply adequate number of doses. There is complete lack of trans- THE PANDEMIC ant can potentially evade the im- pacity. India is currently running porting a worldwide waiver of in- ment, and medications. parency in the system and it looks like the prices may stabilise if the sup- mune response, which would fur- out of COVID-19 vaccines, and the tellectual property (IP) related to As some countries finally start ply picks up following the simple rule of demand and supply. In other words, ther exacerbate the strain on health Serum Institute of India – the COVID-19 supplies, including vac- to emerge from the COVID-19 cri- even in such times of national calamity the government has left vaccination systems. In addition, we do not world’s largest vaccine manufac- cines – a move that India and South sis, policymakers should not for- to the profit-making, blood-thirsty market forces leaving the common man yet know how much protection turer – is unable to boost produc- Africa have long advocated at the get the pandemic’s most impor- to wolves. currently approved COVID-19 vac- tion for the time being. Economists World Trade Organisation. With tant lesson: no country is safe until On the other hand, in the US, the Biden administration’s laudable an- cines can provide against B.1.617, were already projecting that low- less than 2 per cent of Indians every country is safe. While India’s nouncement last week that it would support waiving patent protections for which could threaten the effec- resource countries may not achieve fully vaccinated, the urgency of crisis has highlighted the global na- Covid-19 vaccines has remained only a statement of intent without tangible tiveness of global vaccination widespread COVID-19 vaccine cov- the waiver cannot be overstated. ture of public health, it has also pre- action till now. The gesture cannot be translated into reality as yet because campaigns. erage until 2023. The current cri- And as Jeffrey D. Sachs recently sented an opportunity to demon- of the vaccine manufacturers’ strong lobby which is pleading that the step Worryingly, the emergence of sis will further impede global post- explained, there are mechanisms strate once again the benefits of would reduce their profits. Experts in the USA point out these companies this variant also threatens vul- pandemic recovery. for maintaining pharmaceutical international collaboration. have already made phenomenal profits by supplying their vaccines to dif- nerable health systems in other low- The international community innovation while promoting vac- ferent countries. Leaders of some wealthy European nations, including resource countries, including must now join forces and develop cination efforts in India and else- The writer, a senior fellow France and Germany, have opposed the relaxation of patents and are clos- India’s neighbours, Pakistan and a collective approach to support where, including compensating at the Aspen Institute, is a ing ranks among the member nations of the World Trade Organisation on Bangladesh, which have high pop- India in this crucial phase, not IP holders and limiting the scope member of the Working the same page with them. But, in their own selfish interest they should stop ulation densities, insufficient in- only as a moral imperative, but and duration of any waiver. Group on Regulatory thinking of profiting from vaccine business as the current superspread of tensive-care capacity and venti- also because the health of other Countries should also coordi- Considerations for Digital the virus in India or anywhere else would also affect their lives since the virus lators, and current COVID-19 countries’ populations and nate with the World Health Health and Innovation at the does not bow to geographical boundaries. vaccination rates below 5 per cent. economies are at stake. Organisation to increase India’s World Health Organisation. Merely waving patents is not enough. The need of the hour is to gear up Healthcare capacity is also se- Governments can take several health-system capacity. China, ©PROJECT SYNDICATE manufacturing vaccines, Richard Besser, former acting director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention under President Barack Obama told the New York Times (NYT)- “It’s going to take a concerted effort to transfer technology” to the rest of the world. What is of vital importance is IN JEST THIS ramping up indigenous production of vaccines with whatever technology is available. An international non-profit organisation, CARE, according to a NYT report, has pointed out equal emphasis has to be given on effective distribution of vaccine doses. It has estimated that effectively distributing a vaccine dose costs, on an average, five times as much as producing them. Even in countries where a large number of vaccine doses are available, Consider all factors before getting a divorce many are going unused for lack of distribution infrastructure, including scarce medical staff to administer the doses. India is a victim of such a situation ill and Melinda Gates an- cent, India’s divorce rate is esti- happiness should not be your only among couples in unhappy mar- and paying for it with uncounted precious lives. nounced recently that they mated to be around 1 per cent, consideration. Think of the kids. riages, those who get divorced are Bare getting divorced after 27 among the lowest in the world. How is it going to affect them? If you just as unhappy five years later as years of marriage. The Microsoft Does that mean that 99 per cent of don’t have kids, think of your par- those who stay married. It’s bet- co-founder and his wife are worth married people in India are happy ents and your in-laws? How is it ter to be unhappy with a little com- WISDOM CORNER a combined $124 billion and have in their marriages? No, it means that going to affect them? Okay, per- pany than to be unhappy all alone. given away a portion of their wealth 99 per cent of married people in haps you may not really care how 4. Things could get better. Don’t Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in through the Bill and Melinda Gates India are unable to find anyone your divorce might affect your in- assume that a bad marriage will al- overalls and looks like work. THOMAS A. EDISON Foundation. better. laws, but don’t be surprised if your ways be a bad marriage. In ten “After a great deal of thought The truth is more complicated mother-in-law cries for weeks or years, it might become an “okay Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result and a lot of work on our relation- than that, of course. Divorce is a your father-in-law calls you names marriage.” And ten years after of hard work. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ship, we have made the decision to messy process and most people he normally reserves for other mo- that, it might become an “almost- end our marriage,” the couple said just don’t want to go through with torists on the highway. good marriage.” You might find A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a Melvin Durai in a statement. it, even if it means staying in a 2. Don’t use another couple’s yourself saying, “I’ll get a divorce caring, sharing person inside. DENIS WAITLEY Their words indicate that they marriage that brings them as much marriage as a model. They may only if a divorce lawyer sends me IT’S BETTER TO did not take divorce lightly. That’s happiness as a genital wart. look really happy, especially in a discount coupon.” probably why their marriage lasted But as divorce becomes more those romantic photos they share 5. Think of all the shared assets BE UNHAPPY 27 years. Most celebrity couples acceptable in India, the divorce on social media, but do you really you have. Do you really want to WORDSWORTH WITH A LITTLE have trouble getting their mar- rate is bound to increase. If you’re know what’s going on in their mar- split them? It’s not just the kids riages to last 27 months. in an unhappy marriage and con- riage? Perhaps he’s smiling in the you’ll be fighting over -- it’s also the COMPANY THAN Actor Nicolas Cage, for example, templating divorce, I have just one photo because he just received a pets, the furniture, the yellowing Mumchance was married to Lisa Marie Presley word of advice for you: Don’t. text from the woman he’s having a copies of Reader’s Digest that you TO BE UNHAPPY for only 108 days. But you have to give Well, perhaps that’s a little too torrid affair with, and perhaps she’s just can’t part with. his is a rare recent appearance: His attendance was perfect. He ALL ALONE the couple some credit. At least strong. Divorce may indeed be the smiling because she just wrote a love There are many good reasons Tattended every possible meeting. And he sat mumchance throughout their marriage lasted 27 times longer right move for you, depending on letter to a man she met online, a soon- to consider divorce, of course. It’s every meeting. I suppose it’s how you define work. You can sit like a lump than Cage’s marriage to Erika Koike, your circumstances. But before to-be-single billionaire named Bill. up to you to decide whether to keep throughout hundreds of meetings. Or you can engage your brain to which lasted four days. you go through with it, here are 3. Divorce won’t necessarily the marriage going or, like Bill and question and to challenge (Selkirk Weekend Advertiser, 11 March 2010). While most western countries some points to ponder: make you happier. A study con- Melinda Gates, split your wealth You may deduce that to remain mumchance is to stay silent, with a hint have divorce rates above 40 per 1. It’s not all about you. Personal ducted in America found that with a divorce lawyer. that to do so may be a sign of inferior intellect. In fact, in some English dialects its main sense has been remaining stupidly or solidly silent. However, its first meaning was of a game of dice: But, leaving cardes, lets go to dice a while, To passage, treitrippe, hazarde, or mumchance. Ensure vaccine equity Dignity to deceased Machivell’s Dog, an anonymous satire of 1617. The second of these games is frequently spelled trey-trip, because success in playing it depended on Sir, The article “Patent Waiver Necessary” by Ajit Ranade rightly points out the bottlenecks associated Sir, Bodies of suspected COVID-19 the casting of a trey, a three. Nobody now seems to know the exact rules, with the production and distribution of the vaccine. Governments across the globe are intensifying their victims floating at Mahadeo Ghat though as it was often mentioned in the same breath as the dice game etters combat against Covid-19 and mass vaccination drives have been their top most priority in this direction. of the Ganga at Chausa village in hazard, ancestor of craps, it’s assumed that it was similar. The form and But the mass vaccination drive is being adversely affected because of low scale production vaccine and Bihar have sent alarm bells ring- meaning of mumchance suggest it ought to be a close relative of mum in unequal distribution of it among all the countries. To increase production there has been demand for ing. Villagers stumbled upon the de- phrases like keep mum, stay silent. There is indeed a close connection, TOL THE EDITOR waiver of Trade Related aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). A few big pharmaceutical composed and bloated bodies num- though the words have different origins. Mum is an imitative term known Readers of Orissa POST companies have been able to produce the vaccine and these are reluctant to share the techniques and process bering about a dozen on Monday. from the fourteenth century, while mumchance is sixteenth century, from are most welcome to contribute letters of production. The monopoly of these companies needs to be addressed and other companies with req- The sight of stray dogs near the bod- Middle Dutch mommecanse, which has cousins in other Germanic (200 words), articles and uisite parameters must be allowed to manufacture the vaccines. The US plays a crucial role in this re- ies has raised concerns that the columns (between 750-1250 languages and in French. Paradoxically, the link between the dice game words). Contributors are gard too, which holds the larger share of production of the vaccine. The US must be humanitarian in virus could spread. Reports suggest and silence is the notoriously noisy carnival, since it was traditionally requested to send their its approach for the greater production and distribution of vaccines. Along with it the equal distribu- that the skyrocketing cost of cre- played in the Netherlands during such festivities, in particular by contact numbers and full tion of vaccines among all countries is also a prime concern. The developed countries with a lesser de- mation could have forced the poor

mummers, masked actors in dumb-show. Mumchance was always played postal address/email ID. They may also mographic concentration are ahead where as the developing and underdeveloped countries with a to dump the bodies in the river.

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c in silence, hence the sense. The game of hazard, by the way, is the source and suggestions, preferably by email, higher density of population are lagging behind the vaccination drive. As the inoculation process is heav- The authorities would do well to of our word meaning a risk or danger. Mumchance seems to have been to: [email protected] ily relying on the internet for its mass distribution through online registration, the people with greater slash firewood prices so that fam- similarly perilous, as it evolved to mean a high-risk venture and continued accessibility to information technology in the urban areas have an edge over those who do not have ac- ilies could give the deceased a dig- in use in that sense after the dice game had been forgotten. The same cess to it living in rural areas. To ensure global peace and prosperity all the countries must work in tan- nified farewell. name was also given to a card game, whose rules are as poorly recorded B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, dem and the policy of equity must be followed to put a check on the casualty caused by the pandemic. NJ Ravi Chander, as those of the dice game, but which was also played in silence. Bhubaneswar-751010 Sanjib Kumar Sahu, BHAWANIPATNA BANGALORE P7 GUJARAT

MAHARASHTRA

WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Only 45+ in Maha to get vax for now c Gujarat govt faces HC fire AGENCIES Mumbai, May 11: Maharashtra Tuesday said it is ‘slowing down’ the Covid vaccination process for those in the 18-44 age group to focus on those over 45 due to a shortage over Covid hospital blaze of doses in the state. There will, how- ever, be no stopping the vaccination on fire safety could not be issued process, state Health Minister A BENCH OF by local authorities to the new unit. Rajesh Tope said. JUSTICES BELA The court expressed surprise Amid a shortage of COVID-19 over Trivedi’s submission and vaccine does, the Maharashtra gov- TRIVEDI AND said if the state was not intimated ernment Tuesday decided to di- BHARGAV D KARIA about a COVID-19 facility, how vert three lakh vials of Covaxin was it possible for it to compile data meant for the 18-44 age group for SAYS, “SOMEBODY on coronavirus patients who are the use of the people aged 45 years hospitalised. The bench also is- and above. HAS TO BE MADE sued notices to the Bharuch mu- Speaking to reporters, state ACCOUNTABLE” FOR nicipality, the trust which runs Health Minister Rajesh Tope the hospital, its nodal officer for also said more than five lakh THE DEADLY FIRE fire safety and the government, people above 45 years are await- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA and kept the matter for hearing ing the second dose for the want Central Railway staff members wait to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses at after two weeks. of the vaccine. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, Tuesday. PTI PHOTO Ahmedabad, May 11: The Gujarat On the petitioner’s plea to make “Efficacy of the vaccine is High Court Tuesday criticised the public, the DA Mehta Commission largely affected if the second dose Efficacy of the vaccine is to the infection, said the state state government over the recent of Inquiry report on fire incidents is not administered in a stipu- largely affected if the health department. Monday, the fire at a COVID-19 hospital in at two Gujarat hospitals, the gov- lated time. To avoid such health second dose is not number of daily coronavirus cases Bharuch, saying it was contemp- ernment told the HC the report crisis, the state government has administered in a (37,236) in the state had dropped tuous on its part to not remain vig- was submitted late in the evening decided to divert three lakh vials stipulated time. To avoid below 40,000 for the first time since ilant and avoid such incidents, and ing a direction to hold government courts of all the orders passed by March 31 this year and could not (of Covaxin) purchased for the such health crisis, the state March 31. A day later, the state cited many orders passed in this re- officials accountable and punish the courts in the past. Ultimately, be tabled in the Assembly as its 18-44 age category for the people government has decided to recorded a jump of 3,720 cases to gard in the past. them for failing to comply with it amounts to the contemptuous session got over April 1. above 45 years,” Tope said. divert three lakh vials (of again breach the 40,000-mark. With A division bench expressed sur- the court’s previous directions re- action on the part of the state for The Mehta commission had He said only 35,000 vials of Covaxin) purchased for the 40,956 COVID-19 infections, the prise over Advocate General Kamal lated to fire incidents in COVID-19 not being vigilant so that such in- probed the fire incidents at two Covaxin are currently available state’s caseload increased to 18-44 age category for the Trivedi’s submission that the hospitals. cidents are not repeated again and hospitals - one in Rajkot (November with the state government for ad- 51,79,929, while 793 deaths upped COVID-19 facility at the trust-run “The anxiety of the court is what again,” the bench said. 11, 2020) and the other in ministering the second dose to the people above 45 years the fatality count to 77,191, said Bharuch Welfare Hospital, where are you supposed to do to prevent The court said the government’s Ahmedabad (August 2020) - in which people above 45 years. RAJESH TOPE I HEALTH MINISTER the health department. the fire May 1 killed 18 people, was such incidents in the coming days... affidavit, filed in the matter, only altogether 13 COVID-19 patients According to the Liberalised Maharashtra, the worst COVID- set up “surreptitiously, without in- Ultimately, what are the measures talks about letters issued by top were killed. Pricing and Accelerated National 19-hit state in the country, had re- timating the authorities”. that you are going to take?” the authorities but was silent on actions “As per the provisions of the COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, pitals have to procure 50 per cent ported 39,544 cases March 31. The Sixteen COVID-19 patients and court asked. taken by lower-level officials pur- Commission of Inquiry, the re- COVID-19 vaccination is free at of the vaccines in order to immu- state had registered 54,022 cases two nurses were killed in the blaze. The judges said the government suant to previous orders passed port is required to be studied, pre- government vaccination centres nise persons in the age group of 18 May 7, 53,605 May 8 and 48,401 May The bench of Justices Bela failed to take action on the court’s by the court. pared, and thereafter tabled be- that receive doses from the Centre to 44 years. 9. Of the 793 fatalities, 403 had oc- Trivedi and Bhargav D Karia said previous orders pertaining to all Trivedi said the fire-hit COVID- fore the Assembly. There is no for eligible population groups com- Maharashtra reported 40,956 curred in the past 48 hours, while that “somebody has to be made ac- hospitals in the state so that fire in- 19 facility in Bharuch town was question of keeping the report prising healthcare workers, front- new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a 170 took place last week and 220 peo- countable” for the deadly fire. The cidents do not occur again at these set up “surreptitiously, without in- under carpet or else we should line workers and people above the sharp rise from 37,236 logged a ple died before the last week, but bench was hearing a petition filed medical facilities. timating the authorities,” and not have appointed a commission,” 45 years of age. day ago, taking the tally to 51,79,929, were added to the toll Tuesday, the by advocate Amit Panchal seek- “It amounts to the contempt of hence no-objection certificate (NOC) Trivedi told the court. However, states and private hos- while 793 more patients succumbed department said. ED case against Mumbai hospital moves SC seeking O2 MVA delegation meets Guv over Maratha quota issue

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Pawar and ministers Ashok Anil Deshmukh Chavan, Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Mumbai, May 11: Maharashtra Thorat, Eknath Shinde, Dilip Walse Minister and NCP's national Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Patil and state Congress chief Nana spokesperson Nawab Malik Tuesday Tuesday met Governor Bhagat Patole were part of the delegation. said Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, Singh Koshyari and requested him The Supreme Court May 5 held will cooperate in the probe. to take up the issue of Maratha the Maharashtra law granting The Congress, which is one of quota with President Ram Nath quota to Marathas as unconsti- the constituents of the Shiv Sena- Kovind and the Union government. tutional. The majority ruling led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) A delegation of the ruling coali- also said that states cannot decide government besides the NCP, tion leaders led by Thackeray met the list of Socially and dubbed the ED's move as an at- the governor days after the Supreme Educationally Backward Classes tempt to cover up the Modi gov- Court struck down the quota in (SEBC) and only the President has ernment's "failure" to manage the education and government jobs the power to notify it. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA pandemic by diverting the public for Marathas in Maharashtra. "The verdict says the power to attention. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) grant reservation is with the Mumbai, May 11: Maha Vikas “Right from Singh's allegations government will also approach President, Centre and not states. So Aghadi allies NCP and Congress to the filing of the case by the ED, Prime Minister Narendra Modi we met the governor, requesting him Tuesday termed the Enforcement it is all politically motivated and on the issue, Thackeray told re- to convey our sentiments to the Directorate's move to file a crimi- aimed at defaming him porters later. President and Centre. He (Koshyari) nal case against former (Deshmukh) by misusing power. It The MVA -- which has often been said he will convey our sentiments," Maharashtra home minister Anil is clear that the BJP is playing A patient, having breathing issues, carries an oxygen cylinder on her lap while being taken home after her discharge at loggerheads with the BJP-led Thackeray said. Deshmukh as the politics of re- politics using the CBI, ED and from a hospital, at Dharavi in Mumbai. PTI PHOTO Union government -- hoped for a de- "We have also decided to meet the venge and said the action was aimed other Central agencies,” Malik cision on the issue soon as the law honourable prime minister as soon at diverting the people’s attention said in a statement. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA tients to other hospitals. received any help of any kind. granting quota to the community as possible," he added. from ‘failure’ of the Modi govern- The ED filed the case with a “At a time when there is great “The said representations to the had been backed by all parties in- He has also written a letter to the ment in tackling the pandemic. “political motive” to defame the New Delhi, May 11: A Mumbai- shortage of beds and ICU facili- various authorities unfortunately cluding the BJP, he said. prime minister on the issue, The NCP accused the BJP of try- state government and the NCP, he based private hospital has moved ties for the treatment of COVID fell only on deaf ears at a time Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Thackeray informed. ing to defame the state government said.“Whatever the legal aspects, the Supreme Court seeking direc- patients, the petitioner Hospital, one when the state continues to face an as well as the Sharad Pawar-led Deshmukh ji will cooperate in tion to the Centre and the well equipped with all modern, hy- extreme emergency where death party. The ED filed the case under the the probe,” he added. In a series Maharashtra government to take brid facilities for COOVID treat- stares in large numbers of COVID anti-money laundering law in an al- of tweets, Maharashtra Congress urgent steps to ensure sufficient sup- ment, is forced to remain handi- patients, who are struggling to leged "bribery" case after studying spokesperson Sachin Sawant al- ply of Oxygen to it for saving lives capped, practically closed,” the breathe and require immediate a CBI FIR that was filed against leged the ED case reflects the “dan- of COVID-19 patients. plea said. The hospital claimed it supply of oxygen”, it said. The Deshmukh late last month. gerous politics” being pursued by the The plea said it is a COVID hospital was even willing to pay five times hospital also alleged black mar- The Bombay High Court had Modi government which is “detri- with 90 beds of which 13 are hi-tech the approved rates for oxygen but keting of medical grade oxygen in earlier directed the CBI to conduct mental” to democracy. “...It's an at- ICU facilities and the hospitals which the private medical gas provider de- the state and sought action by au- a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against tempt to cover up Modi govt’s fail- are requisitioned by BMC can re- manded a minimum of 10 times the thorities against the medical gas Deshmukh after former Mumbai po- ure to handle Corona crisis & divert tain 20 per cent of the beds for non- official rate. The petitioner hospi- providers. The top court is cur- lice commissioner Param Bir Singh public's attention, as well as politi- COVID patients. It said that from tal said that they had complained rently seized of a suo motu case on raised allegations of corruption cal revenge,” Sawant tweeted. Sawant April 12, 2021, oxygen was denied by to BMC, police authorities and ensuring supplies of essential com- against the senior NCP leader. said the action has been taken based a private medical gas provider to it even made representations to var- modities and services for man- Maharashtra Minority Affairs on the "lies" of Singh. and the hospital had to shift the pa- ious other authorities but it had not agement of COVID-19. Curbs extended in 36 Guj cities Docs warn against cow dung ‘therapy’ to boost immunity PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Mavlankar, Director of the Indian Ahmedabad, May 11: The Gujarat Institute of Public Health, government Tuesday extended Ahmedabad, May 11: Doctors in Gandhinagar. night curfew and other restric- Gujarat have warned against a so- Dr Mona Desai, a senior doctor tions in 36 cities in the state for called ‘cow-dung therapy’, saying from the city, termed the therapy another week in view of the coro- smearing of cow dung on the body as “humbug and inauthentic”. navirus pandemic. does not give protection against “Cow dung is nothing but body The curfew between 8 pm to 6 am coronavirus but may cause other in- waste. Applying cow dung and in 36 cities including Ahmedabad, fections including mucormycosis. urine can never boost immunity or Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, im- postal services, transport and e- A small group of people has protect you from coronavirus. posed May 6, will be in force till commerce services are allowed. been visiting a cow shelter run by People should consult doctors and May 18, said a government release. Factories can continue to run and Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul stay away from such therapies,” Originally it was to last till May construction activities can go on. Vishwavidya Prathisthanam said Dr Desai, chairperson of the 12. The decision was taken by Chief Educational institutions, audito- (SGVP) here to take the therapy, be- women's wing of the Indian Medical Minister Vijay Rupani after a meet- riums, theatres, malls, community lieving that it increases immunity Association (IMA). ing of the government's core group halls, water parks, commercial against COVID-19. “Instead of proving helpful, on the pandemic. complexes, spas, gyms, gardens, The shelter houses over 200 cows. cow dung would give you other in- During the day, the shops selling swimming pools, beauty parlours For the last one month, around 15 fections, including mucormyco- essential things including medi- will remain closed. persons visit it every Sunday to sis,” she said. cines, milk and vegetables will be As in the previous week, there apply cow dung and cow urine on Mucormycosis, also called black allowed to remain open in these will be a total ban on all kinds of the body. It is then washed off with fungus infection, has been observed

36 cities. Vegetable and fruit mar- religious, political or social gath- cow milk, said an SGVP official. among some COVID-19 survivors

k y m c kets, grocery shops, tiffin services, erings across the state. Those taking the therapy in- and can be fatal. bakeries, takeaway counters at ho- While religious places will re- clude some frontline workers “Since cow dung also carries tels and restaurants, petrol and main shut for the public between and people working at medical several fungi, they may enter into CNG pumps can also remain open. May 12 and 18, sports complexes and stores, he said. the body and infect you. I urge peo- Newspaper distribution, tele- stadiums can remain open without Doctors, however, do not vouch therapy would really help people. search which suggested that ap- would increase immunity against ple to be little aware and not put com services, security services, spectators, said the release. for its efficacy. “I don’t know if this I have never come across any re- plication of cow dung on the body coronavirus,” said Dr Dileep their lives in danger,” said Desai. P8 PM HAILS SCIENTISTS, INNOVATORS WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR At present, there are only two companies ON NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY which are developing Covid vaccines. PM Narendra Modi Tuesday said that in any challenging However, India is scrambling to get adequate situation, the country’s scientists and innovators have vaccines. We should not be dependent on always risen to the occasion and over the last year have just two firms on vaccines as demand has worked industriously to fight COVID-19. The National

y increased at multiple folds in the county Technology Day marks the anniversary of the underground

k y m national ARVIND KEJRIWAL | DELHI CHIEF MINISTER nuclear tests conducted in Rajasthan’s Pokhran in 1998 c

of the day uote WHO warns against ivermectin use to treat Covid BJP government INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Monday cleared a new Covid treat- Covid-19 by doctors and campaigners mission and getting rid of the virus spending a ment protocol which recommends small amount of Rs the world over. from the body. 20,000 crore for the New Delhi, May 11: A day after all residents above the age of 18 to In her tweet, Swaminathan also Rane also stated that expert pan- Central Vista Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit take five tablets of the ivermectin attached a warning issued by the els from the UK, Italy, Spain and including a modest Rane recommended ivermectin to drug, in order to prevent the steep German health care and life sci- Japan, found a large, statistically sig- new house for the PM. Criticism all above 18 to combat Covid in the and sometimes fatal viral fever, ences giant Merck. nificant reduction in mortality, time unjustified state, the World Health Organisation which accompanies a Covid-19 Scientists continue to carefully to recovery and viral clearance in Tuesday has warned against its infection. examine the findings of all available Covid-19 patients treated with iver- P CHIDAMBARAM | SENIOR CONGRESS use. Rane, while speaking to reporters, and emerging studies of ivermectin mectin. The US Food and Drug LEADER Safety and efficacy are impor- said that the ivermectin drug would for the treatment of Covid-19, read Administration (FDA) had also, in tant when using any drug for a new be made available at all health cen- the statement from Merck. April last year, recommended against indication. @WHO recommends tres in the state and should be taken The WHO had, in March, issued the use of ivermectin in treating Now, there is a against the use of ivermectin for by all residents, irrespective of a similar warning against the use Covid patients. Besides, the Union new trend in #COVID19 except within clinical whether they have Covid-19 symp- demic, as the medicine significantly three US government senior sci- of ivermectin in treating Covid pa- ministry of health and family wel- the Congress trials, Soumya Swaminathan, the toms or otherwise. reduces the risk of contracting the entists and was published in the tients. The global health agency fare had also reportedly opted out party to put all the global health body’s chief scien- Last week, a peer-reviewed re- deadly respiratory disease when American Journal of Therapeutics, blame on the said that there was a very low cer- from including Ivermectin in its Central Vista tist, said in a tweet. search had claimed that global iver- used regularly. touted the common anti-parasitic tainty of evidence on ivermectin’s official Clinical Management project. I would like The Goa state government mectin use can end Covid-19 pan- The peer review, which included ivermectin as a miracle cure for effects on mortality, hospital ad- Protocol for Covid-19 last year. to remind you that the need for a new Parliament was raised as early as the UPA times Plea against Central Vista JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA | BJP PRESIDENT Recoveries outnumber new cases after 61 days In the last 24 hours, India reported 3,29,942 fresh cases, while as many as 3,56,082 people recovered from the disease. sheer abuse of law: Centre People from across the India’s cumulative recoveries stood at 1,90,27,304 Tuesday, with a national recovery rate of 82.75 per cent world helped in realisation of the dream of this Prioritise beneficiaries for 2nd dose: Centre centre. We got cylinders from New Delhi: The Centre appealed ciaries waiting for second dose of Dubai, monitors from London, to states Tuesday to prioritise vaccine was stressed in a meeting oxygen concentrators from vaccinating those due for second held by Union Health Secretary Germany and we are expecting five dose of COVID-19 vaccine and Rajesh Bhushan and Dr R S ventilator beds from London in the reserve at least 70 per cent of the Sharma, the Chairman of next 2-3 days shots supplied from the central Empowered Group on Technology

GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT | UNION pool for the purpose. States have and Data Management to Combat MINISTER also been urged to minimise COVID-19, with state officials to wastage of vaccine doses, the review the status of COVID-19 health ministry said in a state- vaccination Tuesday. This however ment. All wastage more than the is indicative. States have the lib- SHORT TAKES national average hereafter, is to erty to enhance this to as much be adjusted from the subsequent as 100 per cent. State-wise num- allocations to that state or union bers on CoWIN have been shared INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE out of place to mention that the TMC leader shot territory. The urgent need to ad- with states for their said project was not inaugurated by dress a large number of benefi- planning purposes. New Delhi, May 11: The Centre told the Prime Minister, contrary to at in Hooghly dist the Delhi High Court that the pe- what has been stated in para 13 of Chinsurah (WB): A TMC Districts which are showing con- and Khordha in Odisha. tition filed before it against the the writ petition filed before the leader was shot at by AGENCIES Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, tinued decline in cases since last two Thirteen states have more than work on both sides of Rajpath under High Court. indentified miscreants in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, weeks include Pune, Nagpur, Palghar 1 lakh active COVID-19 cases each the Central Vista Redevelopment Sharma, in the affidavit, con- West Bengal’s Hooghly New Delhi, May 11: For the first Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and and Nashik districts of and 26 states have a positivity rate project was an attempt to stall the tended that the scope of work for district Tuesday when he was time in 61 days, recoveries out- Telangana were among 18 states Maharashtra; Lucknow, Varanasi, of over 15 per cent, the government project under the garb of public the project in question is not what buying vegetables at a local numbered new Covid cases in the and union territories showing con- Kanpur Nagar (Uttar Pradesh); said. Citing the case of Pune, he interest. is colloquially referred to as the market, a police officer said. last 24 hours, providing some relief tinued plateauing or decrease in Bhopal, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh); said night curfew alone with no re- In an affidavit, Executive Engineer, Central Vista Project (which in- Aditya Niyogi, former vice to the country which is reeling daily new COVID-19 cases. Surat (Gujarat); Patna (Bihar); striction on gatherings has shown Central Vista Project Division-III, cludes Parliament, refurbishment chairman of Bansberia under the raging second wave of Addressing a press conference, Ranchi (Jharkhand); Raipur, Durg less significance in terms of con- CPWD, Rajiv Sharma said the pe- of North Block, South Block, con- Municipalty, was taken to a the pandemic for some time now. Joint Secretary in the Health (Chhattisgarh); and Kota trolling the growth trajectory of tition before the High Court is a struction of new offices for cen- nearby hospital in a critical In the last 24 hours, India re- Ministry Lav Agarwal, however, (Rajasthan). daily new cases. sheer abuse of the process of law and tral government ie Common Central condition, but the doctors ported 3,29,942 fresh cases, while said Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Districts showing continued in- He said stricter measures such as one more attempt to stall the proj- Secretariat, Central conference fa- there referred him to a clinical as many as 3,56,082 people recovered West Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Odisha, crease in cases since last two weeks restrictions on mass gatherings ect against the backdrop of the on- cilities, etc). establishment in Kolkata, he from the disease during the same Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and are Bengaluru Urban and Muysuru and shutting of non-essential ac- going Covid-19 situation. The scope of work which is a said. BJP sources claimed the time period. India’s cumulative re- The affidavit said the tender for incident was a fallout of Tripura were among 16 states and in Karnataka; Chennai, tivities for a period of 15 days have subject matter of the present peti- factional feud within the coveries stood at 1,90,27,304 Tuesday, union territories showing contin- Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur in helped reduce the rate of infection the work, meant for providing pub- tion is limited to the redevelop- ruling party. with a national recovery rate is ued increasing trend in daily new Tamil Nadu; Ernakulam and growth and the cases started plateau- lic amenities, and pedestrian un- ment of Central Vista Avenue (ie 82.75 per cent. COVID-19 cases. Malappuram in Kerala; 24 Paraganas ing. derpass etc, was awarded to both side of the Rajpath) where An early trend of decline in daily The number of districts with a North and Kolkata in West Bengal; India has been reeling under a Shapoorji Pallonji and Company, in Republic Day Celebrations are held new COVID-19 cases and deaths week-on-week increase in weekly Jaipur in Rajasthan; Dehradun in calamitous second wave of the coro- January 2021. The work was sup- annually. This is very important Train knocks has been noted in the country, the tests and decline in positivity rate Uttarakhand; East Godavari and navirus infection. However, the posed to be completed within 10 public space and most widely vis- tiger cub dead government said Tuesday. has increased from 73 (April 15-21) Visakhapatanam in Andhra daily numbers of deaths and in- months by November 2021. ited by common public and tourists According to the government, to 182 (April 29-May 5). Pradesh; Satara in Maharashtra; fections have started to go down. The affidavit said it may not be in Delhi, he said in the affidavit. Betul (MP): A tiger cub was mowed down Tuesday by a speeding train in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district, a AUTO AMBULANCE forest official said. The loco Cong forms panel to probe poll debacle pilot of Kerala Express informed the railway officials INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE This CWC meeting was convened about the carcass of a tiger cub lying near the tracks to discuss the results of the recently- close to Bhaura River New Delhi, May 11: Interim held Assembly polls. She had said between Polapatthar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi that party has to take note of the se- Dhodhra Mohar railway Tuesday constituted a committee to rious setbacks. “To say that we are stations, Chief Conservator investigate the reasons for the deeply disappointed is to make an of Forests (CCF) Mohan party’s losses in the recently con- understatement,” she said. Meena said. He said the male cluded assembly polls. “These will yield uncomfortable cub aged less than a year. The Committee will be headed by lessons, but if we do not face up to Maharashtra Public Works the reality, if we do not look the Department Minister Ashok Chavan facts in the face, we will not draw Oxygen tanker while former ministers Salman tions. Earlier, Gandhi had said in the the right lessons,” she added. Khurshid, Manish Tewari and CWC meet I intend to set up a small During the meeting, all the state leak injures 1 Vincent Pala are among its mem- panel to look at every aspect that in-charges presented their views bers. The other member is Tamil caused such reverses (in the elec- on the recent poll debacle, with the Panaji: One person received Nadu MP Jothi Mani. The commit- tions) and report back very quickly. party's West Bengal in-charge Jitin minor injuries due to leakage of an oxygen tanker at a tee will give its report in two weeks. We need to candidly understand Prasada saying the alliance with the South Goa hospital Tuesday, The significant inclusion is why we failed to dislodge the in- Indian Secular Front (ISF), formed an official said. The leakage Tewari who was part of the group cumbent governments in Kerala by preacher-turned-politician was brought under control by which wrote the letter to Sonia and Assam, and we drew a com- Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui, ruined the fire personnel who rushed to Gandhi for organisational elec- plete blank in West Bengal, Congress’ prospects in the state. Three wheeler auto union starts the Auto Ambulance service for COVID-19 patients in Lucknow, Tuesday PTI PHOTO the spot, an official spokesperson said. “Two fire engines reached here and after nearly 30 to 40 minutes, we stopped the leakage. Japan, UNDP join hands to boost O2 supply in northeast India There was no fire, only one person was injured due to cold burns,” an official said. TO ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED OXYGEN SUPPLY, THE SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN HAS ENABLED UNDP IN PROCURING AND INSTALLING EIGHT OXYGEN GENERATION PLANTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN STATES OF MEGHALAYA, NAGALAND AND TRIPURA

3 die in firecracker AGENCIES challenges has been acute short- provide vital oxygen generation age of medical oxygen. plants for the people of India’s factory blast New Delhi, May 11: As the second To ensure uninterrupted oxygen northeast. The northeast occupies Harda (MP): At least three wave of the Covid-19 pandemic con- supply, the support from the people a special place for Japan-India re- people were killed while two tinues to spread virulently in India, of Japan has enabled UNDP in lations and I sincerely hope that others were reportedly the government of Japan and the procuring and installing eight the oxygen generation plants will injured following an UN Development Programme Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) help those people in need. explosion in an alleged fire (UNDP) have partnered to provide oxygen generation plants in the Shoko Noda, Resident cracker factory operating oxygen generation plants to north- northeastern states of Meghalaya, Representative, UNDP India, from a house in Madhya eastern states. Nagaland and Tripura. thanked the people of Japan for Pradesh’s Harda district. The A statement issued by the UNDP The hospitals, with a capacity of this critical support that will allow deceased victims include India said that since June 2020, the approximately 1,300 beds, have been the agency to ensure uninterrupted three women belonging to Japanese government and the identified in the region for the oxy- flow of oxygen in hospitals and one family. As per agency have been jointly support- gen generation plants. health centres in the region, espe- y information received, a ing the Centre’s battle against the Excess oxygen will be distrib- been supporting the Union Ministry the country to support the ‘world’s In a statement, Satoshi Suzuki, cially those in hard-to-reach areas.

sudden explosion occurred pandemic by strengthening health uted among other health facilities of Health and Family Welfare with largest vaccination drive’, the Ambassador Extraordinary and The situation in India is devas-

k y m c Monday morning in one and social protection systems and in the hospitals' vicinity. digitisation of supply chain of vac- statement said. Plenipotentiary of Japan to India, tating and the pandemic continues Lokesh Beldar’s house reviving livelihoods of the most The installation sites are being cines and tracking beneficiaries The government of Japan has said Japan stands with India, our to threaten millions of lives. The located in front of the vulnerable population. government Industrial prepared so that the oxygen pro- across states to ensure better ac- also committed a sizable commit- friend and partner, in her efforts to UNDP urgently needs additional Training Institute near In the ongoing pandemic, which duction can start at the earliest pos- cess and coverage. ment of providing critical items to fight against Covid-19 pandemic in support to ensure that we reach Bairagarh area under Civil is overwhelming health systems sible, the UNDP India said. It has also helped build capacities India, including ventilators and this critical time. I am pleased that the last mile to leave no one behind, Line police station area. across the country, one of the key In addition, the UNDP has also of 820,500 frontline workers across oxygen concentrators. Japan is working with the UNDP to she said. ASSAM GETS FIRST WOMAN P9 The government WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR is unable to provide FINANCE MINISTER treatment, vaccines and Assam Chief Minister Himanta even honorable last rites Biswa Sarma Tuesday allocated to the deceased the finance portfolio to Ajanta Neog, making her the first y AJAY MAKEN | woman Finance Minister of the

CONGRESS GENERAL SECRETARY

k y m national northeastern state c

of the day uote EXPLOSIVES CASE

I have given directions to Vaze dismissed from service the police not MORE BODIES FISHED PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Nagrale, said a spokesperson of the Mumbai," a top official said. Vaze to use force but we need people's city police. A 1990-batch officer was reinstated in the Mumbai po- cooperation for at Mumbai, May 11: Suspended of the Maharashtra cadre, Vaze, lice in June 2020 after being sus- least 14 days to make Assistant Police inspector Sachin also known as an "encounter cop", pended for 16 years in a case re- lockdown successful Vaze, arrested by the NIA in the was earlier suspended after his ar- lated to alleged custodial death case of an explosives-laden SUV rest by the National Investigation of a bomb blast accused. BASAVARAJ BOMMAI | found near industrialist Mukesh Agency (NIA) in the SUV-cum- Post-reinstatement, he was head- KARNATAKA HOME MINISTER OUT FROM GANGA Ambani's house and the murder murder case March 13. ing the Crime Intelligence Unit of businessman Mansukh Hiran, "API Sachin Hindurao Vaze has (CIU) of the crime branch and Prime Minister was Tuesday dismissed from po- been dismissed from police serv- handling high profile cases, in- Narendra Modi lice service, an official said. ice. Order has been issued today cluding the fake TRP case, fake so- has accepted this pandemic as a The order terminating Vaze 's under Provision of 311(2)(B) cial media followers case, the DC challenge and the service was issued by Mumbai Constitution of India by car finance scam and the Ambani government is doing Police Commissioner Hemant Commissioner of Police, Greater security scare case. everything possible to tackle this challenge RAJNATH SINGH | Eight killed as DEFENCE MINISTER Farmers returning The Delhi heavy rain lashes government will float a south Bengal global tender for to protest sites: SKM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA procuring coronavirus vaccines Dead bodies float on the banks of Ganga river in Bihar's Chausa town PHOTO: TWITTER Kolkata, May 11: Eight people MANISH SISODIA | were killed in different parts of DELHI DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER AGENCIES tration to be vigilant. Our admin- West Bengal as thunderstorms and QUARTER OF A istration is keeping vigil, too. Advise heavy rains battered the southern Patna, May 11: The Bihar gov- MILLION DEAD all to give respect to the dead and districts of the state Tuesday af- ernment Tuesday said altogether also to Maa Ganga," Jha added. ternoon, officials said. 71 bodies have been fished out from The seven-day average of daily Around two dozen bodies were Lightning and gusty winds with SHORT TAKES the Ganga in Buxar district, where infections hit a record 3,90,995 found on the banks of the Ganga at speed reaching up to 54 km per these were found floating in the Tuesday, with 3,876 deaths, accord- adjoining Ghazipur district of Uttar hour lashed Kolkata, Howrah, Elected legislators river, triggering suspicion that the ing to the health ministry. Official Pradesh, an official said Tuesday. North 24 Parganas, Nadia, abandoned corpses could be those COVID-19 deaths, which experts say AK Pandey, the SHO of Gahmar Murshidabad, Bankura, Purba are almost certainly under-reported, take oath in TN of Covid-19 patients. police station in Ghazipur, said Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA in tractors, cars and other vehi- State Water Resources Minister stand at just under a quarter of a that the bodies were found in a de- Birbhum and Purulia districts, a cles, have made arrangements to Chennai: The newly elected million. The World Health Sanjay Kumar, a key aide of Chief composed stage on the bank of the Met Department official said. In New Delhi, Apr 11: The Samyukta live in tents and trolleys as they were legislators of the Tamil Nadu Organization said on Monday that it Minister Nitish Kumar, came out Alipore, 102 mm rainfall was Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella living before harvesting," it said. assembly started taking regarded the coronavirus variant Ganga river. oath Tuesday with Chief with a series of tweets, asserting first identified in India last year as a Meanwhile, the Centre Tuesday recorded. body of over 40 farmer unions, "The farmers' strike is getting Minister and DMK leader MK that the bodies had flown down- variant of global concern, with some asked states along the Ganga to The rainfall led to waterlogging Tuesday said that farmers were stronger and the protest sites are Stalin was the first among stream from neighbouring Uttar preliminary studies showing that it ensure strict vigilance and check fu- in several areas across Kolkata, returning to Singhu and Tikri bor- also becoming larger. Farmers' them. Pro-term Speaker K. Pradesh. spreads more easily. ture incidences of people dumping including the arterial Central der protest sites after finishing tents, trolleys and other vehicles Pitchandi administered the "The Bihar government is seized bodies in the river and its tribu- Avenue, slowing down traffic dur- harvesting their crops. have been permanently there for oath to Stalin. The oath of the matter of unfortunate case "He has always been particular taries. In a letter to District Ganga ing the evening rush hours. A man In a statement, the SKM said the last five months in long queues. taking ceremony of all the of floating mortal remains in river about the purity and uninterrupted Committees which are chaired by was electrocuted to death while that large convoys of farmers ar- The pattern of farmers coming 234 legislators will be Ganga. The bodies have floated flow of the river and has asked the district magistrates or collectors, the returning home from office through rived at the two border points back after the harvesting season will completed on Tuesday itself into Bihar from UP," said Jha, administration to intensify pa- National Mission for Clean Ganga the flooded street outside the North Monday and this will now con- now continue," it added. as the Speaker and Deputy adding, doctors have confirmed trolling to ensure this is not re- – the apex body that monitors re- Gate of the Raj Bhavan in central tinue. "Yesterday, large convoys The farmers' outfit said that the Speaker will be elected upon post-mortem that the deaths peated. "Last rites of 71 bodies per- juvenation of the river and its trib- Kolkata, police said. of farmers arrived on the Singhu government was "promoting pri- Wednesday, May 12. The had taken place "four-five days" formed as per protocols. A net has utaries – also asked the authorities Firefighters and police rescued border and Tikri border. Farmers vatisation" even at a time when DMK won 133 seats including 8 of its coalition partners ago. He said the Chief Minister been placed in the Ganges in to dispose unidentified bodies of the body and sent it for post-mortem. were welcomed at many places on "thousands of people have lost (MDMK, MMK,TVK and was pained at both the tragedy as Ranighat, bordering UP and Bihar. suspected Covid-19 victims in ac- “We are trying to ascertain the their way to these sites from Punjab. their lives due to the mismanage- MNMK) who won in the well as the "harm" to river Ganga. We have advised the UP adminis- cordance with safety protocols. person's identity,” an officer said. These farmers, who have travelled ment of the public health system". "Rising Sun" symbol of the party. The Congress, its alliance partner won 18 VAX PROCUREMENT US looking at seats while VCK, CPM and ON THE WAY CPI won 4 seats each. joint production 1971 war veteran Several states to of J&J vax in India

passes away PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Mumbai: Squadron Leader New Delhi, May 11: The US is Anil Bhalla (Retd), who as a float global tenders young Flying Officer flew looking at joint production of MiG-21 sorties during the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Chief Minister and state Covid Johnson and Johnson's Covid-19 1971 Indo-Pak war, has died task force head C N Ashwath vaccine in India and ways to help after battling coronavirus, New Delhi/Bangalore, May 11: Narayan said. manufacturers like the Serum his family sources said The governments of Delhi, "Till now, we had depended only Institute of India (SII) to boost pro- Tuesday. The 74-year-old Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and on vaccines supplied by the central duction, Daniel B Smith, the Charge flying ace, a native of Telangana Tuesday joined sev- government and it was not pro- D'Affaires of the US embassy, said Mumbai, died Monday night eral other states which have de- cured from the open market by Tuesday. at Hyderabad where he had cided to issue global tenders for pro- floating tender. Now, it has been Smith also said that the efficacy settled after retirement from curement of Covid vaccines as instructed to float the tender and of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vac- the Air Force in 1984, the the domestic supply fails to keep to complete the process within cine manufactured at a produc- sources said. up with the rising demand amid seven days," Narayan said. Delhi tion facility in Baltimore is not yet the fierce second wave of the government too said it will float a clear and the Food and Drug pandemic. global tender for procuring coro- Administration has not yet certi- Cloudburst hits The Centre said it has so far pro- navirus vaccines. fied that the doses are available vided more than 18 crore vaccine Addressing a press conference, for anyone's use or for export. Devprayag doses to states and UTs free of cost, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Last month, the White House said New Tehri (U’khand): A but many of them have complained Sisodia alleged that the BJP-ruled that the US plans to share 60 million cloudburst hits Devprayag in of an acute shortage of the jabs and Centre was "forcing" state govern- doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine glob- Tehri district of Uttarakhand are now prioritising people who ments to invite global tenders for ally as soon as they become avail- Tuesday, razing two municipal need to be given their second dose vaccine procurement. The able, and India expected a signifi- buildings to the ground and within a prescribed period. Telangana cabinet also decided to cant chunk of the total stockpile. At damaging several shops. It Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and invite global tenders for procure- also damaged pedestrian Odisha have also taken the global ment of Covid-19 vaccine, an offi- bridges, water pipelines and tender route for procuring vac- cial statement said. Officials said electricity supply lines, an cines swiftly. Two crore Covid the Andhra Pradesh government official said. The cloudburst vaccine doses will be procured will float a global tender in a day or occurred over the Shanta through global tender to meet the two for the procurement of Covid- river, causing inundation of increased demand and to facili- 19 vaccines from foreign manu- areas along its banks with a tate vaccination of the age group facturers to complete the vaccina- huge amount of slush of 18-44 years, Karnataka Deputy tion process as quickly as possible. A man rides a bicycle holding an umbrella during rain in Srinagar UNI PHOTO containing boulders, SHO of a media briefing, Smith said the US the Devprayag police station was concerned over the current Mahipal Singh Rawat said. course of the pandemic in India, not A number of shops in the Dashrath Danda Parvat area simply because of the humanitar- of Devprayag were also Youth getting more affected in Covid 2nd wave: ICMR ian catastrophe but also due to the fact damaged in the cloudburst, that it has global implications, not- the SHO said. ing that the Biden administration AGENCIES ing under a calamitous second said Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil was standing with New Delhi to help wave of the coronavirus infec- Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Assam, deal with the crisis. New Delhi, May 11: The second tion. Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, "I know that there are a number PM Modi speaks wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is An early trend of decline in Meghalaya and Tripura were of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bhutan PM impacting slightly more number of daily new Covid-19 cases and among the 16 states and union ter- (with the US). They were manu- younger people as they might have deaths has been noted in the coun- ritories showing continued in- factured in the US. They were man- New Delhi: Prime Minister begun going out and also because try even as Karnataka, Kerala, creasing trend in daily new COVID- ufactured at a plant outside of Narendra Modi held a of some variants of SARs-COV-2 Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha, 19 cases. In the current wave, it is Baltimore but there were problems telephonic conversation with prevalent in the country, the ICMR and Punjab are among the 16 not clear whether the age compo- with this plant. So far the Food and his Bhutanese counterpart chief said Tuesday. states still showing continued sition of cases and deaths has Drug Administration of the US has Lotay Tshering Tuesday as the In response to a question on increase in daily cases, the gov- changed since the central govern- not certified that these vaccines two leaders noted that the coronavirus crisis has further whether younger population were ernment said Tuesday. ment has not released nationwide are available for anyone's use; for ex- highlighted the special getting more affected, Indian According to the government, data. Data for states is also not port or not," he said. "So I cannot say friendship between the two Council of Medical Research Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, publicly available. But a cursory when that will happen or what will countries. The Bhutanese (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, glance at data reported by the be done exactly as we go forward on y prime minister expressed Balram Bhargava said the com- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and media shows no major change in this," Smith said when asked

parison of data during the first and Telangana were among the 18 states the demographic profile of coro- whether the US was going to make

k y m solidarity with the c government and the people of the second wave of Covid-19 has and union territories showing con- navirus patients. available the AstraZeneca vaccine India in their efforts against shown that there is not much age Representational image tinued plateauing or decrease in A government official in doses to India on an urgent basis. the recent wave of the Covid- difference. People above the age daily new Covid-19 cases. Chhattisgarh said not only were He said the US was eager to supply 19 pandemic, a statement of 40 are more vulnerable for ad- people are getting slightly more in- ants also prevalent in the nation Addressing a press conference, more younger patients infected, the vaccine doses to the world but from the Prime Minister's verse outcomes. volved because suddenly they which may be affecting them as Joint Secretary in the Health they were more severely infected not before it is sure that they are safe Office (PMO) said. "We have found that younger have gone out and there are vari- well," he said. India has been reel- Ministry Lav Agarwal, however, than last year. and effective. My government’s ILLEGAL FOR HIGH-RISK P10 priority is to WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR deliver a national recovery PEOPLE TO OWN ARMS from the pandemic that The NZ government will make it illegal makes the United for high-risk people to own firearms by Kingdom stronger, introducing Firearms Prohibition healthier and more Orders that will strengthen action prosperous than before already taken to combat the influence

ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF UK

k y m international | of gangs and organised crimes c of the day uote China against B’desh The shocking ‘Give India resources to make vax’ global disparity in joining US-led Quad access to vaccines FAUCI SAID THAT THE ‘ENDGAME’ IN FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC IS VACCINATING EVERYONE. AT THE remains one of the SAME TIME, HE SAID THAT ALL OF INDIA SHOULD ‘SHUT DOWN’, AS SOME STATES HAVE DONE biggest risks to ending the pandemic. We cannot defeat this INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE those who could not find hospital pandemic through competition, we beds and convention centres and can’t. If you compete for resources, New York, May 11: Anthony sports venues were also made into or if you compete for geopolitical Fauci, the top US expert on Covid- emergency medical facilities. advantages, then the virus gets 19, has called on countries to pro- Fauci called the oxygen shortages advantage vide India with resources to make in India “really tragic”. TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS | its own vaccines or donate vac- President Joe Biden has ordered DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WHO cines. the supply of vaccine manufac- “India is the largest vaccine- turing equipment and ingredients producing country in the world. to India along with oxygen and de- Singapore is They’ve got to get their resources vices for making the gas and med- 725 sq km of -- not only from within but also ications to treat Covid-19. The total rock. We have from without and that’s the rea- Covid-19 aid package for India is ex- to make a living by son why other countries need to chip pected to run to $100 million, ac- being open to the in to be able to get either supplies cording to his Spokesperson Jen Obviously it will not be a good We’re an independent and world. We will fail if for the Indians to make their own Psaki. idea for Bangladesh to sovereign state. We we allow racism and vaccines or to get vaccines do- Biden’s administration has also participate in this small club decide our foreign policy. xenophobia to become prevalent, nated,” he told in a TV interview. some states have done. India should be to set up field hos- agreed to a request made by India of four (Quad) because it But yes, any country and it’s contrary to everything that “One of the ways to do that is to Vaccines are one of the ways of pitals like China had done. and South Africa to the World has made us successful and proud will substantially damage our can uphold its position have the big companies that have “breaking the transmission”, but “They have really got to get hos- Trade Organisation to waive the in- to be Singaporean bilateral relationship DR AK ABDUL MOMEN | FOREIGN the capability of making vaccines others “like shutting down the gov- pital beds and do really what the tellectual property rights. However, LI JIMING | AMBASSADOR, CHINA MINISTER, BANGLADESH K SHANMUGAM | LAW AND HOME AFFAIRS to really scale up in a great way to ernment” should be undertaken, Chinese did way back a year or so it faces opposition from other coun- MINISTER, SINGAPORE get literally hundreds of millions Fauci said. “I have advised them in ago, where you essentially build tries, including Germany and of doses to be able to get to them,” the past that you really need to do up with -- the equivalent of field hos- Switzerland, blocking WTO ap- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA policy. But yes, any country can he said. that. You’ve got to shut down. I be- pitals. You’ve got to get that. You proval. uphold its position,” he told re- It shows how He said that the “endgame” in lieve several of the Indian states can’t have people out in the street Fauci dismissed suggestions Dhaka, May 11: China has porters Tuesday. our two fighting the pandemic is vacci- have already done that but you warned Bangladesh against join- “Naturally, he (Chinese ambas- countries have not having a hospital bed,” he said. that dropping the patent rights to really developed nating everyone. need to break the chain of trans- In fact, during the Covid crisis allow others to make the vaccines ing the US-led Quad alliance, say- sador) represents a country. They and advanced our At the same time, he said that all mission,” he said. last year, tents were also set up in would hamper the manufacture ing that Dhaka’s participation in can say what they want. Maybe relationship, in a of India should “shut down”, as Fauci said that a priority for New York’s Central Park to treat by companies now making them. the anti-Beijing “club” would re- they don’t want it (Bangladesh purposeful and sult in “substantial damage” to joining the Quad),” Momen said, transformative way; which to be bilateral relations. adding that no one from the Quad very candid, we did not have The unusual warning from has approached Bangladesh yet. previously. Putting mobility at the US fires warning COMMEMORATING CASUALTIES Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh The comment has been pre- heart of this relationship is a real Li Jiming came weeks after visit- emptive, the United News of change, a real pivot shots at Iran boats ing Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Bangladesh (UNB) news agency

PRITI PATEL | HOME SECRETARY, UK PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Wei Fenghe emphasied to reported, quoting said the foreign Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid minister as saying. Washington, May 11: A US Coast that Beijing and Dhaka should Initiated in 2007, the Guard cutter fired two volleys of make joint efforts against powers Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, SHORT TAKES warning shots Monday as a group from outside the region establish- Quad for short, is an informal of 13 Iranian fast boats sped to- ing a “military alliance” in South grouping of India, the US, Australia Prez calls parties ward US Navy vessels in the Persian Asia and practising “hegemonism”. and Japan. “Quad says it is only for Gulf ’s Strait of Hormuz in what the “Obviously it will not be a good economic purposes and security and to form coalition Pentagon called “unsafe and un- idea for Bangladesh to participate so on. But that’s not true. We know professional” maneuvers by the in this small club of four (Quad) be- that Quad is aimed at China,” the Kathmandu: Hours after naval arm of the Islamic Nepal Prime Minister KP cause it will substantially damage envoy was quoted as saying. Sharma Oli lost a vote of Revolutionary Guard Corps. our bilateral relationship,” “Japan, together with the US, confidence, President Bidhya It was the second time in two Ambassador Li said at a virtual has stated it very clearly – they are Devi Bhandari has called on weeks that a US ship opened fire to meeting organised by the participating in [Quad] because of political parties to form a warn off vessels of Iran’s para- Diplomatic Correspondents China,” Li said. Li described the coalition government within military Revolutionary Guard. The Association, Bangladesh Monday. Quad as a “narrow-purposed” Thursday. “President Bidya encounters come as the United Reacting to the Chinese envoy’s geopolitical clique, and Bangladesh Devi Bhandari has called the States and Iran are in indirect talks controversial remarks, Bangladesh should not join it as the country parties represented in the in Vienna aimed at reviving the Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul will not derive any benefit from the House of Representatives to 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the Momen said Dhaka maintains a initiative. present their claim for the United States left in 2018. non-aligned and balanced foreign “History has proved again and purpose of appointing a Asked whether it appeared the policy and it will decide what to do again such partnership surely dam- member of the House of Revolutionary Guard are trying according to those principles. ages our neighbours’ own social, Representatives commanding to pick a fight with the US Navy, A woman lights a candle to commemorate all Czech victims of the coronavirus pandemic, at Prague Castle, in Prague, “We’re an independent and sov- economic development and peo- majority in Parliament as Pentagon press secretary John Czech Republic REUTERS ereign state. We decide our foreign ple’s well-being," said Li. Prime Minister as per Article Kirby declined to comment on the 76(2) by 9 pm, Thursday,” a Iranians’ intentions. “Sadly, ha- statement from her office said. rassment by the IRGC Navy is not Attorneys urge FB to a new phenomenon. It is some- thing that all of our commanding ISRAEL RETALIATES WITH ROCKETS drop ‘Insta for kids’ Pipeline hackers officers and the crews of our ves- aim cash, not chaos sels are trained to for,” Kirby said. Since sundown Monday, Palestine ups contacts “This activity is the kind of ac- 26 Palestinians including TENSIONS SURGE Washington: The tivity that could lead to somebody with int'l community ransomware gang accused of getting hurt and could lead to a nine children and a crippling the leading US fuel real miscalculation there in the woman were killed in Palestine is intensifying its pipeline operator said region, and that doesn’t serve any- contacts with the international community in an effort to curb the Monday that it never meant body’s interests.” In the latest in- Gaza, mostly by airstrikes, to create havoc, an unusual ongoing violent clashes in East cident, Kirby said Iranian vessels Gaza health officials said. Jerusalem, President Mahmoud statement that experts saw maneuvered at high speed toward as a sign the cybercriminals’ Abbas said. The aim of the contacts six Navy ships that were escort- The Israeli military said at INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE scheme had gone awry. The is to stop the dangerous escalation ing the guided missile submarine least 16 of the dead were of violence against Muslim and FBI accused the group that USS Georgia through the Strait San Francisco, May 11: A coali- calls itself DarkSide of a Christian holy sites in East Monday. After the Coast Guard militants tion of 44 US attorneys general digital extortion attempt that Jerusalem, Abbas told his Turkish prompted Colonial Pipeline to cutter Maui unleashed a second counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a letter to Facebook CEO shut down its network, volley of warning shots, the Iranian PRESS TRUST OF INDIA fire was sparked by weeks of ten- But Israeli Prime Minister in a phone conversation Tuesday. Mark Zuckerberg urging Facebook threatening extraordinary boats backed off, Kirby said. sions in contested Jerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu warning in “During this hard time Palestine is not to launch “Instagram for disruption as Colonial works “They were acting very aggres- Gaza City, May 11: Israel unleashed Since sundown Monday, 26 the evening that more was com- passing through, we need to be Kids”, citing mental health and to get America’s biggest sively,” Kirby told reporters at the new airstrikes on Gaza early Palestinians — including nine chil- ing. He said after meeting with united to face what is happening in privacy concerns. gasoline pipeline back online Pentagon. He said they got within Tuesday, hitting a pair of high-rise dren and a woman— were killed in senior defense officials that Israel East Jerusalem, end the internal The “Instagram for Kids” app will by the end of the week. 150 yards of the US ships, which in- buildings believed to be housing Gaza, mostly by airstrikes, Gaza would “increase even more the division and form a unity allow children under the age of 13 cluded the guided missile cruiser militants, as Hamas and other armed health officials said. The Israeli strength of the strikes and also government,’ Xinhua news agency to begin using the popular photo- USS Monterey. A day earlier, the groups bombarded southern Israel military said at least 16 of the dead the rate of the strikes” against quoted the President as saying. sharing app. However, the attor- Slowest population Monterey had intercepted an arms with hundreds of rockets. were militants. Hamas and Islamic Jihad mili- For his part, Erdogan reaffirmed neys general urge Facebook to shipment aboard a dhow in the The conflict escalated relent- During the same period, Gaza tants in the Gaza Strip. Turkey’s support for the abandon its plans to launch this new Palestinians’ right to defend East Arabian Sea apparently headed lessly throughout the day, and Israel militants fired hundreds of rock- “Hamas will receive blows now platform. growth in decades Jerusalem and its holy places from for Yemen, whose Houthi rebels vowed that its strikes would only ets toward Israel, killing two Israeli that it didn't expect,” he said in a the Israeli assaults. The letter lists reasons and cites Beijing: China’s population are supported by Iran. increase. The latest exchange of civilians and wounding 10 others. statement. research to show that Facebook has grown at its slowest pace should not go forth with its plans in decades, reaching 1.41 billion, census results to develop and market a kid-friendly showed Tuesday. The growth version of the Instagram app, re- of 5.4 percent since the last ports GSMArena. census in 2010 reflects fears NASA’s ‘Osiris-Rex’ heads home with asteroid rubble Among the reasons listed in of a looming demographic the letter are – Facebook’s poor his- crisis amid an ageing society THE PROBE STILL HAS A VAST DISTANCE TO COVER BEFORE IT LANDS IN THE UTAH DESERT ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 tory of protecting children's pri- and slowing birthrates, with vacy and data on the platform, a sharp drop in the number of AGENCE-FRANCE-PRESSE escape into space. research showing that social working-age citizens in the It is carrying more than But the precious cargo was finally media can be harmful to children world’s second biggest Washington, May 11: The US 60 grams of dust and secured after being transferred to on physical and psychological economy. space probe Osiris-Rex Monday a capsule fixed in the spacecraft’s levels, children do not have a left the orbit of the asteroid Bennu, fragments from the center. In two and a half years, fully-developed understanding of from which it collected dust sam- asteroid, the largest that capsule will be released a few privacy and can easily be tar- 21.5mn jabbed ples last year, to begin its long jour- sample collected by hours before entry into the Earth’s geted by anonymous predators. ney back to Earth. atmosphere, and will be slowed In the release published by the against Covid Osiris-Rex is “now moving away NASA since the Moon down by a parachute system for coalition head Attorney General over 600 miles an hour from Bennu, Maura Healey, she cited Moscow: Russian President rocks brought back by its landing. Vladimir Putin said that about on its way home,” Dante Lauretta, The samples will then be trans- Zuckerberg’s dismissal of the 21.5 million people in the head of the mission, said on NASA’s the Apollo missions ported to NASA’s Johnson Space idea that social media is harmful country have been vaccinated video broadcast of the event. Center in Houston, but 75 percent to children. against the coronavirus. “The The spacecraft’s thrusters were teroid, showing the scientists that will be kept intact to be studied by The release points out there is situation in the country, engaged without incident for seven “the surfaces of these rubble pile future generations, who will have much strong evidence and research

minutes to put the probe on the lected by NASA since the Moon oid for a few seconds, and a blast asteroids are very loosely consol- advanced technologies that have not that contradicts Zuckerberg’s de-

k y m according to experts, is c stable,” Xinhua news agency correct trajectory home, a jour- rocks brought back by the Apollo of compressed nitrogen was emit- idated,” said Lauretta. yet been created, the agency said. nial. Currently, children under 13 quoted the President as ney of 1.4 billion miles (2.3 billion missions. ted to raise the dust sample which The whole mission almost came The analysis should help scien- are not allowed to have an saying in Sochi Monday. “We kiometers). To achieve this goal, the US space was then captured. to naught when NASA realized a tists better understand the for- Instagram account unless it is ex- need to continue actively It is carrying more than 60 grams agency launched a high-risk op- The surprise for NASA was the few days later that the valve of mation of the solar system and plicitly written in the profile de- testing and getting of dust and fragments from the eration in October 2020: the probe probe’s arm sank several cen- the collection compartment was the development of Earth as a hab- scription that the account is being vaccinated,” said Putin. asteroid, the largest sample col- came into contact with the aster- timeters into the surface of the as- failing to close, letting fragments itable planet. managed by a parent or guardian. India is both a TWITTER DONATES $15 MILLION P11 business hub WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR and a technology hub. FOR COVID-19 RELIEF IN INDIA From a people Microblogging giant Twitter has perspective, our India donated $15 million to help associates are a critical address the Covid-19 crisis in part of the company India which is battling the PAUL CORMIER | unprecedented second wave of

RED HAT PRESIDENT AND CEO

k y m business the deadly pandemic c of the day uote Govt ready for another cut in import duty on steel India Inc’s overseas The shortage of chips will INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE probably continue for a few TAMING PRICES borrowing now $9.23bn years. Even if chip New Delhi, May 11: The govern- decision had been taken to review factories are built all ment has proposed to slash import duties on steel products and reduce The sudden spike in over the world it duties on steel items further bring- A it or withdraw it completely on few takes time ing it to zero or near zero levels to March 2021 can largely provide relief to MSMEs, which items to help the user industry hit hard MICHAEL DELL | DELL TECHNOLOGIES CEO be attributed to Indian have been hit hard by the high cost by rising price of the metal in the domestic market of raw materials amidst the raging Railway Finance pandemic. Very lso, lower import duties would help Corporation (IRFC) Top government sources said maintain supply lines that have concerned A which raised $4.92 billion about why that a decision had been taken to re- been affected with several domestic vaccines are in such view duties on steel products and steel companies reducing steel quarter. However, with multiple short supply. Can reduce it or withdraw it completely production to divert medical grade AGENCIES phases of unlocking and rebound we please know on few items to help the user in- oxygen for Covid-19 relief measures in economic activity, the external where the 70 million dustry hit hard by rising price of the Chennai, May 11: External com- fund-raising picked up momen- doses are being deployed every metal in the domestic market. firm and have also risen further in Domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) import duty would be detrimen- mercial borrowings (ECBs) of tum to reach $9 billion in the sec- month? Also, lower import duties would recent months. It is making oper- prices rallied to a multi-year high tal to the interest of domestic steel- Indian corporates have hit a two- ond quarter, $7 billion in third and ` KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW | help maintain supply lines that have ation of several user industries of 56,000 per tonne in February makers as it could flood the mar- year high of $9.23 billion in March $16 billion in the last quarter of ` BIOCON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN been affected with several domestic difficult especially in a market dis- from 39,200 per tonne in March 2020 ket with cheap and substandard 2021. Prior to this, the overseas the previous fiscal. steel companies reducing steel pro- rupted by the pandemic. Cut in as demand improved amid iron- steel being dumped into the coun- borrowing of India Inc touched a “The lower borrowings from the duction to divert medical grade oxy- import duty will help tame steel ore supply constraints and high try. They said that the steel market monthly high of $12.18 billion in overseas markets in the current fi- The economic gen for Covid-19 relief measures. prices as the global prices of steel global prices. This has further im- is giving indications that domestic March 2019. nancial year can in large part be at- consequences In budget 2021-22, Finance in certain markets are still lower proved to over `58,000 in April, a steel sector may turn profitable The spike in overseas borrowing tributed to the pandemic-led eco- of local Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had than domestic prices. The measure jump of over 50 per cent in last 13 after a long interval. But duty cuts comes after months of lacklustre nomic and business disruptions that lockdowns may not revoked the anti-dumping duty will also help supply lines of steel months. could change the cycle again. demand for external debt due to sur- have made corporates reluctant to be as destructive as (ADD) and countervailing duty if there is any shortage in domes- With demand for steel remain- In the current scenario of a mod- plus liquidity in the domestic mar- borrow and add to their liabilities those of a national (CVD) on certain steel products tic steel production due to use of an- ing firm and China cutting export eration in demand in India due to ket, muted credit demand and ab- amid uncertainties about the future lockdown. But in while reducing customs duty uni- other input oxygen by steel mak- incentives to steel makers to sup- the second wave of Covid-19 and sence of major expansion plans business and economic conditions,” some respects, things are worse formly to 7.5 per cent on semis, flat, ers for Covid relief,” said the official port domestic needs, Indian steel consequent business lockdowns, by Indian corporates since the CARE Ratings said in its Debt Market this time for the working class and long products of non-alloy, alloy, source quoted earlier. prices are expected to move up fur- Indian steel mills would be able to onset of the pandemic. Review for February 2021. JEAN DREZE | ECONOMIST and stainless steels from 10-12.5 per It is expected that duty cuts in ther. The cut in duty is expected to offload large steel volumes to export After hitting an historic high of Sudden spike cent levels earlier. She also brought steel will be announced shortly by tame prices in the domestic mar- markets and still remain highly $52 billion in FY20, overseas bor- The sudden spike in ECBs in down import duty to nil on steel the DGFT after getting formal nod ket while providing competition profitable, according to a recent rowing of India Inc fell sharply March 2021 can largely be attributed SHORT TAKES scrap to support user industries from the Finance Ministry. A call to domestic steelmakers from report from ICRA. since the beginning of FY21. to Indian Railway Finance hit hard by sharp rise in steel prices. has to be taken whether to bring traders who secure cheaper metal But a cut in duty would squeeze Overseas debt of Indian compa- Corporation (IRFC) which alone These duties may now be with- down duty levels largely at 7.5 per from abroad. margins and bring a lot of export nies fell to $3.51 billion in the first raised $4.92 billion under RBI’s ap- SBI General drawn or slashed further. cent to 2.5 per cent or withdraw it Steel producers asking destined products back into the quarter of FY21 after recording a proval route for the purpose of Insurance fined `30L "Steel prices continue to remain completely for the time being. anonymity said that the move to cut domestic market. high of $19 billion in the previous ‘Infrastructure development’. Chennai: Cutting down the penalty recommended by its Inflow in equity Adjudicative Officer by `70 COVID EFFECT lakh, Insurance Regulatory Foxconn iPhone India output drops 50% mutual funds drop and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has penalised REUTERS Production of the They did not specify the plant's to `3,437cr in Apr SBI General Insurance Indian oil refiners capacity and it was unclear how ` Company Ltd 30 lakh for Taipei, May 11: Production of Apple iPhone 12 at a many workers were at the facility, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA repeatedly violating the Apple iPhone 12 at a Foxconn Foxconn factory in which provides dormitory ac- Insurance Act and the factory in India has slumped by commodation for employees. New Delhi, May 11: Equity mu- regulations. The charge cut output, imports more than 50% because workers in- India has slumped Taipei-based Foxconn, the world’s tual funds witnessed a net inflow against SBI General fected with Covid-19 have had to largest contract electronics maker of `3,437 crore in April, making it Insurance Company was that because workers leave their posts, two sources said. and a major supplier to Apple, said the second consecutive monthly it had repeatedly failed to Indian Oil Corp has reduced runs to an average of The Foxconn facility in the south- infected with Covid-19 a small number of employees at one infusion. comply with Section 32D of between 85% and 88% of processing capacity the Insurance Act and the ern state of Tamil Nadu produces of its facilities in India tested pos- However, this was much lower ` IRDAI Regulations, 2015 that iPhones specifically for India, the pany has enforced a no-entry ban itive for Covid-19 and the company than an inflow of 9,115 crore seen mandates underwriting of REUTERS world’s No.2 smartphone market. at its factory in the capital of was providing them with support, in March, data from the Association minimum motor third party Tamil Nadu is one of the worst Chennai until late May, one of the including medical assistance. of Mutual Funds in India showed insurance business. Mumbai, May 11: India’s top state hit states in the second coronavirus sources said. “Employees are only “Foxconn places the health and Tuesday. Prior to this, equity oil refiners are reducing process- wave engulfing India. Officials im- allowed to leave but not to enter the safety of our employees as our high- schemes had consistently witnessed ing runs and crude imports as the posed a full lockdown in the state facility since yesterday," the person est priority and that is why we have outflow for eight straight months surging Covid-19 pandemic has from Monday, closing public trans- said. “Only a small part of output been working closely with local from July 2020 to February 2021. Flipkart to ramp cut fuel consumption, leading to port and shuttering shops, to try is being kept.” government and public health au- Apart from equities, investors in- grocery ops higher product stockpiles at the slow surging infections. More than 50% of the plant’s ca- thorities in India to address the fused over `1 lakh crore in debt plants, company officials told More than 100 Foxconn em- pacity had been cut, both sources said, challenges that we and all compa- mutual funds last month after with- Bangalore: Domestic e- Reuters Tuesday. ployees in the state have tested declining to be named as they were nies are facing in dealing with the drawing `52,528 crore in March. commerce marketplace Indian Oil Corp, the country’s positive for Covid-19 and the com- not authorised to speak to the media. Covid-19 crisis,” it said in a statement. Overall, the mutual fund in- Flipkart Tuesday announced biggest refiner, has reduced runs dustry witnessed an inflow of strengthening of its grocery to an average of between 85% and MK Surana, chairman of `92,906 crore across all segments supply chain infrastructure to 88% of processing capacity, a com- Hindustan Petroleum Corp during the period under review, provide its customers safe ` and seamless access to pany official said, adding runs (HPCL.NS), expects India’s fuel MOODY’S SLASHES INDIA compared to an outflow of 29,745 ordering daily essentials could be cut further as its plants at consumption in May to fall by 5% crore in March. through quick and Gujarat, Mathura and Panipat are from April as the impact on driv- As per the data, inflow from eq- contactless doorstep facing problems storing bitumen ing and industrial production is GROWTH FORECAST TO 9.3% uity and equity-linked open ended delivery. As part of the plan, and sulphur. IOC’s refineries were not as severe as last year. schemes was at `3,437.37 crore in Flipkart will add over 8 lakh operating at about 95% of their "This time it is not a full lockdown PRESS TRUST OF INDIA revised our real, inflation-adjusted April. Barring multi cap, dividend square feet of space through capacity in late April. like last time,” he said. “Sales in GDP growth forecast down to 9.3 per yield, value fund and thematic fund five new fulfilment centers “We do not anticipate that our April were about 90% of March New Delhi, May 11: Moody’s cent from 13.7 per cent for fiscal 2021 categories, all the equity schemes over the next three months. crude processing would be reduced and we are expecting May could be Investors Service Tuesday slashed and to 7.9 per cent from 6.2 per have seen inflow last month. With this additional to last year's level of 65%-70% as about 5% lower than April.” India’s growth forecast for the cur- cent in fiscal 2022. Over the longer Overall, equity schemes had wit- infrastructure, the inter-state vehicle movement is HPCL has no immediate plan rent financial year to 9.3 per cent, term, we expect growth of around nessed an outflow of `9,253 crore marketplace will bring the still there ... (the) economy is func- to cut crude runs, he said, although from the 13.7 per cent projected ear- 6 per cent thereafter,” Moody's said. in January, `10,147 crore in ease of online grocery tioning,” he said. the company has shut some units lier, on account of the negative im- On the fiscal front, Moody's ex- December, `12,917 crore in shopping to more users Several states across India are at its 150,000 bpd Mumbai refin- pact of the second wave of Covid-19. pects the renewed surge in the November, `2,725 crore in October, across Delhi, Kolkata, under lockdown as the coronavirus ery for maintenance and upgrade. India is experiencing a severe sec- virus to contribute to a marginal `734 crore in September, `4,000 Chennai, Coimbatore, and crisis showed scant sign of easing State-run Mangalore Refinery ond wave of coronavirus infec- shortfall in revenue and a redi- crore in August and `2,480 crore in Hyderabad. Tuesday, with a seven-day average and Petrochemicals Ltd’s is al- tions which will slow the near- rection of spending toward health- July, which was their first with- of new cases at a record high, al- ready operating its 300,000 bpd term economic recovery and could care and virus response relative drawal in over four years. though the government of India, complex at lower rates because of weigh on longer-term growth dy- to what the government budgeted Prior to this, such schemes had Bay Tree sells 2 pc the world's third largest oil im- maintenance at a 60,000 bpd crude namics, it said. in February. attracted `240.55 crore in June. stake in Yes Bank porter and consumer, has not im- unit and some secondary units, a “As of now, we expect the nega- “As a result, we now expect a Further, gold exchange traded funds plemented a full lockdown. company official said. tive impact on economic output to wider general government fiscal (ETFs) witnessed net inflow of `680 New Delhi: Anchor investor State-run Bharat Petroleum Corp “The crude and other units will be limited to the April-June quar- deficit of about 11.8 per cent of crore last month, compared to `662 crore Bay Tree India Holdings I LLC has cut its crude imports by 1 mil- start operations from the end of ter, followed by a strong rebound in GDP in fiscal 2021, compared with in March. The asset under manage- has sold over 2 per cent lion barrels in May and will re- this month, we will decide on the the second half of the year.” our previous forecast of 10.8 per cent ment (AUM) of the mutual fund in- stake in Yes Bank through duce purchases by 2 million barrels future course after seeing local de- “As a result of the negative im- and an estimated 14 per cent in fis- dustry rose to `32.38 lakh crore in open market transactions. in June, a company official said. mand,” he said. pact of the second wave, we have cal 2020,” it added. April-end from `31.43 lakh crore . According to a regulatory filing, Bay Tree India Holdings I LLC, which held 7.48 per cent stake in Yes Bank earlier, sold 52.15 Law requires dumping e-bikes, IT equipment: UN-backed Report crore shares representing 2.08 per cent of equity stake in multiple tranches THE REPORT FOLLOWS THE 2020 EU ACTION PLAN TO MAKE EUROPE LESS DEPENDENT ON THIRD COUNTRIES FOR CRMs between January 6 and May 6, 2021. Post the sale, stake of Bay Tree India Holdings I AGENCIES The CEWASTE consortium only work when there is wide- of-life vehicles, neodymium iron LLC in Yes Bank stands at warns that access to the CRMs in spread adoption.” boron magnets from hard disc 5.40 per cent. New Delhi, May 11: End-of-life cir- these products is vulnerable to The report follows the 2020 EU drives, and electrical engines of e- cuit boards, certain magnets in geo-political tides. Recycling and action plan to make Europe less de- bikes, fluorescent powders from disc drives and electric vehicles reusing them is “crucial” to se- pendent on third countries for cathode ray tubes (CRTs; in TVs and FB begins testing and other special battery types, cure ongoing supplies for regional CRMs by, for example, diversify- monitors) and fluorescent lamps also fluorescent lamps are among manufacturing of electrical and ing supply from both primary and and recovery technologies and Clubhouse rival several electrical and electronic electronic equipment (EEE) es- secondary sources while improv- processes are well established for products containing critical raw ma- sential for defence, renewable en- ing resource efficiency and circu- some CRMs, such as palladium California: Facebook Inc is terials (CRMs), the recycling of ergy generation, LEDs and other larity. The consortium adds: "By from printed circuit boards or starting the first test of its which should be made mandatory green technologies, and to the com- adopting this report’s recommen- cobalt from lithium-ion batteries. Live Audio Rooms product by law, says a new UN-backed re- with public figures and petitiveness of European firms. dations, the EU can be more self- For other CRMs, ongoing recy- creators in Taiwan, part of an port funded by the EU. Today, recycling most of the sustaining, help drive the world's cling technology development will expansion of the company’s A mandatory, legal requirement products rich in CRMs is not com- green agenda and create new busi- soon make industrial scale opera- audio services that will over to recycle and reuse CRMs in select mercially viable, with low and ness opportunities at home.” tions possible but needs financial time include podcast hosting e-waste categories is needed to volatile CRM prices undermining The project says the equipment support and sufficient volumes to

safeguard from supply disruptions efforts to improve European CRM and recycle this waste, including raw materials more commercially categories that contain CRMs in achieve cost-efficient operations.

k y m and creation tools. The social c media giant announced a elements essential to manufac- recycling rates, which today are tools to audit compliance. viable and Europe less reliant on concentrations high enough to fa- Of 60 plus requirements in sweeping set of updates to turers of important electrical and close to zero in most cases. “A European Union legal frame- outside supply sources,” says the cilitate recycling include printed cir- European e-waste-related legis- its audio services in April, electronic and other products, says The report identifies gaps in work and certification scheme, consortium. cuit boards from IT equipment, lation and standards, few ad- with Live Audio Rooms being a European consortium behind standards and proposes an im- coupled with broad financial meas- “Acceptance by the manufac- hard disc drives and optical disc dress the collection of CRMs in the Clubhouse-like the report, led by the Switzerland- proved, fully tested certification ures will foster the investments turing and recycling industry is drives. the key product categories, the centerpiece. based World Resources Forum. scheme to collect, transport, process needed to make recycling critical also needed, as the standards will Batteries from WEEE and end- consortium found. P12 WEDNESDAY | MAY 12 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

Indian shooting team

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k k y y m m c Arsenal test awaits Blues leave for Croatia tour c PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Azerbaijan (from June 21 to July 2), which got cancelled due to a Chelsea captain Cesar New Delhi, May 11: The Olympic- surge in COVID-19 cases in that Azpilicueta (airborne) bound Indian shooting team country. would like to continue Tuesday left for Croatia for a two There will be nine coaches for the their strong perform- and a half months training-cum- 13 rifle and pistol shooters but ance in defense against competition tour, its final tune-up some coaches like Samaresh Jung, Arsenal, Wednesday to the upcoming Tokyo Games. Jaspal Rana and Ronak Pandit night With coaches and support staff could not travel with the team for in tow, a 13-member Indian shoot- various reasons. ing team took off for Croatian cap- Foreign rifle coach Oleg ital Zagreb, where it will undergo Mikhailov was also a part of the a training camp before leaving for travelling contingent but longtime Osijek to take part in the European pistol coach Pavel Smirnov could Championships (May 20 to June not leave Tuesday as he did not 6) followed by the combined ISSF get his visa. He is likely to join the World Cup (June 22 to July 3). team next week. “Team India takes off in 20 mins. As per the standard COVID-19 Bon Voyage, Get the nose to the protocols in Croatia, the Indian ground and work hard for your in- contingent will serve a mandatory evitable success team,” Raninder quarantine before starting the Singh, president of the National training. Rifle Association of India (NRAI) World Cup gold medallist Sanjeev tweeted just before the team’s de- Rajput and 10m air pistol shooter parture. Elavenil Valarivan, also issued pre- The two Olympics bound skeet departure tweets from their re- shooters Angad Vir Singh Bajwa spective handles, both hoping to and Mairaj Ahmad Khan will be lift the spirit of the coronavirus-rav- based in Italy. The Indians, in- aged nation with their achieve- cluding Gurjoat Singh Khangura, ments in the sporting arena. took part in the ongoing shotgun “Long tour ahead, wish us luck. World Cup in Lonato, where they Hope we are able to win medals could not make the final of the and raise spirits of the nation,” men’s skeet event Monday. Elavenil wrote. Alongside a few The team left in a chartered pictures of the shooters, two-time flight arranged by the NRAI. After Olympian Rajput tweeted, “Off to offer in London derbies this season, League relegation. the stint in Croatia, the team will Croatia for our preparation lead- Chelsea look to keep their momentum going when and the chances of them making A spot in mid-table is unac- directly leave for Tokyo to partic- ing up to Tokyo2020. Hopefully the it 25 from 30 seem pretty high ceptable for a club of Arsenal’s ipate in the Olympics, beginning next time we enter India is with a they host Arteta’s men at Stamford Bridge against the Gunners and their stature, though, with 13 Premier July 23. handful of Olympic Medals. Thank wholly inconsistent nature. League defeats representing an The ISSF World Cup in Osijek is you for the support as always. Do AGENCIES The Champions League crown Barring an end-of-season mira- alarming downturn since the glory being organised in place of the keep blessing us with your wishes! is of course the ultimate prize for cle, Arsenal’s 25-year spell on the days of Arsene Wenger, and they one earlier scheduled in Baku, Jai Hind.” London, May 11: Seeking to avenge Chelsea and the charismatic Tuchel, continental stage will come to a remain three points behind eighth- their defeat to the Arsenal earlier who also has an FA Cup final show- bitter end in the 2021-22 campaign, placed Everton having played a this season in the Premier League, down with Leicester City May 15 and it is not just the much-ma- game more. Chelsea will welcome the Gunners to take into account, but the Blues’ ligned owners KSE who are com- It is not entirely doom and gloom to Stamford Bridge for Wednesday’s top four standing is all but wrapped ing under increasing scrutiny in for Arsenal, though, as they travel Premier League London derby. up and a derby win would cement North London. to West London on a five-game un- Thomas Tuchel’s hosts are all but their position among the big boys. Gunners fans once again beaten run in the Premier League assured of a top four place follow- Chelsea welcome Arsenal to protested against the American- away from home – scoring at least ing a 2-1 victory over champions- Stamford Bridge on a seven-game un- led regime before Sunday’s Premier twice in four of those matches – and elect Manchester City – the dress beaten run across all competitions League battle with West Brom, but they now have a chance to win rehearsal of the Champions League – during which time they have the pressure continues to pile on three in a row with three clean final – last time out, while Arsenal shipped a mere two goals – and rookie coach Mikel Arteta, who is sheets on the road for the first time kept their fleeting European hopes Tuchel’s side have found the back of already planning for a major sum- since May 2013. alive by beating West Bromwich the net twice in successive triumphs mer overhaul after a dismal season. The Gunners also have an un- Albion 3-1. over Fulham, Real Madrid and Man The Europa League represented beaten Stamford Bridge record to The Blues are third in the table City over the past few weeks. the Gunners’ best opportunity to maintain, as they have managed to before Wednesday’s game – al- The unforeseen 5-2 thrashing at keep their remarkable European hold Chelsea to four consecutive though they could drop to fourth the hands of now-relegated West run going, but Unai Emery re- draws in West London during mid- before kickoff – while the mid- Bromwich Albion has been the turned to the Emirates to conquer week fixtures, and they are yet to table Gunners are languishing in only blot on Tuchel’s Chelsea note- the team who relieved him of his lose to the Blues on a Tuesday or ninth before the short trip across book so far, with the former PSG duties as Villarreal easily nulli- Wednesday night in the Premier the capital. boss overseeing 10 wins and five Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager fied Arsenal’s toothless attack to League. In what may have been a sign of draws from his other Premier dump them out 2-1 on aggregate. While all the signs may point to- things to come in the highly-an- League matches in charge. table before kickoff, but Leicester A seventh-placed finish in the wards a Chelsea triumph in this game, ticipated European showpiece event Notwithstanding their humili- have the chance to temporarily Premier League is surely out of Arteta’s Arsenal have proven capable summit clash, Chelsea’s astonish- ation at the hands of the Baggies, leapfrog them when they face Man Arsenal’s reach too, but they at of springing a surprise against the ing away record saw them over the Tuchel’s staunch defense have nav- United Tuesday night. least head to Chelsea on the back Blues, who will have a chance to rec- line against soon-to-be champions igated 630 minutes of top-flight Furthermore, the Blues certainly of a much-needed Premier League tify their defeat to Arsenal in the FA Man City, who are still being kept football at Stamford Bridge with- seem to have a penchant for success win, as a 3-1 triumph over West Cup final last year both Wednesday waiting for the Premier League out conceding a goal, and they cur- against their capital rivals, as they Bromwich Albion handed Sam and in this year’s showpiece event crown. rently occupy third spot in the have claimed 22 points from 27 on Allardyce his first-ever Premier against Leicester City a few days later. Sanjeev Rajput (L) and Elavenil Valarivan England players unlikely BUMRAH, SMRITI We benefitted from video analysis: Amit GET 1ST DOSE OF for re-scheduled IPL: ECB PRESS TRUST OF INDIA March. India had outclassed Germany 6-1 before playing out a COVID VACCINE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA at the Ashes right after the T20 Bangalore, May 11: The Indian 1-1 draw. In the two games against World Cup. men’s hockey team defender Amit Great Britain, India were held to PRESS TRUST OF INDIA London, May 11: England have a “We’re planning on involvement Rohidas feels that the use of video a 1-1 draw before they ended the tour busy international schedule from of England players in England analysis during preparations has with a 3-2 victory. Mumbai, May 11: India’s star June onwards and the players are matches. We’ve got a full FTP sched- played a big role in the side’s recent During the Argentina tour in pacer Jasprit Bumrah and women’s unlikely to be available for the re- ule. So if those tours to Pakistan success during tours of Europe April, India won two of the practice national team opener Smriti mainder of the suspended IPL if the and Bangladesh are going ahead, and Argentina. games and won both the FIH Pro Mandhana Tuesday said they re- T20 tournament is rescheduled I'd expect the players to be there,” He said video analysis has also League encounters against the reign- ceived their first dose of the COVID- this year, says ECB Director of Giles said as quoted by been a useful tool to correct play- ing Olympic champions. “I feel we 19 vaccine. Cricket Ashley Giles. ‘ESPNcricinfo’. ers’ flaws in the national camp have gained good momentum and Joining the duo was veteran wick- The IPL was suspended last week There were 11 Englishman in here. “Video analysis helped us on would like to continue what we have etkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik. after multiple COVID-19 cases in- various franchises in the suspended both the tours. We analysed our been doing at the camp.” All three cricketers posted pictures side its bio-bubble. There are two IPL. “None of us knows what a re- opponent’s style of play, their move- Talking about the experience of of themselves on their respective so- windows for the T20 event to be arranged IPL looks like at the mo- ment in the attack as well as in de- playing international hockey after cial media accounts while urging resumed this year – one is in the sec- ment, where it’s going to be or fence, and we adapted to the situ- a one-year break, the Sundargarh- everyone to get inoculated. ond half of September and before when. But from when we start this ations accordingly,” he said. born player said, “I went with the “Vaccinated. Please stay safe the T20 World Cup (October- summer against New Zealand, our “We didn’t have much on-field ex- mindset that I don’t have to do any- everyone,” Bumrah tweeted. November) and the other is after programme is incredibly busy,” perience, but I can say we did our Amit Rohidas (R) thing extraordinary. I just have to Mandhana, who last featured in mid-November. Giles said. homework pretty well through the repeat all the things which we have the home series against South But England’s top players will be “We’ve got a lot of important, video analysis and it benefited us,” at the Sports Authority of India need to improve. So, yeah it’s one done during training sessions.” Africa in March, posted a picture in action at both times. They have high-profile cricket including the said Rohidas, who has played 97 (SAI) Centre here. “At the camp of the major assets for us to cover “As a team also, we took one game on her Instagram captioning it: tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan T20 World Cup and the Ashes. And matches for the national side. also, with the help of video analy- our bases for the Olympics.” at a time, we were not bothered about “Please stay safe and get yourself in September and October, while we’re going to have to look after our Rohidas is currently training sis, we are working on the areas The team had remained un- win or lose. We took it as an oppor- #Vaccinated.” they will compete with Australia players.” with the men’s senior core group where our team need correcting or beaten in the tour of Europe in tunity to prepare for the Olympics.” Bumrah is expected to lead the Indian pace attack in the upcom- ing World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the sub- sequent away series in England. Hardik, Dhawan vie for India captaincy Senior India opener Shikhar Dhawan had received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, May 6. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA along with rest, extensive rehab past eight years,” an official said. Then several of his teammates, in- and training to get back in shape As far as Hardik is concerned, cluding skipper Virat Kohli, New Delhi, May 11: Veteran takes around four months,” a sen- his reputation as a white-ball match- Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, opener Shikhar Dhawan and flam- ior BCCI source privy to selection winner can’t be discounted either. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, boyant all-rounder-turned spe- matters told this agency on condi- Pandya was included in the four- had got their first jab in various vac- cialist batsman Hardik Pandya tions of anonymity. “In case Shreyas Test series at home against England cination centres across the country. will be locked in a two-way fight for was available, he would have been so that his bowling workload is in- Head coach Ravi Shastri was India captaincy if Shreyas Iyer the automatic choice for captaincy.” creased keeping the England tour in the first from the Indian cricket doesn’t get fit in time for the white- It’s only logical that the two con- mind but it is learnt that the Baroda team to receive the vaccine. He got ball tour of Sri Lanka in July. tenders for captaincy are 35-year- man is unlikely to bowl more than his first jab in the first week of India’s limited overs specialists old Dhawan, who has had good an odd over or two in the shortest March, when vaccination was made will be playing three T20Is and as ‘one and half IPLs’ in last two sea- format or ODI in near future. open for all senior citizens. many ODIs in the island nation sons and Pandya junior, who is “Hardik, after his back surgery In order to ramp up the coron- during the second half of July, one of the most accomplished to cure stress fracture, is not the avirus vaccination drive in the y when big guns like Virat Kohli and match-winners. same bowler anymore. He was a fast country, the Centre had last month

Rohit Sharma will be in England for “Shikhar has had two very good medium bowler before injury but announced a ‘liberalised and ac-

k k y y m m c c a marquee five-match Test series. IPL including this curtailed one and to bowl at a brisk 135 kmph plus celerated’ Phase 3 strategy of “It is still not clear if Shreyas will being the senior most among those pace consistently, it could impact COVID-19 vaccination from May 1. recover fully and will be match-fit who are available for selection, he is his back. So he is focussing more As per the order, everyone above in time for tour of Sri Lanka. a very strong contender. Also he has on his match finishing skills,” a per- the age of 18 is eligible to get the Normally, a surgery of this scale been a solid performer for India for son in the know of things said. COVID-19 vaccine.

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