Fully Ket Has Added to the Prob- April 30 Which Are Being Private Medical Facilities

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VIEWPOINT GUERRILLAS CAPTURE BASE CSK FACE SRH TODAY Actor Shruti Haasan doesn’t agree Ethnic Karen guerrillas said they captured a Chennai Super Kings look to continue their that a gothic look can be risky for Myanmar army base Tuesday near the border winning run when they face an inconsistent Sunrisers Hyderabad actresses LEISURE | P2 with Thailand INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 28 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00 VACCINES HAVE VANISHED Govt not sure as to when the doses for Covid-19 vaccination would arrive in state

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, April 27: The state gov- KIT CRUNCH HITS TESTING ernment Tuesday said the Co-WIN portal meant for registration of the new BHUBANESWAR: Even as the state ing has also been changed. No test- Remdesivir missing set of beneficiaries aged between 18 and government makes tall claims on ing is being conducted at urban 44 would start the registration from its Covid management, people in health centers of Bhubaneswar in Wednesday. However, the state health many parts of the state are facing a the second half. The only hope is from open markets department said while all eligible per- tough time to get tests. According to the Capital Hospital where people sons can register on Co-WIN, their reports, people were denied testing stay in queues for hours to get tested. POST NEWS NETWORK Medical Corporation dis- real vaccination may be delayed as at Komna community public health Private labs including GENX, In tributes the drug to gov- there are no vaccines available now. centre in Nuapada district Tuesday. DNA and Redcliffe Life Sciences Bhubaneswar, April 27: ernment hospitals. In Cuttack, vaccination stopped due “I was waiting in a queue for Covid have refused to conduct antigen With a steep hike in Covid- Around 21,000 vials have to lack of vaccines at government and test. But, now, the heath officials say tests. They conduct only RT-PCR 19 cases, the shortage of been allocated to Odisha for private hospitals, Tuesday. Inoculation they don’t have antigen kits,” said a tests. “As there was allegation that remdesivir in the open mar- the period from April 21 to drive was shut at all government and man. The health centre in-charge has antigen test reports are not fully ket has added to the prob- April 30 which are being private medical facilities. While 100 admitted that they were not getting correct, we are not conducting anti- lems of Covid patients in sent on a daily basis, he doses were administered at CDA CHC, enough antigen kits to conduct tests. gen tests,” said an official of a pri- the state. The state is fac- said. “The requirement was 200 shots were given at SCBMCH. The situation was similar in vate laboratory at Saheed Nagar. ing a shortage of remde- nearly 2,000 vials yesterday, The state government is not yet sure Bhubaneswar. Test kits in the com- However, the health department sivir, the drug used for treat- but the state had received as to when the doses would arrive. The munity health centre at Brahmeswar has a different story. “There is no ing the SARS-CoV-2 virus only 92 vials. We have got in- state health and family welfare direc- Patna got exhausted at 10 am Tuesday. shortage of testing kits. As more in hospitalised adults, Drugs formation that even fewer tor, Bijay Panigrahi, Tuesday admitted mobile numbers and register through on the availability of vaccines with us. “We get fewer test kits from Capital people are coming forward for tests, Controller Annada Sankar vials are reaching today, but that there might be a delay for the in- OTPs and other ID details in Co-WIN. We are ready with the infrastructure. Hospital. So we were not able to test the kits might have been exhausted Das told media here Tuesday. we have no information oculation drive for the 18 plus group to When asked when the vaccines will We will announce the number of vac- people coming here,” said a lady in one or two places,” said Director, Das said the Centre has about the exact quantity,” start. “The registration of people in this arrive here, he said, as per the infor- cine centres and other details after get- staff of the hospital. The testing tim- Public Health, Niranjan Mishra. brought the distribution of Das said, adding, private age group on the Co-WIN website can mation the government has it may get ting our supply of doses,” the health the essential drug under its medical stores are not al- start from Wednesday. But there can be Covisheild doses in mid May. The department official said. to shortage and erratic supply of vac- issue of shortage of Covishield which control. The Centre is pro- lowed to store or sell the no booking of slots. We will announce Serum Institute of India will inform The state government is already cines. In the last one month, several is used in a majority of centres in viding the anti-viral drug drug. However, there is no slot-booking when we get enough sup- the government about their likely date struggling to get their initial bene- vaccination centres in the state have Odisha except for Bhubaneswar and to states, he said. The Drugs shortage of Fabiflu. ply of vaccines,” he added. of consignment, he said. “We are hope- ficiaries like health workers, frontline been shut due to shortage of Covid Cuttack, the inoculation drive to pro- Controller supplies remde- Pharmaceuticals in said Talking about the registration, the of- ful of getting Covaxin supply in May. workers, elderly and people above 19 vaccines. While the state govern- tect the most vulnerable is already sivir to private hospitals there is also a shortage of ficial said people will need to seed their The vaccine drive in the state depends the age of 45 years vaccinated owing ment has been regularly facing the delayed in the state. whereas the Odisha State pulse oximeter.

IRREGULAR by MANJUL LIFE-SAVING GAS EC bans ‘victory MANOJ march’ by parties AGENCIES

New Delhi, April 27: In view of DAS the rapidly increasing threat posed by coronavirus in the country, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday banned any kind of PASSES 'victory procession' by any political party after the results of the Assembly elections held in five states are declared on May 2. Any Can’t have him in Covid data violation of this EC order will collection team, sir. He is honest and AWAY invite strict action against the good in counting. candidate and his party. Not more than two people will accompany the candidate while receiving Covid duty: 12 OAS POST NEWS NETWORK Ganeshi Lal condoled the sad de- the victory certificate. mise of the legendary writer and Covid-19 cases are increasing officers deputed Bhubaneswar, April 27: thinker and conveyed his heart- at an alarming rate in the coun- Eminent writer, editor and colum- felt sympathy to his family and try with more than 3.5 lakh cases POST NEWS NETWORK The first Oxygen Express train for Delhi carrying 70 tonnes of the gas reaches Delhi Cantt early Tuesday morning nist Manoj Das passed away readers. “He would continue to coming up every day. The Madras Tuesday evening. He was un- inspire generations through his High Court (HC) had recently Bhubaneswar, April 27 : The dergoing treatment at a hospi- timeless literary works,” ob- held the EC responsible for the state government Tuesday ordered tal in Pondicherry. He was 87. served Governor. In 1971, his re- surge in Covid-19 cases and said deputation of 12 Odisha At time of national crisis, we Das was suffering from age-related search in the archives of London a "murder case should be regis- Administrative Service (OAS) of- aliments and was admitted to and Edinburgh brought to light tered for the deaths caused due ficers to help in better manage- the hospital for past few months. some of the little-known facts of to the virus". A day after the ment of Covid-19 in western Das was the foremost bilin- India’s freedom struggle in the Madras HC observations, the EC Odisha. can’t be a mute spectator: SC gual Odia writer and a master first decade of the twentieth cen- A notification Tuesday said of dramatic expression both tury led by Sri Aurobindo for these 12 OAS officers will help the in his English and Odia short which he received the first Sri district administrations of AGENCIES pandemic situation within their demic situation due to sudden surge stories and novels. In 2000, he Aurobindo Puraskar. Nuapada, Bolangir, Bargarh, territorial boundaries. There is a in COVID-19 cases as also mortal- was awarded with Saraswati His deeper quest led him to Sambalpur and Sundargarh. They New Delhi, April 27: Terming need for top court's intervention ity and said it expected the Centre Samman. He was awarded mysticism and he has been an in- have been asked to report to the massive resurgence of COVID- on certain national issues as there to come out with a “national plan” Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma mate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Collectors and help them in man- 19 cases a "national crisis", the might be matters related to coor- to deal with distribution of essen- Bhusan in 2020 for his contri- in Pondicherry since 1963 where aging Covid cases in a better way Supreme Court Tuesday said it dination between states, it said. tial services and supplies, includ- bution in the fields of litera- he taught English literature and with coordinated efforts. The gov- cannot remain a mute spectator “We are playing complemen- ing oxygen and drugs. Observing ture & education. The Kendra the Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo ernment deputed Bibekananda and made clear that its suo motu pro- tary role, if High Courts have any that oxygen to patients infected Sahitya Akademi awarded the at the Sri Aurobindo International Sahoo, Hemant Singh and Sweta ceeding on devising national policy difficulty in dealing with issues with the virus is said to be an “es- Sahitya Akademi Award University. Among his other im- Dash for Nuapada. Similarly two for COVID-19 management is not due to territorial limitations, we sential part” of treatment, the top Fellowship to Das. portant positions he was author- OAS officers—Ajodhyakanat meant to supplant high court cases. will help,” said the bench, also com- court had said it seemed that a cer- Das was born February 27, consultant, Ministry of Satapathy and Dilip Mohapatra A bench headed by Justice DY prising Justices L Nageswara Rao tain amount of “panic” has been 1934 in Shankari village in Education, government of has banned 'victory processions' have been sent for Bolangir. Chandrachud said high courts are and S Ravindra Bhat. Last Thursday, generated due to which people have Balasore district. Governor Singapore, 1983-85. MORE P3 by political parties. The results in a better position to monitor the the bench took note of the pan- approached several high courts. of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, MARKET WATCH Assam and Puducherry will be declared May 2. INDEX VARIATION The Madras High Court CEOs of 40 US cos create Covid task force to help India Monday came down hard on the SENSEX 48944.14 557.63 Election Commission and called The new US public-private part- panies have come together over the it the "the most irresponsible in-

BOURSES The first-of-its-kind global NIFTY 14653.00 168.00 nership to provide India critical weekend. We are focused on doing stitution" for the alleged spread DOLLAR 75.22 `0.16 task force to address a medical supplies, vaccines, oxygen our very best to help in any way that of the second wave of Covid-19 in public health crisis in and other life-saving assistance we possibly can. As the prime min- the country. EURO 90.14 `0.24 amid an unprecedented surge in ister said, we were very confident, In stinging remarks, the court CURRENCY another country was coronavirus cases is called the our spirits were up after successfully said EC officials may be booked ` ` GOLD 47,446 16 addressed by US Secretary 'Global Task Force on Pandemic tackling the first wave, but this under murder charges too. SILVER `68,829 ` 149 Response: Mobilising for India'. storm has shaken the nation. It is The first bench of Chief Justice BULLION of State Tony Blinken The first-of-its-kind country-spe- up to us to help in any way possi- Sanjib Banerjee and Justice cific global task force to address a ble," Renjen said in response to a Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy AGENCIES public health crisis in another coun- question. Observing that the first made the observation on a pub-

WEATHER try was addressed by US Secretary issue is around oxygen and its con- lic interest writ, seeking for a di- y BHUB CTK Washington, April 27: In a show of State Tony Blinken. centrators, Renjen said they have rection to authorities to ensure

of solidarity, the CEOs of about 40 The conversation showed how commitments to get 20,000 oxygen fair counting of votes May 2 in

k y m c MAX 41.7° 39.0° top American companies have come the United States and India can concentrators to India in the next Karur by taking effective steps

TEMP MIN 27.2° 26.0° together to create a first-of-its-kind A collective initiative of the US- task force during its meeting here leverage the expertise and capa- few weeks. The first 1,000 will arrive and proper arrangements with Forecast country-specific global task force to India Business Council of the US Monday committed to get 20,000 bilities of the US private sector to- in the middle of this week, he said, Covid-19 protocols. Judges had Humidity 72% 64% Light rain mobilise resources and coordinate Chamber of Commerce, and the oxygen concentrators to India in wards solutions for India's COVID- adding that by May 5, they expect also orally warned that they Rainfall Nil Nil likely efforts to help India fight the battle US-India Strategic and Partnership the next few weeks, Deloitte CEO 19 crisis, Blinken said in a tweet. another 11,000 oxygen concentrators would not hesitate in stopping against COVID-19. Forum and Business Roundtable, the Punit Renjen told PTI. "A number of American com- to reach the country. P9 counting of votes May 2. P2 ‘FATHERHOOD MADE PARIS HILTON DECLARES WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR ME GROW UP QUICKLY’ SHE IS ‘SLIV QUEEN’ Singer Tom Jones confessed that having a child Entrepreneur-socialite Paris Hilton when he was a teenager made him grow up Tuesday declared herself the ‘Sliv quickly. “Because when you have a wife and Queen’. Sliv is a term that Paris had child, you become a man very quickly. I was coined during an interview with

y about to turn 17, and she was just 16 when German singer Kim Petras. It means

k y m leisure Mark was born,” Jones said in an interview. ‘killing it and slaying’ in one word. c FORTUNE FORECAST Priyanka’s image from Shruti talks about her

ARIES Citadel set goes viral love for gothic look

Passion will rule today. LONDON: Priyanka Chopra has “Caption this,” she wrote on CHENNAI: Actress Shruti You may want to talk to him/her all day long, but shared a behind-the-scene image the picture. A box beneath, which Haasan’s love for the gothic look there will be bills to pay, dear. A bit of from her upcoming international lets followers key in their cap- and make-up is known to her balance will do no harm, says Ganesha. series Citadel on Instagram Stories tions, has “Type something” writ- social media followers. She shares However, if you've decided to go the for the very first time, and the ten in it. She has also given fans how being an actor doesn’t stop extra mile, make sure you're wearing photo has gone viral. a space to “Reply to her from experimenting with a the right shoes. In the picture, Priyanka’s face is Priyankachopra,”, and tagged look that she connects with. covered with a gold face mask cov- the image with #setlife, #citadel “I was really into metal and al- ering traces of blue make-up that and @goochie60. ternative culture from graphic TAURUS is visible below her eyes. She looks Citadel is helmed by Avengers novels to dark gothic literature, There is a good chance into the camera as an attendant makers Joe and Anthony Russo, and so it just felt like a natural ex- that you will be able to takes care of her open hair. the spy thriller series, co-starring tension,” the actress, who is also make changes at your Priyanka chose not to caption Richard Madden, is billed a musician, said. workplace that you had desired since a the frame. Rather, she invited fans as an ambitious global Shruti does not agree long time. You will be generous with gifts and favours, which will go down well to do so. event for OTT. IANS that a gothic look with your loved ones (though not with could be risky for ac- your bank balance!). You will win favours tresses. from the opposite sex later in the day, “There is noth- says Ganesha. ing risky about Ayushmann, Tahira connecting to a look or GEMINI vibe that It is the right day to looks au- reveal your innermost contribute to Maha’s CMRF thentic to feelings to your loved ones and friends, and as well as to make MUMBAI: Star couple never before, showed us how soli- Ayushmann added: “Today, you. The them privy to your thoughts and opinions. Ayushmann Khurrana and darity with one another can make us again, this pandemic asks us riskier thing Your courteous and kind nature will come Tahira Kashyap has con- handle this humanitarian crisis,” how to show fortitude, resilience to do in life is to the fore today. Health and diet should tributed to Maharashtra he wrote. and mutual support. People across dressing, speaking, not be issues today, says Ganesha. Chief Minister's Relief India have stepped forward to behaving and pre- Fund, to help those affected do as much as possible for senting yourself to the by Covid-19. Ayushmann each other and Tahira and world in the way that they ap- CANCER posted an Instagram note I thank each and every in- prove of,” she says. You will work with con- Tuesday urging everyone dividual who has in- The actress adds: “There is centration in office. So tasks will be finished to help the needy. spired us to do more. a risky thing about approvals fast. Your life is turning “We have been in the eye “We have been con- as well. What is accepted now a new turn, whereby you feel it is full of of the storm since last stantly doing our bit to keeps changing. So, you may thrill and affection. You will achieve per- year. This pandemic help as many as possi- as well do what makes you fection, says Ganesha. has broken our ble and have now con- happy without stepping on hearts, made tributed to Maharashtra people’s toes.” LEO us endure Chief Minister's relief On the work front, Shruti Your expenses will pain and suf- Fund in this hour was recently seen in the Pawan increase today owing to fering like |of need.” IANS Kalyan-starrer Vakeel Saab. IANS your carefree attitude. You need to curb down on your spending. The later half of the day will see you deal with minor issues related to the work-place. If you ignore these issues now, they will crop up into A pioneering auction dedicated to female artists major problems later on. Hence, resolve them immediately, says Ganesha. n its first auction dedicated to According to Sotheby's Mei Moses, female artists across the cen- in the past five years the rise in VIRGO turies, many of whom have prices for female artists has out- According to auction been categorised or margin- paced male artists by 29 per cent Ganesha predicts that alised by history due to their across the market. Notably, the you will achieve the house Sotheby’s, targets that you set gender,I auction house Sotheby’s record for any work by a living fe- out to achieve today. artworks on sale will stage the ‘(Women) Artists’ male artist is at $12.5 million (ap- The heavy pressure of work will not sale next month. It will explore the proximately Rs 93 crore) for Jenny affect you in any way. Ganesha says the range from a 1680s art historical contributions and Saville’s Propped, sold at Sotheby's secret of your success is being patient. Dutch painting by personal stories of these artists London in October 2018. You are bang on target. a 22-year-old Rachel across 400 years. “Many of the female artists we According to Sotheby’s, artworks are offering here were well known LIBRA Ruysch to Dame Laura on sale range from a 1680s Dutch and respected within their life- painting by a 22-year-old Rachel times, but history has not treated Ganesha says you will Knight, the first take up a task and com- Ruysch to Dame Laura Knight, the them kindly. They have come to be plete it by hook or woman to be granted first woman to be granted full mem- A Dame Laura Knight work remembered as the wives of crook. The higher offi- full membership of bership of the Royal Academy in the painters, as the ones that enabled cials and colleagues in your office will be 1930s, and a sculpture by YBA artist has been disputed for decades, and doing exactly that -- in order to turn their husbands, fathers and broth- highly impressed by your working the Royal Academy and first-female Turner Prize win- yet continues to be a trap that is so the tables and open up this debate. ers to paint or as their muses, but capacity and capability. This is reflect when you will be either given a promo- in the 1930s ner, Rachel Whiteread. often fallen into. Female artists Yes, these artists are women, but rarely ever as they deserved to be: A painting by Rachel Rutsch tion in the office or there may be a rise in “The divisive classification should not be pigeon-holed nor seg- more importantly, they are artists,” the artists in their own right!,” says your pay scale to the effect. ‘women artists’ but never ‘male regated, which is precisely why we says Marina Ruiz Colomer, a con- Lisa Stevenson, impressionist and Artists' sale will take place online artists’ is at the heart of a debate that are holding a sale that appears to be temporary art specialist in London. modern art specialist. The '(Women) from May 20-27. AGENCIES SCORPIO You have all the qualities of becoming a team leader. And today, you SUDOKU have the opportunity to PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a showcase your skills and abilities for the CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains same. A dynamic personality yourself, the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. you are likely to prove that you are the sailor of stormy seas.

SAGITTARIUS Your belligerent mood will be taken care of by the good news that may light up your face and cheer you up. Your imagination has just got wings as you become creative and think beyond boundaries. Go on a long drive with friends or beloved in the evening.

CAPRICORN Don't be surprised if you CALVIN AND HOBBES get unexpected success in your financial deal- ings, it's all on the cards! You will be pliant, more than the usual, and will be sensitive to and understanding of others' problems, says Ganesha. For those pursuing studies, academic growth is certain. SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS The wanderer in you has suddenly come alive. You scan through travel mag- azines, surf internet and probably go on a tracking tour or just randomly go to distant places all by yourself. Take some of your close friends or like minded people along with and double the fun, suggests Ganesha. BREVITY CROSSWORD

PISCES You will contemplate adopting a new strategy

today. It is an auspicious y

day for making a new beginning and

k y m undertaking new ventures. A promotion c may be on the cards at the work front and you will find success knocking at your front door today. Your self confidence will find a new lease and you will emerge much more certain of your capa- bilities and goals. Overall, it is a good CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU and prosperous days, says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 PUJA AMID PANDEMIC WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Women offer puja to Maa World 14,87,49,379 12,64,93,175 31,37,898 Mangala on the last Tuesday of Chaitra month India 1,76,36,307 1,45,56,209 1,97,894 in Nayapalli area of Odisha 4,20,129 3,71,200 2,007

downtown Bhubaneswar

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Known as the chief architect of transcendental literature in India and END OF AN ERA beyond, Manoj Das was one of those living writers he Brightest Sun of Indian litera- flect on the age-old rich cultural and liter- ture goes down, A permanent void ary tradition of India. He always felt that there on whom maximum in Odia literary circuit.. A magi- are certain truths that are found only in number scholars have Tcian who could instill life to his Indian culture and they should be presented character bids adieu… on global platform. Orissa POST takes a done their doctoral theses These were some of the headlines of pop- close look at his life and body of works. ular social media handles after the death of Manoj Das was born at Shankhari, a Manoj Das, arguably the greatest writer small village in Balasore district. He had short stories titled ‘Vishakanyar Kahani’ and Odisha has ever produced. started writing early as his first work, a a collection of poems ‘Padadhawani’. Manoj Das had appeared in Indian-English book of poetry in Odia , Satavdira Artanada, After graduating with a degree in English literary sky as a luminous star during the was published in 1949 when he was all of 15. literature, he got a post graduate degree in mid-sixties of last century. Needless to say, He launched a literary magazine, Diganta, English literature from Ravenshaw College. After he was one of the few gifted writers of India in the next year. His first collection of short a short stint as a lecturer in Christ College who could write in Odia, his mother tongue stories Samudrara Kshudha (Hungry Sea) (Cuttack), he joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram at and English with equal ease and dexter- came out that year. Pondicherry. Since 1963, he has been a Professor ity. Manoj Das (right) during a visit to Egypt He was active in student politics while of English Literature at Sri Aurobindo A follower of the vision and phi- studying BA in Cuttack College. He was a International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. losophy of Sri Aurobindo and The scendental literature, Manoj Das dealt with youth leader with radical views during his He edited the cultural magazine, The Mother, Manoj always sought to ex- a number of themes. They ranged from the college days and spent a year in jail for his Heritage, published from Chennai in 1985- plore the hidden truth in the dif- happenings of everyday life to the events sug- revolutionary activities. In 1959, he was a del- 1989. This apart, he wrote columns on quest ferent realities of life. He was an gestive of supernatural. At the same time egate to the Afro-Asian students' confer- for finding eternal truth in common lives in optimist who believed in a trans- his stories are greatly influenced by Indian ence at Bandung, Indonesia. During his col- national dailies like The Times of India, formed future of mankind. literature-mythology and folklore. As an lege, he kept on writing and he published a The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and The A great architect of tran- Indian writer, he has never forgotten to re- novel ‘Jeebanara Swada’, a collection of Statesman. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POSITIONS SELECT BODY OF WORKS mong the other important positions that Das held are Member, General Council, Sahitya NOVELS SHORT STORIES n Samudra-kulara Eka Grama n Antaranga Bharata (Part I) A Akademi, New Delhi 1998–2002, and author-consultant, Ministry of Education, Government of n The Escapist, 2001 n Upakatha Sataka (Balya Smruti), 1996 (My Little India) Singapore, 1983–85. He was the leader of the Indian delegation of writers to China (1999). n Aranyaka; (adapted to n Antaranga Bharata (Part II) n Tandralokara Prahari, 2000 n Abu Purusha n Aranyaka, 1994) n Dura-Durantara n Aakashra Isara, 1997 Sesa Basantara Chithi, 1966 AWARDS AND HONOURS n Bhinna Manisha O Anyana n n Manoj Dasanka Katha O Adura Bidesh – 2004 nOdisha Sahitya Academi Award (1965 and 1987) n Amruta Phala, 1996 Kahani (Saraswati Samman) Kahani, 1971 POETRY nKendra Sahitya Akademi Award(1972) n Abupurusha O Anyana Kahani n Dhumabha Diganta O Anyana n Tuma Gaan O Anyanya nSarala Award (1981) n A Tiger at Twilight, 1991 n Kahani, 1971 Lakshmira Abhisara Kabita, 1992 nVishuba Award (1986) n Bulldozers and Fables and n n The Crocodile's Lady: A Abolakara Kahani n nSahitya Bharati Award (1995) Fantasies for Adults, (1990) Kabita Utkala Collection of Stories, 1975 n Aranya Ullasha nSaraswati Samman (2000) n Cyclones, 1987 HISTORY & CULTURE n Manoj-pancha-bimsati, 1977 nOrissa State Film Award for Best Story (2001) n FICTION n Bharatara Aitihya: Shateka Prabhanjana n nPadma Shri (2001) The Submerged Valley and n Chasing the Rainbow: growing Prashnara Uttara,1999 n Godhulira Bagha Other Stories, 1986 nPadma Bhushan(2020) up in an Indian village, 2004 n Manoj Das Paribesita n Kanaka-Upatyakara Kahani n nSahitya Akademi Fellowship, (2006) Farewell to a Ghost: Short Upakatha Shataka (Tales n Stories and a Novelette, 1994 TRAVELOGUE nAtibadi Jagannath Das award (2007) Amruta phala Told by Mystics), 2002 n n Kete Diganta (Part I) nNTR Literary Award (2013) n Sesha tantrikara sand- Legend of the Golden Valley, n Mahakalara Prahelika O 1996 n Kete Diganta (Part -II) Das with Indo-Anglian writer Mulk Raj Anand nAmritakeerti Puraskar (2013) hanare[28] Anyana Jijnansa, 2006 CM for smooth supply of O2, drugs State reports 10 more fatalities, 6,073 cases POST NEWS NETWORK State sends out

Bhubaneswar, April 27: Expressing 1,675 tonne oxygen PNN/AGENCIES concern over the prevailing crisis of oxygen and some Covid-19 drugs Cuttack: Odisha has sent 90 tankers Bhubaneswar, April 27: Odisha's carrying 1675.781 tonnes of oxygen to in many states, Chief Minister Covid-19 caseload Tuesday surged other states in last five days, sources Naveen Patnaik Tuesday directed said. It sent 23 oxygen tankers to to 4,20,129 after 6,073 more people senior officials to ensure smooth sup- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya tested positive for the infection, ply of the same to the patients. Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, while 10 fresh fatalities pushed the Patnaik gave this direction while Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Tuesday. toll to 2,007, a Health and Family holding a high-level meeting on The Odisha police has created a green Welfare (H&FW) department offi- Covid management Tuesday evening corridor for speedy transport of the cial said. through videoconferencing. life saving gas. Accordingly, the number of ac- Stating that oxygen is the most tive cases rose to 50,958, which is vital requirement in treating Covid Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviews the Covid management in state through videoconference, Tuesday 12.12 per cent of the caseload. Tribal Museum patients, the Chief Minister di- Of the 6,073 new cases, 3,522 rected officials to ensure that the sup- are spreading rapidly, and in this sec- being taken to increase the number were detected from quarantine cen- shut for public ply of oxygen continues in a smooth ond wave our youth are particularly of beds in medical colleges and con- SOP issued for rational use of O2 tres and the remaining during con- manner and that adequate oxygen infected. We need to be prepared to deal verting new private hospitals into tact tracing, the official said. BHUBANESWAR: Amid the ris- is delivered to the patients on time. with the worst situations in the world, Covid hospital, he said. Number of oxy- BHUBANESWAR: The state managed properly, rationally and Khurda district, of which state ing Covid-19 cases, the ST & SC He also advised the officials to stock just as we have in dealing with nat- gen beds is being increased to 35 per Health department Saturday is- judiciously,” the letter to capital Bhubaneswar is a part, re- Development department Tuesday essential medicines and ensure ural disasters." cent from existing 30 per cent. sued a fresh SOP for rational use Collectors read. ported the maximum number of decided to temporarily shut the their flawless supply. “Every life is He directed the district Collectors Additional Chief Secretary, of oxygen in hospitals especially “Also timely use of oxygen can new cases at 1,092, followed by Odisha State Tribal Museum located precious and we continue to do our and SPs to assess the situation at the Health, PK Mohapatra said there are in treatment of Covid-19 patients. reduce the mortality as well as Bolangir at 457 and Nuapada at 400. on the premises of the Scheduled best to save one life. If one infection grassroots level and formulate a currently 50,958 active cases in the Additional Chief Secretary PK morbidity to a large extent. In Other districts which reported more Castes and Scheduled Tribes is reduced, the pressure on one ICU micro management plan. The Covid state and 70 per cent active cases re- Mohapatra sent the SOP to the view of the above, the Standard than 100 cases include Sundargarh Research and Training Institute and one bed will be reduced,” he said. observers have been asked to be ported from seven districts. district Collectors and other offi- Operating Procedure (SOP) shall (371), Jharsuguda (359), Bargarh (SCSTRTI) here for public. The state government continues vigilant. The CM instructed the He said the state now has 31,471 cials concerned. In his communi- be followed scrupulously for ra- (286), Kalahandi (277), Keonjhar People, however, can take a to work towards providing the best Chief Secretary to review the mat- beds. Apart from ICU beds, oxygen cation to the officials, Mohapatra tional use of Oxygen in the Covid (266), Angul (239), Puri (266). virtual tour of the museum as possible healthcare facility to Covid ter on a regular basis and inform support is being facilitated at 17,495 said that indiscriminate usage of facilities. This shall be followed Four fatalities were reported part of an online initiative that patients, and doctors and health him at the next meeting. beds. He said steps are being taken medical oxygen must be stopped. in true letter and spirit in all gov- from Khurda, three from was launched in August 2020. workers continue to work day and He lauded the trade associations to increase the number of beds in “It is noticed that the number of ernment and private Covid-19 hos- Sundargarh, two from Rayagada “The virtual tour will enable au- night. Therefore, the administration in different districts, who had vol- both public and private Covid hos- Covid cases are increasing by the pitals,” the and one from Boudh. dience visualise the exclusive has to work very carefully to re- untarily stepped in to control Covid pitals. The government is working day and government is keen on letter read. The state's case-fatality ratio tribal artefacts, habitats and duce the burden on the healthcare by restricting business hours and towards providing more oxygen to setting up of sufficient Covid fa- Mohapatra also said that expert (CFR) stands at 0.47 per cent, the of- unique aspects of the Tribal system, Patnaik said. closing shops in some places. the beds, Mohapatra added. cilities with general beds, high teams would visit hospitals peri- ficial said. Museum,” SCSTRTI director AB The Chief Minister said, “Despite Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra Collectors of Sundargarh, dependency units (HDU) beds and odically for strict compliance of As many as 3,67,111 people have Ota said. increase in number of infections, we said senior officials are keeping a Jharsuguda, Balasore and Khurda ICU beds. Such patients require such protocols. “Any deviation to recuperated from the highly in- Meanwhile, the Odisha Crafts continue to serve. But the situation in close watch on the situation. Covid districts briefed the meeting about oxygen which is the mainstay of the rational use shall be viewed se- fectious disease. Odisha’s positiv- Museum has also been tem- some districts has raised concerns. The Care Centres and all Covid hospitals the situation and steps they had treatment. Oxygen is precious and riously,” the government ity rate has touched porarily shut for public. double and triple mutants of the virus have been operationalised. Steps are taken in their districts. we may face acute shortage if not order said. 4.22 per cent. POLITICKLE by MANJUL ‘Ganjam not nCoV hotspot this year’ In 2020, Ganjam was However, this year the numbers We have two Covid hospitals as of termed as a ‘Covid are quite low. This year, we have seen now. Two more such hospitals are return of only 11,000 migrants. The coming up in the next five days. hotspot’ of Odisha. number this time is not expected to We are eying to scale up the num- However, this year the swell like last year. ber of hospital beds to 6,000 and 50 per cent of them will be with oxy- district admin believes the n Where the maximum migrants gen beds. We can see the results on condition is quite better. of Ganjam are heading towards? the ground within next 10 days. Ganjam migrants are not dis- Speaking to Manish tressed migrants. They are skilled n Ganjam is known to host the max- Kumar of Orissa POST, people. Maximum migration is imum cases of HIV/AIDS. What steps towards Surat in Gujarat. Many However, this year there is hardly you are taking to reduce this fatal Ganjam Collector Vijay of them are doing good job in the any chance of the district becom- infection? Amruta Kulange talks more textile and diamond industries ing a hotspot again due to absence HIV/AIDS cases are declining there. of lockdown and shutdown of in- in the district. We have taken sev- on the issue. Excerpts: n There was Covid explosion in dustries in Surat. eral steps to bring the cases down. Ganjam last year. What were the We are working on increasing

n Do you now see influx of migrants reasons behind this? n How well prepared the Ganjam ad- awareness, holding counselling

k y m c to Ganjam like last year? Till the initial days of May 2020, ministration is to tackle the sessions and also taking the Last year, around 4 lakh migrants we had been reporting the mini- pandemic? women folks of the migrant fam- had come to Ganjam from different mum cases of the infection in the This time we are working more ilies for counselling classes to parts of the state and the country state but as large number of people on improving hospital infrastruc- make them more informed on the when the Covid cases rose across from other states came back to the ture to ensure more facilities to disease and keep their families India and lockdown was imposed. district, the cases kept on rising. cater the needs of Covid patients. away from the disease. P4 WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown BMC to augment

Cong demands postponement of Pipli bypoll 50-year-old forces call handling

k y m THE PARTY HAS ALREADY LOST ITS CANDIDATE AJIT MANGARAJ TO capacity of 1929 c COVID-19 LEADING TO THE DEFERMENT OF POLLING DATE TO MAY 16 child to marry POST NEWS NETWORK PNN/AGENCIES The BJD is not campaigning as per the direction of Chief Minister Bhubaneswar, April 27: In a bid Bhubaneswar, April 27: Opposition Naveen Patnaik, he added. to augment the call handling ca- Congress Tuesday demanded post- State BJP leader Prithviraj pacity of 1929, a round-the-clock ponement of the May 16 by-poll in Harichandan said if the political par- him; probe begins Covid helpline service in the City, Pipli assembly seat in Odisha in ties strictly follow the Covid ap- the Bhubaneswar Municipal the wake of the resurgent Covid-19 propriate behaviour while cam- Corporation (BMC) Tuesday de- pandemic across the country. paigning, the by-poll will be held POST NEWS NETWORK CB took up the probe in cided to get some of its outgoing calls A delegation of the Odisha Pradesh without any problem and will set a three cases registered at managed by the 104 call centre. Congress Committee (OPCC), led precedent for the ensuing elections Bhubaneswar, April 27: In def- Operating from the by its working vice-president Pradeep in the neighbouring states. erence to the direction of National Talabania and Town Bhubaneswar Operations Centre Majhi, submitted a memorandum at The demand to defer the Pipli Human Rights Commission police stations in Puri of Bhubaneswar Smart City the office of the state Chief Electoral by-poll is a “political gimmick” of (NHRC), the state Crime Branch Limited (BSCL) office here, the officer addressing to the Election the Congress, he asserted. (CB) has started an investigation and Lingaraj PS helpline service, 1929, has been Commission (EC). Majhi rejected Harichandan’s into allegations of torture and ha- witnessing an exponential rise in “We are optimistic that our ap- charge and said that there is no rassment of a minor girl and her accused at gunpoint in February the daily calls from denizens seek- peal will be heard and the polling The Congress delegation at the office of the CEO in Bhubaneswar OP PHOTO politics behind the demand. People’s family in Puri. 2021. Similarly, her mother had ing Covid-related help. to be postponed,” Majhi told lives are important, not elections, The CB took up the probe in also lodged another complaint with reporters. of the polling date to May 16. dates?” Majhi asked. he added. The EC has totally banned three cases registered at Talabania Lingaraj police against the accused. 1929 has been The Congress leader said that “When the situation in Odisha He also appealed to the ruling election meetings and rallies. It has and Town police stations in Puri and She alleged that the accused and his witnessing an allowing polling May 16 is as good has assumed alarming proportions, BJD and opposition BJP to make allowed only five persons including Lingaraj police station in aides followed the mother and the exponential rise as putting the lives of people in why is the Election Commission de- similar demands to the EC in the the party candidate, to conduct Bhubaneswar. daughter when they were going to danger as health experts have termined to conduct the by-poll? Are larger interest of public health. door-to-door campaigns. This is According to sources, the minor Cuttack and allegedly beat the duo in daily calls warned that the Covid-19 infection the votes so important for the “You see the situation of West being resisted by the people who are girl had lodged a complaint with near Ravi Talkies here. will reach its peak in the second Election Commission? We demand Bengal where elections are being not willing to allow outsiders into Talabania police accusing a 50- Peeved at the snail-paced police “1929, which is a single point so- week of May. that the by-poll be postponed till the held. It is better for the lives of 4.5 their villages and houses. year-old person of putting pres- investigation and continuous tor- lution to issues related to coron- Majhi questioned, “The leaders pandemic is brought under con- crore people of the state to refrain Covid-19 has already claimed the sure on her to marry him March ture, the victim’s family moved the avirus, has been successfully ad- are becoming super spreaders (of trol,” Majhi said at a press con- from any kind of election for now,” lives of two leaders in Pipli. While 16, 2021. The girl also alleged that NHRC. The rights panel urged the dressing all queries of Covid coronavirus) as they reach out to the ference here. Besides, it is not pos- he said. Pipli MLA Pradeep Maharathy died the accused had threatened to make CB to initiate an independent en- patients in Bhubaneswar. The ca- masses. Therefore the campaign is sible for any party to campaign in BJD vice-president Debi Prasad of the infection in October, 2020 viral her obscene photos on social quiry into the allegations and al- pacity of the helpline will be fur- now restricted. What is wrong if Pipli as the people of the con- Mishra said as the EC, as a statu- leading to the by-election, Congress media when she refused to budge. leged police inaction. ther increased in coordination we put polling on hold till the sit- stituency block roads to their vil- tory body, has decided to conduct the candidate Ajit Mangaraj too suc- The family members of the ac- Meanwhile, Lingaraj police of- with 104 helpline service as it uation becomes normal?” lages to prevent political leaders by-poll under the ‘Representation cumbed to coronavirus April 14 in cused allegedly threw poisonous ficials told Orissa POST that the in- would to help reduce the call wait- Congress has already lost one of from canvassing. “Under such cir- of Peoples Act’ of the Constitution, the middle of campaigning. The snakes in front of their residence vestigating officer had repeatedly ing time during this pandemic,” its candidates, Ajit Mangaraj to cumstances, how will the political neither BJD nor the state govern- by-poll which was slated for April preventing the family from going requested the victim’s mother to as- Water Resources Principal Covid-19 leading to the deferment parties campaign for their candi- ment has anything to say about it. 17 was then rescheduled to May 16. outside. The mother of the minor sist the police. However, she is not Secretary Anu Garg, who is also girl had also filed a similar com- cooperating in the investigation. She the Covid observer for plaint with Town police in Puri had not appeared before the police Bhubaneswar, said after a virtual Applications invited accusing the persons of forcing even for once after the lodging of meeting senior officials manag- for FM varsity VC post 2nd wave more severe: Experts the 12-year-old girl to marry the the compliant. ing the twin helplines. Bhubaneswar: Higher Education department Tuesday put out a POST NEWS NETWORK pared to the first wave and the dif- Panda from SCB Hospital, Cuttack MGM Minerals notification for appointment of ` ference in terms of severity. said that the mortality in the sec- new Vice-Chancellor of Fakir Man loses 20 lakh Bhubaneswar, April 27: Doctors “In the second wave we are see- ond wave is lower but the infec- Mohan University, Balasore. As per donates `1cr the notification, applicants are at the state government-sponsored ing a difference in symptoms. Last tion rate is quite high. invited from eligible candidates medical briefing Tuesday said that year, we used to see moderate and “The second wave mutant strains to Odisha CMRF below 60 years of age for the post. the second wave infections are more low grade fever among the Covid pa- are more infectious in nature. This to cyber fraudsters The applicants should be severe which trigger more demand tients. This year, the fever is often year, the kids and youths are also distinguished academicians with of oxygen from the Covid infected high grade. Last year, gastro in- getting infected in good numbers. POST NEWS NETWORK The victim who used to proven academic and persons. testinal issues in were not seen The new strains are staying sus- invest money in the administrative excellence and a Dr Sampath Kumar Das, Aditya much which is more visible in the pended in the atmosphere for longer Bhubaneswar, April 27: Cyber well-rounded personality with a Ashwini Hospital Tuesday briefed second wave infections.” period of time in indoor areas and fraudsters duped an employee of the share market had minimum of 10 years of the people on Covid-19 and ways to He also said, “This year, the sever- where number of people are more,” National Aluminium Company experience as Professor in a tackle it. In a virtual communica- ity and oxygen demand needed in he said. He also added, “The Limited (NALCO) of several lakhs reportedly lost more university system or 10 years in an tion with the state health depart- Covid cases are higher compared chances of infection in overcrowded promising to facilitate the victim than `50 lakh between equivalent position in reputed ment, Dr Das cited the difference in to last year.” areas are much higher now. get back his money invested in 2015 and 2016. He research and/ or academic symptoms in the second wave com- Meanwhile, Dr Jayant Kumar Chances of infection are higher in share markets at a lucrative in- organisation. The post carries a people who are not wearing masks terest rate. stopped investing after pay of Rs 2,10,000 (Rupees two properly or not wearing masks at Hadibandhu Nayak of Nalco lakh and ten thousand) with facing severe losses all. Those people who have not POST NEWS NETWORK Nagar, Angul has lodged a com- special allowance of Rs 5,000/- per been vaccinated are becoming vic- plaint with the Cyber Police Station month and other usual allowances. MGM The tenure will be of four years tims of the disease. However the Bhubaneswar, April 27: at state crime branch head quarters, get his money back. They also from the date he/she assumes mortality rate in the second wave Minerals Limited Tuesday do- Cuttack in this regard. Nayak works promised him to give high interest office or till he/she attains 67 is a bit lesser which has given nated Rs 1 crore to the Chief as Smelter operator at the NALCO rate on his investment. However, he years of age, whichever is earlier. us a new hope.” Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) plant, Angul. used to ignore the messages but in a bid to support the state gov- According to sources, the vic- they started calling him on the ernment’s efforts in the fight tim who used to invest money in the phone. The cyber fraudsters send Boudh records 43.1 against Covid-19. share market had reportedly lost him various fake documents like Miscreant dupes jewellery shop owner Company’s chief managing di- more than Rs 50 lakh between 2015 MOU agreement papers, his Demat degrees Celsius rector Pankaj Lochan Mohanty and 2016. Subsequently, he stopped account details to earn his faith. Bhubaneswar: Heatwave condition POST NEWS NETWORK room ‘Maa Tarini Jewelers’, situ- chains in exchange of the cash. handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore investing in the share markets fol- Gullible Nayak readily accepted continued to prevail in many ated at Hanspal Square, April 12. However, Patra later received a to Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra lowing heavy losses. their offer and deposited Rs 20.29 places across the state, Tuesday. Bhubaneswar, April 27: A mis- Dash told Patra that he wanted to shock when he found that the gold Mahapatra at Lok Seva Bhawan The cyber fraudsters managed lakhs in various bank accounts as Boudh recorded the highest day creant has allegedly duped a jewelry sell his old gold chain and buy some chain exchanged by Dash was a here. According to Mohanty, Odisha to get his Demat account details per the directions of the cyber temperature of 43.1 degrees shop owner of around Rs 1 lakh other gold ornaments in exchange. duplicate one. He tried to contact government’s prompt and timely and contacted Nayak through his fraudsters. Celsius and became the hottest by selling him fake gold ornament. Patra, after checking, told Dash Dash but failed as the accused had Covid management strategy has phone numbers registered with He smelt a rat when the crimi- place in Odisha Tuesday. The The complainant Chittaranjan that he would pay him Rs 2 lakh for allegedly given wrong address been helping the coastal state to the account in the first week of nals continued to demand more maximum temperature at Angul Patra is the resident of the gold chain. Dash agreed at the to Patra. curb the spread of the virus. December last year. money from him under various was 42.7 degrees while it was 42.5 Balianta area. price set by Patra. Patra later lodged a complaint Mahapatra, on the other hand, The cyber criminals initially pretexts. Crime Branch has started degrees each at Titlagarh and As per his compliant, one Rabi Subsequently, accused Dash took with the Mancheswar police in this thanked Mohanty for his sent messages on WhatsApp or e- investigating into the matter after Baripada. Similarly, the maximum Kumar Dash came to his show- two pairs gold earring, rings and regard Monday. noble gesture. mail address offering to help him registering a case in this regard. temperature at Bolangir and Talcher was 42.4 and 42.3 degrees Celsius, respectively. CHANDAN YATRA PREP No vaccine drive in NSS to conduct virtual Keonjhar, Jajpur today CLASSIFIED awareness programme POST NEWS NETWORK LOSTAFFIDAVIT POST NEWS NETWORK medicines, encouragement of mass Bhubaneswar, April 27: The By virtue of an affidavit vaccination, handling post Covid state government is now grap- before Notary Public, Bhubaneswar, April 27: The effects etc. pling with massive shortage of Higher Education department For the progarmme, doctors and Covishield vaccine, government Bhubaneswar and lodging Tuesday directed all the National medical experts may be invited as data hinted Tuesday. report before Mancheswar Service Scheme (NSS) programme resource persons. Each NSS unit According to the state govern- Police Station under officers in all universities to con- will submit a report with sup- ment, by 8pm of Tuesday the gov- Commissionerate Police duct ‘Virtual Awareness porting documents to the con- ernment was left with only 54,040 vide reception desk Programme’ on 2nd wave of Covid- cerned NSS bureau by the end of doses of Covishield vaccine in the register No. 4026 dated 19 pandemic. May 2021. The NSS bureau will state, raising doubts over the 06.03.2021, I Sri Ranjit In a letter, deputy secretary of then submit it to state NSS cell by smooth vaccination drive. Higher Education department June first week. The state has planned only 464 Kumar Mohanty, S/o. Late Ramesh Chandra Behera directed Earlier, the NSS of PG Unit of sessions instead of its earlier plan Nadia Ch. Mohanty of 2A, the NSS to conduct massive aware- Utkal University had organised to undertake the drive at 1,500 ac- Vinayak Villa, Sriram ness programme on present pan- an awareness rally for coronavirus tive sites. The government has Nagar, Bhubaneswar demic through online mode. This pandemic on university premises now planned to halt the vaccina- having Phone No. programme will help the volun- April 22. As part of the awareness, tion drive for Keonjhar and Jajpur 9437065595 do hereby state teers and their family members members of the NSS had distrib- for Wednesday. my original lease deed ID as well as neighbours in acquiring uted masks and sanitizers to clean- The Health department Tuesday first-hand knowledge on Covid ing personnel, hostel staff and was able to conduct the drive at only No. 1081707331 dated management. shopkeepers of the Gobind Sahu 617 active sites. Vaccine was not 06.07.2017 has been lost on The focus area of the programme market complex situated on the available in many areas in sev- dated 28.02.2021 at about 7 will be- Precautionary and pre- university premises. eral district vaccination centres and P.M. at Mancheswar, ventive measures to be undertaken, They had also distributed masks people were being turned away. Bhubaneswar. If anybody taking care of the Covid patients to security staff of the university The government claims that by found the same kindly at home isolation, information at the new administrative building Tuesday a total of 57,04,916 persons inform the above about the availability of medical and had given them an update have been vaccinated. On the other mentioned address & facilities in nearby areas, infor- about how to stay safe from Covid- hand, the government was able to vac- mation about the availability of 19 while on duty. Preparations on for the upcoming Chandan Yatra of Srimandir deities at Narendra pond in Puri, Tuesday OP PHOTO cinate only 65,766 persons Tuesday.

phone.

k y m c P5 WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

SECOND PIPELINE PROJECT WATER WOES

k y m Vedanta’s bid to use Tel c water faces roadblock pany is not working on its promises it made to the villagers regarding developing the peripheral area,” locals fumed. Now, the company is in need of more water and, hence, is making an effort to construct an intake well near Kurudapada. Earlier, a gram sabhas had been held at Tahansir and ccording to local residents, Kanteisira over the project. At these Athe company has been gram sabhas, people of both the vil- drawing 1 lakh litres of water lages insisted on fulfilling their var- daily from Tel river since 2005. ious demands first. As a result, water level in the Aside from constructing the intake river has plummeted drastically, well, the company has sought per- leading to water crisis in the POST NEWS NETWORK area during summer mission of the local NAC authorities to lay a pipeline on the NAC land. Bhawanipatna, April 27: Vedanta ow, the company is in need Locals have opposed the move. Women of Dhalpur village stage a road blockade on Puruna Katak-Dhalpur road in Boudh district demanding potable water supply, Tuesday OP PHOTO Alumina refinery has reportedly Nof more water and, hence, “The second pipeline will worsen the made an effort to draw water from is making an effort to construct water crisis in the region. So the NAC Tel river near Kesinga in Kalahandi an intake well near Kurudapada should not grant permission for district for its plant there. The com- the project. Though the company is pany is bracing up to lay a pipeline, side from constructing the using the river water, it has failed Migrant returnees pooh-pooh Covid curbs but the locals have strongly opposed Aintake well, the company to work on the peripheral develop- the move. has sought permission of the ment,” alleged local residents like POST NEWS NETWORK guidelines. Sadly, the administration It will be the second pipeline local NAC authorities to lay a former NAC chairman Ramakant has not identified them yet. of the company to draw water from pipeline on NAC land Gouda, journalist Suresh Agrawal Bari, April 27: The second wave As these migrants are coming the river. and Anil Jain. They said that they of Covid-19 has been playing havoc in contact with the local people, Angry over the company’s move would move court on the issue. in various parts of the state, but they are likely to spread the virus. to exploit the river water, locals litres of water daily from Tel river The company authorities were migrant workers returning from Meanwhile, three people have have warned of agitation. In fact, since 2005. As a result, water level contacted over phone, but they did hotspot states are allegedly pooh- died of Covid-19 at Udaynathpur, many villagers are bracing up for in the river has plummeted dras- not attend the call. Meanwhile, the poohing Covid protocols and mov- Balibili and Ishanpur panchayats. a legal recourse against such move. tically, leading to water crisis in NAC has issued a letter to the coming freely in villages in Bari block The block administration has According to local residents, the the area during summer. pany after receiving a complaint of Jajpur. While such action of opened four isolation centres at company has been drawing 1 lakh “On the other hand, the com- from locals. the returnees has scared the lo- Balia, Swainkhand, Atira and cals, the administration is turning Udaynathpur. But there are no ef- a blind eye to the menace, a re- forts to bring the Covid-infected to Covid fear: Weekly port said. these centres. Lecturer held for raping girl student According to the report, migrants FILE PHOTO Bari BDO Shibananada Swain market shut for 5 days ASKA: Police arrested a lecturer Tuesday under this police limits here in are returning to villages at differ- They also pointed out that dur- isolation for a specific period. said, ”If people are not conscious, Ganjam district on charges of raping a girl and making her objectionable ent times. As per guidelines, they ing the Covid-19 restrictions in the It is alleged that this time the the administration is helpless. We SARASKANA: Various regions of photos and videos viral. The accused was identified as Pradip Sahu, an should get themselves registered first wave, the administration kept migrants are returning from hotspot are bound by official norms. We Mayurbhanj are witnessing an Economics lecturer by profession. He was arrested following a complaint at the panchayat level and tested for watch on the migrants and carried regions like West Bengal, will try to sensitise people about the upsurge in coronavirus infection. filed by the girl at Aska police station.Police said that the accused had been Covid-19 before entering their vil- out contact tracing of the infected Maharashtra, Gujarat and other severity of the second wave of pan- Traders in Saraskana area are raping the girl since 2014 when she was studying in Class IX. She further lages. But this is not happening in migrants. states. They are freely moving out- demic with help of people’s repre- scared of the pandemic in their alleged in the complaint that as she has been going to the Lecturer’s many villages, locals alleged. The migrants were subjected to side their homes violating the Covid sentatives.” area as some have already residence since she was studying in Class IX, the accused lured her and succumbed to the disease. As a clicked some obscene photos and videos. Sahu raped the girl on different result, traders and shopkeepers occasions, blackmailing her to make the obscene photos and video viral. here have decided to shut the Sahu even threatened the girl and her family members of dire consequences Man hangs self after weekly market at Jharpokharia if she did not marry him. Later, he forcibly took her Plus II pass certificate Blood banks may face shortage as from Tuesday till Sunday to ward and gold ornaments on the pretext of marrying her. The accused made the beheading wife in off congregation and crowding. objectionable photos and video viral after the complainant refused him to let They pronounced their decision of her sexually exploited, the FIR read. Nabarangpur bazaar showdown through a public address system Monday. vax drive for youths begins May 1 POST NEWS NETWORK Woman murdered by husband, son While the vaccination drive has triggered fears of slowdown in Nabarangpur, April 27: In a Healthy boy born to shocking incident, a man al- UDALA: A woman was allegedly beaten to death by her husband and son blood collection, the weekend shutdowns and the sweltering heat of legedly committed suicide after Covid-hit woman over a minor family tiff at Dighinua Sahi village under Udala police station beheading his wife at Bhandimal in Mayurbhanj district, Monday night. While the deceased has been the summer are also playing truant village under Kodinga police lim- identified as Chandrakanti Behera, the accused husband and son have MALKANGIRI: A piece of good POST NEWS NETWORK its in Nabarangpur district late news emerged from Malkangiri been identified as Chhatish Behera and Kartik Behera respectively. Monday night. According to sources, Chandrakanti and Chhatish had a tiff over a money district Sunday. A Covid-19 Sambalpur, April 27: Blood do- The deceased have been iden- infected woman gave birth to a transaction Monday night. The scene turned ugly as Chhatish lost his cool and started thrashing his wife. Later, his son joined him. Far from showing nation drives by the blood banks in tified as Parbati Jani and her hus- healthy boy at the district the state might get seriously af- band Niladhar Jani. They were headquarters hospital here. Since any mercy, they allegedly forcibly poured a poisonous substance in her fected with Chief Minister Naveen residents of Dumarada village the news spread in the area, locals mouth. Hearing Chandrakanti’s painful cries, some neighbours rushed to and family members have heaped her rescue. They took her to the Udala government hospital. Later she was Patnaik Sunday announcing free under Dabugaon police station. praises on the doctors and staff of shifted to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in vaccination for all above 18 years However, they were staying at a rel- the hospital. The pregnant woman Baripada as her condition deteriorated. She breathed her last.The in the upcoming vaccination drive ative’s house at Bhandimal. from Podaghat village under deceased’s brother has lodged a report with the Udala police station from May 1 for the Covid-19 pan- The police are yet to ascertain the Khairaput block in Malkangiri alleging that his sister was murdered. However, the deceased’s father-in- demic, a report said. reason as to why the man commit- district had tested Covid positive law termed the allegation ‘baseless’. On the basis of the report lodged by The move for free vaccination ted the gruesome act of beheading five days ago. Her kin admitted her the deceased’s brother, police have registered a case and launched a for youths by the state government his wife and to the DHH’s Covid ward. search for the absconding father and son. has received wide appreciation cination at a time. This is because tients find it difficult to reach the then killing from various quarters. Youths who youths who are the major contrib- blood banks and receive blood for himself. are above 18 years are equally ec- utors of blood to the blood banks the same reason. On THROWING CAUTION TO WIND static for taking the vaccine with might not be able to donate blood He said that the blood bank cur- Tuesday the pandemic spreading its tenta- for a period of 28-days after taking rently has 200 units of blood, while morning, res- cles in the state. the vaccine, the report said. 70-80 units of blood are supplied idents of According to reports, blood banks When contacted, Debashis daily to the patients in VIMSAR. He, Bhandimal are making all efforts to ensure Mishra, officer of blood bank at however, said that the situation were shocked that they don’t run out of blood for VSS Institute of Medical Sciences might improve after a month as when they emergency patients. However, var- and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla, there are plans to organise five came to know about the gruesome ious bottlenecks are preventing said that the youth are the major blood donation camps by April end incident. They found Parbati’s them in achieving the desired results. blood donors at any blood dona- to ensure that there is no shortage body and her severed head lying While the vaccination drive has tion camp organised anywhere in of blood. by the road, while Niladhar’s body triggered fears of slowdown in the state. Dr Kalpesh Kakad, an officer of was hanging from a nearby tree. blood collection, the weekend shut- He said that blood donation camps blood bank at the district head- The spot is just a few yards from downs announced by the state gov- are organised at various places in quarters hospital, said that the their relative’s house where they ernment and the sweltering heat of the state to ward off the blood short- blood bank in the hospital faced had been staying. the summer are also playing truant. age in the blood banks, especially acute blood shortage with only 30 When the villagers informed Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic during the pandemic. This has units of blood in its stock. However, the police about the incident, a has also slowed down the blood col- helped in preventing blood short- the number went up after organising team from Kodinga police station lection drive as people are hesitant age in various blood banks in the two camps at two different places. reached the spot and sent the bod- to attend blood donation camps state. As a result, critical and other The total blood collection reached ies for post-mortem. fearing infections. patients have been able to receive 111 after collecting 61 units from one Police sources said that Niladhar It is apprehended that blood blood when they required it. camp and 50 from another camp. must have beheaded his wife in a banks in the state might run out of The weekend shutdown has also Now, the blood bank is left with fit of rage. Thereafter he lost his blood and emergency patients in affected the blood collection drive only 141 units of blood, which is mental balance and hanged him- need of blood transfusion could as people fear to step out of their likely to be exhausted in five days. self. Police are investigating all People waiting to get vaccinated stand in long queues outside the Zilla Kala Kendra in Angul district in violation of face serious problems with a large homes fearing crackdown by the po- Two more camps will be organised the aspects that might have led to Covid-19 protocols, Tuesday OP PHOTO number of youths opting for vac- lice. Moreover, kin of emergency pa- by April end, he added. the tragedy. Sabai grass helps women to be self-sufficient

POST NEWS NETWORK On an average, each “Our family members extend a helping hand in our work. If our Chitrada, April 27: Sabai grass, woman engaged in this group is registered, we will carry which is cultivated in many pockets work earns `3000 a month. forward our income-generating ac- of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj tivities,” said Lili Nayak. district, has turned out to be a money Women supplement their “The items that we make have spinner for scores of women in family incomes, says high demand in the market. It has po- Morada block. They make various tential for good incomes, observed household, handicraft and decorative Dhanabati Dhal Sanjukta Raj. items from sabai grass. On selling BPM of Odisha Livelihood these items, they are earning in pachhia (a kind of sieve) and other Mission, Himansu Bhusan Sahu thousands. household items. Now, their busi- said that he is aware of the group and Women of Haduapani village ness has started given them financial advised Minati Das of Chadeigaon under this block have scripted suc- benefits as these items have high about the benefits of registration.

cess stories in self-sufficiency cen- demand in the market. If these women approach the au-

k y m c tering on sabai grass by dint of their Sale of these items is going up. “On thorities in 2021-22, their group will effort and determination. Beladunguri and Astajharan in tribal- household, handicraft and decorative an average, each woman engaged be formed and registered, he added. Notably, sabai grass is a natural dominated Badasahi and other blocks. items. They use sabai grass, date in this work earns `3000 a month. Besides, there are many other fibre. It is grown abundantly in the According to reports, 35 women stems and threads to make about 25 Women are becoming self-sufficient groups who are making a living from hilly areas such as Jadunathpur, from nine self-help groups had taken different items, including flower and supplement their family in- sabai grass items in Udala, Betanoti, Kamalashol, Purnachandrapur, seven-month training on making baskets, bags, dust bins, fruit baskets, comes,” says Dhanabati Dhal. Kuliana, and Shuliapada blocks. P6 WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS DECARBONISATION Only the soul that is naked and

unashamed, can be pure and

k y m innocent, even as Adam was in c the primal garden of humanity. SRI AUROBINDO CLIMATE CHANGE GEOPOLITICS

he European Union is mate targets. The CBAM, we hope, emerging as the world’s will trigger a race to the top. climate trailblazer. Just Though the green transition Business of Vaccine T recently, lawmakers and will bring about more sustain- European governments agreed on able and resilient economies, it et the games begin! This used to be the Roman phrase for letting the the European Climate Law, which will not automatically usher in a hungry lions enter the arena to fight slaves. Today, in India, we seem anchors our climate-neutrality world with less conflict or geopo- Lto be going back to the Roman mindset. If we look back into history, India target in statute. With the Green litical competition. The EU, har- as well as the world has encountered many epidemics. Spanish flu, cholera, Deal as our growth strategy and bouring no illusions, will need to plague, swine flu, small pox as well as diseases that do not strictly fall into our 2030 emissions-reduction tar- analyse the impact of its policies epidemic category such as malaria, polio, tuberculosis, leprosy and such have get of at least 55 per cent, the EU across different regions, recog- always made the administration dole out free medical assistance in the is well on the way to achieving nising the likely consequences form of vaccines, medicines and hospitalization. There have been reports climate neutrality by 2050. But and planning for the foreseeable about patients of different castes and religions receiving differential treat- Europe is not alone: a critical mass risks. ment during the Spanish flu pandemic in India. However, there is no record is developing globally as more For example, in the Arctic, of government fixing prices of essential lifesaving vaccines or medicines countries strengthen their de- where temperatures are rising for epidemics and large scale contagious diseases. Children receiving polio carbonisation commitments. twice as fast as the global average, drops have been common knowledge for long many years. Similarly, leprosy Frans Recent meetings with John By tackling climate change and biodiversity Russia, China, and others are al- patients being administered MDT tablets is also known. All such medicines Timmermans & Kerry, the US special presidential loss, everyone will be better off, thanks to ready trying to establish a geopo- have always been free for citizens globally and not just in India. Rather, India envoy for climate, confirmed that litical foothold over territory and has gone a few steps ahead by ensuring leprosy patients take their MDT tablets Josep Borrell the EU and the US are once again better jobs, cleaner air and water, fewer resources that were once under ice. on a regular basis by involving the VLWs (Village Level Workers) in distri- working closely to mobilise an in- pandemics, and improved health and While all of these powers have a bution of the medicines. ternational coalition around the strong interest in reducing tensions Move forward to the present day. India is hitting global headlines because THE SOONER WE goal of substantially raising climate well-being. But, as with any broad and “keeping the Arctic in the of dire shortage of not only oxygen and hospital beds but also vaccines dur- ambitions for November’s United transition, the coming changes will upset Arctic,” the current scramble for ing this Covid-19 pandemic. While some claim this is a second wave with dou- CAN ENSURE Nations climate summit (COP26) position is putting the entire re- ble and triple mutants, others assert the first wave continues while the THAT GLOBAL in Glasgow. some and benefit others, creating tensions gion at risk. virus is constantly mutating. With this in the backdrop, the Supreme Court There is no time to lose. within and between countries To Europe’s south, there is enor- of India has suddenly woken up to the situation and is claiming that it can PUBLIC GOODS Unchecked climate change – with mous potential to generate en- no longer remain a mute spectator. Notably, ARE THERE its devastating droughts, famines, ergy from solar and green hy- the SC could not respond in time to the floods, and mass dislocations – ducing its reliance on energy im- curse’ and the corruption it so drogen, and to establish new plight of citizens, especially the migrant FOR EVERYONE would fuel new migration waves ports. In 2019, 87 per cent of our oil often fosters. sustainable growth models based labour force, after the sudden national shut- TO ENJOY, THE and significantly increase the fre- and 74 per cent of our gas came from At the same time, however, the on renewable energy. Europe will down announced by Prime Minister Modi quency and intensity of conflicts abroad, requiring us to import green transition itself will require need to cooperate closely with the last year. This year too, after a long delay, BETTER over water, arable land, and natural more than €320 billion ($386 bil- scarce raw materials, some of countries of Sub-Saharan Africa the SC has asked the government to give com- Piate resources. To those who complain lion) worth of fossil-fuel products which are concentrated in coun- and elsewhere to seize these plete details based on which the costing of Tathagata about the large investments needed that year. tries that have already shown a opportunities. the vaccines have been computed. The ex- Satpathy to tackle climate change and bio- Moreover, with the green tran- willingness to use natural re- The EU has embarked on a green ercise for the life saving vaccination of O diversity loss, we would simply sition, the old strategic choke sources as foreign-policy tools. transition because science tells us every citizen has been under discussion in point out that inaction would points – starting with the Strait of This growing vulnerability will that we must, economics teaches all countries across the world. Interestingly, all nations are offering free dou- cost far more. Hormuz – will become less relevant, need to be addressed in two ways: us that we should, and technology ble dose of the vaccines to their citizens. India, which till the other day, was By tackling the climate and bio- and thus less dangerous. These by recycling more of these key re- shows us that we can. We are con- boasting of its ability to produce large number of vaccines and claimed it diversity crises, everyone will be seaborne passages have preoccu- sources, and by forging broader al- vinced that a world run on clean could also export vaccines worldwide, is now failing to meet its home demand. better off, thanks to better jobs, pied military strategists for liances with exporting countries. technology would benefit people’s On top of that, the unspoken promise of free vaccination has now sunk into cleaner air and water, fewer pan- decades. But as the oil age passes, Moreover, as long as other coun- well-being and political stability. But discussion of cost per unit. The shortage of vaccines is evident in a state demics, and improved health and they will be less subject to com- tries’ climate commitments are the road to get there will be fraught like Orissa where AstraZeneca’s Covishield produced by Serum Institute of well-being. But, as with any broad petition for access and control by not on par with our own, there with risks and obstacles. India has completely disappeared even in a place like Cuttack. State government transition, the coming changes regional and global powers. will be a risk of “carbon leak- That is why the geopolitics of cli- has officially declared almost all vaccination centres shut. That apart, pri- will upset some and benefit others, Phasing out energy imports age.” That is why the EU is work- mate change must inform all of our vate hospitals too have depleted their stocks and are turning away people creating tensions within and be- will also help to reduce the in- ing on a carbon border adjust- thinking. Geopolitical risk is not who wish to have their first or even their second jabs. tween countries. As we acceler- come and geopolitical power of ment mechanism (CBAM). We an excuse to alter our course or re- It is necessary to analyse why such a situation has arisen. The moment ate the transition from a hydro- countries like Russia, which cur- know that some countries, even verse direction. Rather, it is an people in power demanded that the Central government permit releasing carbon-based economy to a rently relies heavily on the EU among our allies, are concerned impetus to accelerate our work 50 percent of the vaccines to the open market, the free vaccines simply van- sustainable one based on renew- market. Of course, the loss of this about this. But we want to be clear: toward a just transition for all. ished from the centres. Most citizens would be aware that government sup- able energy, we cannot be blind key source of Russian revenue setting a price on imported carbon- The sooner we can ensure that plied free medicines are usually plundered and sold to the black market by to these geopolitical effects. could lead to instability in the intensive goods is not meant to global public goods are there for the concerned officials. It is also a known fact that even gauze, cotton, sy- In particular, the transition it- near term, particularly if the be punitive or protectionist. everyone to enjoy, the better. ringes and such supplies to government hospitals find their way to the se- self will drive power shifts away Kremlin sees it as an invitation to In addition to ensuring that lect few medicine shops strategically located across the street. Now, with the from those controlling and ex- adventurism. In the long term, our plans are compliant with Frans Timmermans is situation of life and death in a balance for everyone, the concept of half paid porting fossil fuels, and toward though, a world run on clean en- World Trade Organisation rules, Executive Vice President of and half free will create an immense scope for huge amounts of illegal those mastering the green tech- ergy could also be a world of we will engage with our interna- the European Commission. money to be made. In the process, those who can afford the jabs will be forced nologies of the future. For exam- cleaner government, because tra- tional partners early on to ex- Josep Borrell is Vice to pay a much higher price while majority of the poor and indigent will not ple, phasing out fossil fuels will ditional fossil-fuel exporters will plain what we have in mind. Our President of the European be able to access the free portion of the jabs that is their due. It needs no re- significantly improve the EU’s need to diversify their economies goal is to facilitate cooperation Commission. minding that most families in India have single bread earners. The bulk of strategic position, not least by re- and free themselves from the ‘oil and help others reach their cli- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE employed youth in urban and semi-urban India are barely able to make both ends meet. It would be near impossible for this segment to afford vaccines at a cost of Rs 600 or Rs 1200 for themselves and their families. Apart from this, rural India has a majority of population living below poverty line. IN JEST THIS Resultantly, these huge sections of citizens would opt out of a high cost vaccine and take chances with their lives. This will ensure the pandemic continues in India for a long time and extracts a heavy toll on human lives and the economy. Appreciate your benefits, don’t exploit them

WISDOM CORNER f you’re a full-time employee of Netflix offers both fathers thrice, but four times! By doing so, a large organisation, you prob- and mothers up to one year he was able to qualify for 32 days Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are ably enjoy a number of benefits, of paid leave. silent. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE I including paid holidays, sick leave of paid leave after the birth This man devised a way to take The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and and maternity leave. These bene- or adoption of a child. There advantage of the policy four times, manure. DH LAWRENCE fits vary widely from employer to while also ensuring that he didn’t employer, as well as from country is a catch though: you have have any ex-wives. Let every dawn be to you as the beginning of life, and every setting to country. The movie streaming to allow Netflix to come to your home and On April 6, the man married his sun be to you as its close. JOHN RUSKIN company Netflix, for example, of- bride for the first time. Ten days later, fers both fathers and mothers up record the reality series “First Year with Baby” on April 16, the couple got a di- Melvin Durai to one year of paid leave after the vorce, only to remarry the next day, birth or adoption of a child. There tain benefits aren’t always easy to without a truly legitimate reason, allowing the man to qualify for an- WORDSWORTH is a catch though: you have to allow get, at least you have an opportu- such as a World Cup match on TV. other eight days of paid leave. The MANY PEOPLE, OF Netflix to come to your home and nity to get them. If you’re lucky They make sure they use up all second marriage ended in divorce Mournival COURSE, HAVE record the reality series “First Year enough to have them, you should- the sick days they’re eligible for, even on April 28, but the couple reconciled with Baby.” n’t take them for granted. if they have to risk running into a in time to remarry the next day, mournival beats a gleek. If we were playing poker, you might well CALLED OFF SICK Actually, the only catch seems to Employees of Zomato, the food de- co-worker at the movie theater. giving the groom another eight Acomment equivalently that four of a kind beats three. We are, indeed, in be that any parental leave that’s livery company, should be pleased Taking advantage of the system days of leave. On May 11, they di- the realm of card games, though gleek, which takes its name from the FROM WORK longer than 30 days needs to be ap- that the company introduced a pol- may make it harder for other em- vorced again, before remarrying threesome group in it, is one you have probably never heard of. People are WITHOUT A TRULY proved by the human resources icy in 2020 that offers women up to ployees to legitimately gain access the next day, allowing the bank em- first recorded playing it in England under that name early in the 1530s, department. All you need to do is 10 days of period leave a year. Even to a benefit. But that wasn’t a con- ployee to get eight more days though Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was reportedly fond of it LEGITIMATE give HR a call. First you’ll have to if you’re a man, you should be happy cern for a bank employee in Taiwan of leave. in her youth, which would take it back to the beginning of the century or REASON, SUCH AS speak to Miguel in Manila, who to work for a company that cares who ensured that he’ll never get the While the employee was tech- perhaps a little earlier. In fact, it’s almost certainly the same game as the will soon transfer you to Manoj in about its employees. Today, it offers “Employee of the Year” award. nically eligible for 32 days, the bank earlier French glic. It was a gambling game for three players, often called A WORLD CUP Mumbai, who will transfer you to time off to recover from periods; Employers in Taiwan are re- did not approve his application and halfpenny gleek, penny gleek or twopenny gleek, whose names refer to the Marisol in Mexico City, who will put tomorrow, it might offer time off to quired to give employees eight days he had to appeal to the Labour monetary value of each point scored, not the total bet. An English penny was MATCH ON TV you on hold for 30 minutes. Just as recover from mother-in-law visits. of leave when they get married. Department. The case has not yet worth a lot at the time, so losing could be expensive — in 1646, the poet and you’re about to hang up, you’ll hear It’s also important to use bene- Most employees take advantage of been resolved. But needless to say, writer John Hall warned that “gleeke requires a vigilant memory and a long a voice that says, “Hello, this is fits only when necessary, to not this policy only once in their life- the employee would be wise to start purse”. Samuel Pepys recorded in his Diary in February 1662, “We played at Manuel in Madrid. May I help you?” take advantage of them, to show times, unless they happen to get di- working on his résumé. If he and gleeke, and I won 9s. 6d. clear, the most that ever I won in my life. I pray God In other words, it might not be your employer that you can be vorced and remarried. But in 2020, his wife are thinking of having it may not tempt me to play again.” One phase of the game involved easy to be approved for a full year trusted. Many people, of course, the bank employee decided to get children, he may want to apply declaring any gleeks or mournivals of aces or court cards that you had in of parental leave. But even if cer- have called off sick from work married not once, not twice, not to Netflix. your hand, which gained money from each opponent. In penny gleek, for example, a mournival of aces got you eight pence from each of the other two players. Mournival comes most probably from old French mornifle for a group of four cards, which may be the same word as that for a slap in the Rap on the knuckles Flattened curve? face (which might be the figurative effect of finding an opponent has one). Gleek is also French, perhaps from an older Dutch word that means “like”. Sir, Politicians are not ready to buy the theory that rallies ignited or augmented Sir, Daily COVID-19 cases in Odisha are fluctuating be- It’s unconnected with the obsolete English word of the same spelling, the second Covid wave. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, two states that went to polls, tween 6,000 and 6,700 over the last six days. The figures of contemporary with the card game sense, that refers to a joke or playing a etters are seeing a rush in the number of Covid patients. The politicians are in denial, April 27 saw a 9 per cent drop from April 26. Also, 7-day av- trick on somebody. but the High Courts of the country are leaving no stone unturned in taking them erage and the actual figures of April 27 are the same which to task. Seen in this backdrop, the Madras High Court severely lambasting the shows that the curve has flattened and will move southwards TOL THE EDITOR Election Commission (EC) for allowing massive congregation in political rallies now. Strict measures to control the second surge taken by Moxie Readers of Orissa POST is welcome, apt and timely. The HC has reflected the people’s sentiments by government are to be continued till the situation is totally are most welcome to contribute letters holding the EC ‘singularly responsible’ for the Covid situation. The court went under control. Gopal Mittal, BHUBANESWAR oxie, usually so spelt, was (and in New England it would seem still is) (200 words), articles and to the extent of saying that the EC should be ‘booked for murder’. When the top columns (between 750-1250 Mthe name of a non-alcoholic drink, first produced in substantial words). Contributors are election body permits huge rallies, the question paramount at the back of its mind quantities by the Moxie Nerve Food Company of Lowell, Massachusetts in requested to send their should be whether such rallies are feasible under the circumstances. The answer Save street children about 1884. Its founder, Dr Augustin Thompson, originally developed it in the contact numbers and full should have obviously been ‘no’. But the EC did not see the writing on the wall.

1870s as a patent medicine or nerve tonic, claiming it cured paralysis, loss of postal address/email ID. They may also It cannot abdicate its responsibilities by shifting the onus on the police because Sir, The Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited and

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c manhood, and softening of the brain. The name may come from the and suggestions, preferably by email, it is preposterous to expect the latter to enforce discipline among the large an NGO have started an initiative called School on Wheels Algonquin Indian word root maski- “medicine” which became moxie as a to: [email protected] crowd, majority of whom were without masks, and cared two hoots for social to provide COVID education, food, medical assistance, and name for wintergreen, one of the early constituents of this bitter drink. distancing. The HC wants strict personal protection protocols in Tamil Nadu on necessary support to street children in Bhubaneswar. This Moxie was the first carbonated and bottled soft drink that was widely the counting day, or else, it would ‘stop the counting process’. Very strong words, is a praiseworthy move to empower street children in these distributed in America (just beating Dr Pepper and Coca-Cola), being sold B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, but appropriate rap on the knuckles for the EC. harsh times. Joint efforts can bring happiness to the lives from “Moxie bottle wagons” and later “Moxiemobiles”. Bhubaneswar-751010 Ganapathi Bhat, AKOLA (MAHARASHTRA) of street children. Amit Singh Kushwaha, SATNA (MP) P7

MAHARASHTRA GOA

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Maha faces uphill task in vax drive Goa CM, Health Minister differ over c THE STATE MAY GET SII VACCINE DOSES ONLY AFTER MAY 20 lockdown as Covid spike intensifies INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Mumbai, April 27: Sparking wor- ries, the Pune-based Serum Panaji, April 27: Goa’s battle Institute of India (SII) has in- against the raging Covid-19 pan- formed the Maharashtra govern- demic appears to have reignited a ment that it can supply Covishield fresh bout of one-up-manship be- vaccines to the state only after tween Chief Minister Pramod May 20, Health Minister Rajesh Sawant and Health Minister Tope said here Tuesday. Vishwajit Rane. Tope said the availability of vac- Traditional political rivals be- cines remains an uphill task and the fore Rane formally joined the BJP state needs at least one week’s quota in 2017, the see-sawing relationship delivered at one go in order to in- between the two leading politi- oculate the maximum number of cians, who are anchoring Goa’s people. fight against the steep surge in “The SII has informed the state Covid-19 infections, has played government that it can supply the out in the open once again over the Covishield vaccines only after May issue of imposing lockdown in 20,” Tope told mediapersons, even the state. the situation in the state deteriorates government impose strict restric- as the state has only 72 hours left be- Rane Monday made a plea for further. tions on them,” Caculo said. fore rolling out the vaccination imposition of a Maharashtra and The Chief Minister for now has Rane's popular cry for imposing drive for people in the 18-45 age Karnataka-like lockdown in Goa, on found the backing of the state’s a lockdown has, however, once group from May 1. a day when the state registered a business and industry captains, again exposed the rift between him Expressing concern over the de- record 2,321 fresh cases and 38 who have thrown their weight be- and the Chief Minister, that too at velopment, the state spokesperson deaths. hind Sawant over the issue of skip- a time of crisis. of the Congress, Sachin Sawant, said “Goa definitely needs to go under ping lockdown. Opposition politicians like that SII’s stance that it cannot sup- lockdown on the lines of other A lockdown, said the president Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party ply the vaccines till May 20 since states like Maharashtra and of the Goa Chamber of Commerce MLA Sudin Dhavalikar have pitched all stocks have been booked by the Karnataka for a particular period. and Industry, Manoj Caculo, is un- their support behind Rane and his Modi government would put ques- PTI PHOTO More than economic activities, the necessary, while restraint is es- demand for a lockdown for now. tion mark on the upcoming inoc- lives of the people matter to us,” sential, as he slammed wedding “Our health infrastructure is ulation drive for the 18-45 age group. BMC medical staff administer COVID-19 vaccines to beneficiaries at Nair Hospital, in Mumbai, Tuesday. Rane had said. parties and election related pub- overburdened, and as per reports Slamming Prime Minister The Health Minister even tweeted lic gatherings. from the health department and Narendra Modi, Sawant said that ply and the Centre will take care of sold to the states at ` 400/dose, BBIL 45 age group population. In this sit- that Goa could stand to lose more “We strongly support the CM in senior doctors, we are expecting this is not the time to discuss lack the 45-plus population, he sought to will sell its Covaxin for ` 600/dose, uation, the state government will than 200-300 lives “within the next his decision to keep economic ac- to witness more cases and higher of availability of vaccines. know whether the PM can set a tar- and the prices shall be even higher bear the cost of vaccinating the 10 days” if the lockdown was not im- tivities rolling by avoiding a com- mortality rate if the situation re- “Where is your strategy? Modiji get date for completing the vacci- for the private hospitals. economically weaker sections of posed. The tweet was later deleted. plete lockdown. We need to keep mains the same. We need to pri- has no clue about supply of vac- nation drive in India. Tope said that the state has an es- society,” Tope said. When asked for a response to businesses running to ensure that oritise human life over economy. We cines. The Centre has restricted On revised prices announced re- timated 5.71 crore people in the 18- Earlier Tuesday, Health Secretary the comment made by Rane seek- all the employees are paid. It’s the can bring back the economy, but the supplies to only two compa- cently by the SII and the government- 45 age-group and needs around 12 Pradeep Vyas sent letters to the ing a lockdown, Sawant said: “You uncontrolled social and political not the dead,” Dhavalikar said. nies, and now it wants the states run Bharat Biotech International crore vaccines over the next several two companies wanting to know can ask him about it.” events that are responsible for the Meanwhile, state Congress pres- to buy from these two companies Ltd (BBIL), Tope said that the months. how many doses they can supply Sawant has, however, remained spread,” Caculo said. ident Girish Chodankar has ac- for the 18-45 age group,” Sawant Centre's intervention asking them “At the prevailing rates, the state each month for the next six months steadfast in his position that a lock- “Look at the videos of election re- cused Sawant and Rane of trying pointed out. to slash the prices may help. will have to shell out around ` 7,500 for the massive inoculation drive down is not feasible yet and the sults day or wedding parties... are to score brownie points over each Since vaccines are in short sup- While SII's Covishield will be crore for inoculating the entire 18- scheduled to begin from May 1. measure would be considered if the protocols being followed? Let the other at a time of a crisis. Maha govt floats global SC panel against Goa rail project Goa court verdict in tender to procure The panel, in its report, says the project will destroy the fragile eco-system of the Western Ghats, an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot Tejpal case May 12 Remdesivir, oxygen PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Panaji, April 27: The Supreme Panaji, April 27: A sessions court PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ing gas as buffer stock for emer- Court-appointed Central in Goa Tuesday said it will pro- gency use,” he said. Empowered Committee has said it nounce the verdict in the Tarun Mumbai, April 27: The All powers have been delegated does not find any justification for Tejpal case May 12. Maharashtra government has to a three-member committee for undertaking the rail double-track- The former Tehelka editor-in- floated a global tender to procure the procurement of these quoted ing project in Goa, which is being chief is accused of sexually as- 10 lakh Remdesivir vials, 40,000 items, he said. The government opposed by environmental experts. saulting a female colleague inside oxygen concentrators and 25,000 has given three days to the bidders The panel, in its report April 23, the elevator of a luxury hotel in Goa metric tonnes of oxygen in the to quote their prices. said a project of this nature will de- in 2013. wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases, “You can also call it an expression stroy the fragile eco-system of the The additional district court was He faced trial under IPC sec- state Health Minister Rajesh Tope of interest, where we will come to Western Ghats, which is an inter- to pronounce the verdict on Tuesday. tions 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 said Tuesday. know about the expectations of nationally recognised biodiversity Judge Kshama Joshi adjourned (wrongful confinement), 354 (as- hotspot and also one of the most im- Several local groups The committee was formed fol- the verdict to May 12. sault or criminal force with intent portant wildlife corridors of the lowing an application filed before Public prosecutor Fransisco to outrage modesty), 354-A (sexual Maharashtra is facing country. had raised objections the Supreme Court by the Goa Tavares said the judge made the an- harassment), 354-B (assault or use shortage of the liquid “Moreover, this doubling proj- over three linear Foundation NGO. nouncement without citing a rea- of criminal force to woman with in- ect will only be marginally en- The committee was formed fol- son for the postponement of the tent to disrobe), 376(2)(f) (person medical oxygen and hancing the capacity of the most in- projects - doubling of lowing an application filed before judgement. in position of authority over Remdesivir injections efficient section of the railway the South Western the Supreme Court by the Goa The Goa police registered an women, committing rape) and network passing through the eco- Foundation NGO. FIR against Tejpal in November 376(2)k) (rape by person in posi- are in high demand for logically sensitive and bio-diver- Railway line, four-laning The Congress had claimed the 2013 following which he was ar- tion of control). treating COVID patients sity rich tiger reserve, two wildlife of an NH and a laying railway line was being double- rested. He has been out on bail He had earlier moved the Bombay sanctuaries and a national park,” tracked to allow the movement of since May 2014. High Court, seeking a stay on the amid the surge in cases the committee said in its 110-page of a power transmission coal from Goa's Mormugao Port The Goa crime branch had filed framing of charges against him, but of the viral infection report. line by GTTPL Trust to Karnataka. a chargesheet against Tejpal. his petition was dismissed. “In these circumstances it is rec- Leader of Opposition in the Goa ommended for the consideration laning of a national highway and Assembly, Digambar Kamat, is- Bidders have been given three suppliers,” the minister said. of this Honble Court to revoke the a laying of a power transmission line sued a statement on Tuesday say- days to quote their prices for the Maharashtra is facing shortage permission granted by the standing by the Goa Tamnar Transmission ing, "the report of the Central Maha govt orders probe supply of these items, he told re- of the liquid medical oxygen and committee of the National Board Project Limited (GTTPL). Empowered Committee has vindi- porters here. Remdesivir injections are in high de- for Wildlife (NBWL) for doubling of The projects were cleared by the cated our stand that the BJP is all “A global tender has been floated mand for treating COVID-19 patients the railway track passing through NBWL's standing committee de- out to sell Goa to Crony Club for for 10 lakh Remdesivir vials, 40,000 amid the surge in cases of the viral the ecologically sensitive Western spite apprehensions that they would making fortune by destroying the against Param Bir Singh oxygen concentrators, 132 PSA infection. Monday, the state reported Ghats...,” it said. severely affect the bio-diversity of environment and identity of Goa". (pressure swing absorption) plants 48,700 new COVID-19 cases, taking Several local groups had raised the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Kamat demanded Chief Minister for oxygen, 25,000 MT of liquid the total count of infections to objections over three linear projects, Sanctuary and the National Park at Pramod Sawant clear his stand and medical oxygen and 27 oxygen 43,43,727, while 524 deaths pushed the including double-tracking of the Mollem, both located on the Goa- write to the Centre to stop all the ISO tanks for storing the life-sav- toll to 65,284, as per official figures. South Western Railway line, four- Karnataka border. three projects. Social group ensures dignified farewell to Covid victims WITH DEATHS INCREASED IN THE SECOND WAVE OF THE VIRAL INFECTION, THE GROUP IS NOW WORKING 24X7

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Two days ago, they got a call “On many occasions, when fam- about the death of an elderly mem- ily members of the deceased cannot Pune, April 27: A social welfare ber of a Brahmin family, which make it to the crematorium or bur- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Pande has also been asked to group is working round-the-clock was in isolation after contracting the ial ground as they are in quarantine, look into a report prepared by as- with the Pune civic body to give a viral infection, he said. we arrange video calls for them Mumbai, April 27: The sistant police commissioner(crime) dignified farewell to COVID-19 vic- “Our volunteers in PPE kits while performing the last rites,” Maharashtra government has or- which was submitted April 7. tims, irrespective of their religion, reached there with a body bag, he said. dered a ‘preliminary inquiry’ into “A preliminary inquiry report and claimed to have performed the brought the mortal remains to a Shaikh said that late Sunday corruption allegations against for- based on all the points raised by last rites of over 1,200 victims since crematorium and conducted the evening, they received a call from mer Mumbai police commissioner Dange should be prepared and sub- the pandemic began last year. last rites as per their Talegaon town, located about 35 Param Bir Singh. mitted to the state government at The organisation comprises about rituals,” he said. km from here, about a COVID-19 Singh, now transferred to the the earliest,” the order said. 40 members, including some auto- Many Sharfuddin victim’s death. Home Guards, had accused then Singh was shunted out from rickshaw drivers and mobile tech- a times, family Shaikh (64), “Since the family members were state home minister Anil Deshmukh the post of Mumbai police com- nicians, in the age group of 22 to 64 members or the oldest unable to perform the burial, they of corruption and also filed a PIL missioner last month in the af- years. relatives are unable member of requested us to help them. We rushed against him. termath of a bomb scare outside to come, but we ensure A senior group member said that the last rites are the group, to the hospital, collected the body, The state home department, by industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s their workload has increased dur- conducted with all said their performed the burial in Talegaon an order dated April 20, asked residence here, the murder of ing the current second wave of respect and as per work was and returned to Pune city around Director General of Police Sanjay businessman Mansukh Hiran, COVID-19. their tradition all about 3 am on Monday," he said. Pandey to conduct a ‘preliminary and the arrest of police officer

“We have been helping conduct ‘humanity’ Asked how they are managing inquiry’ into a complaint lodged by Sachin Waze by the NIA in both

k y m JAVED KHAN I UMMAT c the last rites of COVID-19 victims, Ummat Foundation member Javed per their tradition,” Khan said. FOUNDATION and the while fasting during the holy month assistant police inspector Anup the cases. irrespective of their religion, for the Khan told PTI. He said the number of deaths objec- of Ramadan, Shaikh said the Dange against Singh February 2. Singh then made a sensational al- last 14 to 15 months. So far, we have “Many a times, family members due to COVID-19 has increased in tive was to Almighty was providing them Dange’s complaint accused Singh legation against Deshmukh, alleg- buried or cremated over 1,200 vic- or relatives are unable to come, but the second wave of the viral infec- give the dead person a decent strength to continue the humani- of being involved in corruption. ing that he had asked police offi- tims in Pune city and adjoining vil- we ensure that the last rites are tion, and their group members are farewell in the absence of relatives tarian work. The home department order be- cers including Waze to collect ` 100 lages in the Maharashtra district,” conducted with all respect and as now working 24X7. and loved ones. came available Tuesday. crore from bars and restaurants. This is the time for DALAI LAMA GETS 2ND JAB; P8 the armed forces to WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR rise to the occasion and CONTRIBUTES TO PM-CARES support the civil administration Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in creating Covid mitigation Tuesday has received his second dose of facilities in a time-bound Covid vaccine at his residence and manner. Timely support at this announced to contribute to the PM-Cares y juncture is important Fund as a token of solidarity with fellow

GEN BIPIN RAWAT | CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

k y m national Indian brothers and sisters c

of the day uote URGENT AIRLIFT

The Bengal HC, CENTRE SLAM experience -- the ongoing Assembly elections in the State are spread over eight DELHI GOVT OVER phases -- has taught us that even multi-phase elections do not prevent violence, hatred and personal attacks T S KRISHNAMURTHY | FORMER CEC O2 CRISIS MGMT PRESS TRUST OF INDIA I welcome the Delhi hospitals to decision of the New Delhi, April 27: The Delhi gov- ECI banning ernment has come under scathing reopen admissions celebrations and attack from both the High Court and processions of the Centre over its handling of the New Delhi: After days of scrambling electoral victories. I medical oxygen crisis that has hit for oxygen, hospitals in Delhi Tuesday have directed all COVID-19 patients here with the for- said they are in a comparatively bet- state units of BJP to strictly adhere mer saying Tuesday if the state ter situation in terms of supply and to this decision. All karykartas of cannot handle the situation it will have reopened admissions. Amid the BJP are using their energies to help ask the latter to take over gas refiller rising number of COVID-19 cases in the ones in need in this hour of crisis units as it can’t let people die. the national capital, medical facilities across the city and its suburbs put out J P NADDA | BJP PRESIDENT “Our confidence (in you) has desperate pleas for help on social shaken. Mr Rahul Mehra (Delhi media and other platforms last week, government counsel) get your house flagging their dwindling stock of oxy- In the first in order,” the Delhi High Court gen. Dr D K Baluja, medical director of wave said, observing that the Delhi gov- Jaipur Golden Hospital, said the hospi- everything ernment has left re-fillers “to have tal has enough supply to last the day. was centralised and a free run” even as hospitals “are now the crying hoarse for oxygen”. have “avoided tragic incidents”. government says “Enough is enough. If you can’t In a hard-hitting letter to Delhi IAF airlift the Oxygen containers from Bangkok last night. The airlift is being coordinated by MHA. It will enhance oxygen availability amid current that health being a do this, tell us, we will ask the cen- Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, Union COVID19 surge PTI PHOTO state subject - you decide on your tral government to take over these Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also own (how to arrange, pay and (oxygen refilling) plants. We can’t claimed that the Delhi government’s administer the vaccine), and on let people die,” a bench of justices efforts to resolve logistical issues lockdowns too Indians doubt Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli ob- for procuring oxygen have “not been SACHIN PILOT | SENIOR CONG LEADER served, as it came down heavily on up to the mark” at a time when Covishield, Covaxin effective efficacy of domestic the AAP government over its “fail- other states and union territories ure” to check black marketing of have been making earnest and pro- drugs: Govt to SC SHORT TAKES oxygen cylinders. “The problem fessional efforts on the matter. Bhalla lies with the Delhi government.” wrote the letter April 25. However, against ‘Indian strain’ of virus POST NEWS NETWORK In a strong criticism of the Kejriwal Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Soldier kills self government for its alleged failure Kejriwal told a media briefing that the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Research (CSIR). Another study by New Delhi, April 27: The Union to arrange tankers for transportation huge demand for the life-saving gas the Centre for Cellular and Molecular government has informed the Jammu: A soldier reportedly of oxygen for the city’s hospitals witnessed last week amid a surge in New Delhi, April 27: Covishield Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad under Supreme Court that the people in shot himself dead Tuesday in and Covaxin -- the two coronavirus the country have developed a per- an army centre in Jammu and overstretched by mounting COVID- coronavirus cases has been addressed the CSIR suggests that early results Kashmir’s Ramban district. 19 cases, the Centre said pro-active and the situation has improved sig- vaccines currently in use in India using in-vitro neutralisation assay ception that only imported drugs Police sources said the slain actions by it on a “war footing” could nificantly in the past two days. -- have efficacy against the ‘Indian show that both convalescent (prior can effectively treat the inflam- soldier was identified as strain’ and show “milder” illness in infection) sera and Covishield-vac- matory burst medical condition Asangeppa Madar belonging case of infection post vaccination, cinated sera offer protection against in COVID-19 patients and the do- to Karnataka. He reportedly a senior scientist said on Tuesday the ‘Indian strain’. “Initial positive the B.1.617 variant. mestically produced drugs cannot. used his service rifle to shoot citing preliminary results of a study. neutralisation studies of B.1.617, “Very preliminary but encour- In an affidavit filed in the suo himself inside an army centre Anurag Agrawal, the Director of with both post-Covaxin or Covishield aging result: #Covishield protects motu case before the Supreme in Banihal area. “After the Institute of Genomics and sera, are correlatable with milder dis- against #B1617. Early results using Court on the COVID-19 crisis, the hearing gunshots, his Integrative Biology (IGIB), said the ease during post-vaccination break- in vitro neutralization assay show Union government submitted that colleagues rushed to the spot study on effectiveness of the avail- through infections. This is a positive that both convalescent (prior in- Tociluzumab Injection, manu- where he was lying in a pool able vaccines on the B.1.617 vari- while we get quantitative data for bet- fection) sera and Covishield vac- factured by a company situated of blood. He was immediately ant of SARS-CoV2 suggests that ter understanding of infection pro- cinated sera offer protection against in Switzerland, is approved in the shifted to the hospital where post vaccination, the infections are tection,” Agrawal tweeted. the B.1.617 variant, aka country for treatment of rheuma- doctors said he was dead on milder. The B.1.617 variant is also IGIB is an institute under the #DoubleMutant,” CCMB Director toid arthritis. The provision of arrival.” "An FIR has been being called a ‘double mutant’ or Council for Scientific and Industrial Rakesh Mishra tweeted last week. its administration to COVID-19 lodged and investigation patients is listed only as an in- started to ascertain all the vestigation therapy in the national facts," police sources said. clinical management protocol for COVID for severe cases. Enforcing COVID norms Prone position helped The Union government also in- O2 black marketing formed the apex court that there New Delhi: Three men were are other domestically produced arrested from south Delhi for octogenarian beat Covid alternative drugs available for the allegedly hoarding oxygen, treatment of COVID-19 which are nitrogen cylinders and flow states’ responsibility: EC INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE either equivalent to or better than meters and selling them at Tociluzumab such as Itulizumab, inflated prices, police said PRESS TRUST OF INDIA The commission in a statement Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), dexamethasone, methyl pred- Tuesday. Mohit (23) is a said while it will comply with all di- April 27: As Covid patients across nisolone etc to treat a medical resident of Jharoda Kalan, New Delhi, April 27: Facing flak rections of the high court, on April the state gasp for oxygen, an 82-year- condition which exactly the Sumit Saini (33) lives in over its alleged failure to ensure 30, during the next hearing, it will old woman from Gorakhpur has Tociluzumab injection treats. Gurgaon, and Ansar Ahmed COVID-19 appropriate behaviour apprise the bench of all the steps managed to bring up her oxygen “Recently a public perception is (41) is from Shaheen Bagh, during poll campaigns, the Election already taken by the poll panel for levels by lying in a prone position. development that, being an im- Okhla, they said. “Monday, Commission Tuesday said enforc- free, fair and safe elections. She has recovered from Covid ported drug, it is only Tociluzumab police got a tip-off that a ing provisions of the law to fight the It also said “statements being without an oxygen cylinder and injection which can effectively person was coming near pandemic is the responsibility of attributed to the Hon'ble High Court is setting an example for others. tion improved and the oxygen treat the inflammatory burst med- Ghitorni metro station for state disaster management bodies. in certain sections of media” do Vidya Srivastava from Alinagar level rose to 94 within four days.” ical condition in COVID-19 pa- selling the oxygen cylinders The commission also asserted The Election Commission’s (EC) not find mention in the order which in Gorakhpur tested positive for Hari Mohan spent four days in tients and not the domestic drugs. at high rates. Thereafter, a that it has continuously directed remarks came a day after the was finally passed. Corona earlier this month. his mother’s room and monitored This is a wrong perception,” the trap was laid and a car, state and district authorities to en- Madras High Court made harsh The EC was apparently refer- Her elder son, Hari Mohan her oxygen levels regularly. She Centre told SC. driven by Mohit, was checked,” Deputy force instructions of the National observations against it for failing ring to the oral observations made Srivastava, said, “My mother was not given an oxygen cylinder. The Union government con- Commissioner of Police (south) Disaster Management Authority to enforce COVID appropriate be- by the bench against it. tested positive and we kept her in The entire family then tested posi- tended that the production of Atul Kumar Thakur said. (NDMA) to prevent the spread of the haviour during poll campaigns. Referring to the petition that home isolation. One day her oxy- tive but we did not lose hope and tried Remdesivir drug has been upped coronavirus. Elections have been held in was moved in the Madras High gen levels dipped to 79 and every- to keep each other in a positive in light of the growing demand for The poll panel underlined that on Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Court to ensure “COVID safe” count- one in the family was worried. frame of mind. We took precau- the same during the second surge “no occasion” it takes over the task the Union Territory of Puducherry. ing May 2, the statement said that However, we did not give up and tions and medicines after taking of COVID-19. Beef seized, 2 held of a state disaster management au- The last of the eight phase West similar petitions concerning COVID- made her lie down in the prone advice from the doctor. Now, finally Thane: Two people were thority (SDMA) for enforcement Bengal polls is Thursday. Counting 19 compliant behaviour during on- position with stomach down to- the entire family has recovered arrested allegedly with a of instructions issued in the wake for votes for all the assembly elec- going elections were filed, and the wards bed. Gradually, the situa- from the deadly virus, he said. consignment of 1,500 of the COVID-19 pandemic. tions is May 2. EC had already responded to them. Army Chief visits kilograms of beef being transported illegally from eastern Ladakh Nashik to Thane, police said Tuesday. A tempo was stopped for checking by a Indians suffer from mental stress as Covid resurges and Siachen police team on Mumbai- Nashik Highway at around 2 PRESS TRUST OF INDIA am Sunday, an official said. THE LOCKDOWN-RELATED STRESS, IN 2020, REPORTEDLY CAUSED OVER 300 CASES OF SUICIDES FROM MARCH 19 TILL MAY 2 “We found 1,500 kilograms of New Delhi, April 27: Army Chief beef worth Rs 1.8 lakh in the INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Psychologist, Manipal Hospitals, those around them. These experi- Gen MM Naravane Tuesday vis- tempo. The vehicle’s driver Bengaluru, told IANS. ences can impact people’s sense of ited eastern Ladakh and Siachen Wasim Attar and cleaner Sameer Shaikh were New Delhi, April 27: The second The most prominent problem re- self, their confidence and belief in and reviewed India’s operational arrested. wave of Covid-19 has turned more ported by people is anxiety and de- the worldviews they hold as well as preparedness in the strategically lethal, infecting more people and tak- pression. Teens are more stressed their positivity, optimism and re- key sectors, official sources said. ing more lives. Besides causing fi- out about their future plans, resilience to cope with situations,” He was accompanied by Lt Gen nancial and physical problems, it has sulting in an existential crisis while Parikh said. YK Joshi, Army Commander of Poll candidate killed also affected people mentally, cre- the adults are overwhelmed by the To cope with the current situa- the Northern Command, and Lt Bhadohi (UP): A candidate in ating panic in their minds. fear of survival, financial insecu- tion, Parikh suggested that one Gen PGK Menon, General Officer the Uttar Pradesh panchayat The uncertainty about their pres- rity and job security. must: focus on the here and now; Commanding (GOC) of the Leh- polls was beaten to death at ent and future, coupled with gov- These fears are coupled by “Covid try and look at the things that you based Fire and Fury Corps. a village here, police said. ernment mandates to stay at home, anxiety/pandemic anxiety. People can control; attempt to maintain The sources said Gen Naravane Lalji Gautam (51) was is all exacerbating mental illness. fear that they are going to die, in- a routine and follow a balanced interacted with troops and com- attacked by members of his The feeling of being cooped up at creasing their death anxiety is- schedule; integrate relaxing and plimented them for their stead- rival group at Dudwa home, distant from their loved ones, sues”, Kumar said. recreational activities to help un- fastness and high morale while Dharampuri village Monday devoid of social support and fear productivity, and as a result, an ef- adults have reached out seeking “People are also worried about wind and relax; not engage in ex- being deployed in some of the night, Circle Officer Prayank about new variants is increasing fect on the relations that surround help for mental health issues. being spreaders and causing harm cessive information overload to harshest terrain, altitude and y Jai said. He died Tuesday at mental illness, according to mental them,” Dr Samir Parikh, Director, “Since the beginning of April, to their loved ones. Even those peo- not feel overwhelmed; focus on weather conditions.

his house, the officer said, health experts. Department of Mental Health and there has been a rise in tele-psy- ple who never had mental health is- the small good things that will The Chief of Army Staff was

k y m c adding that Gautam was a “The current situations are af- Behavioural Sciences, Fortis chiatric consultations by at least sues, even in their family history, allow you to maintain positivity in later briefed by Lt Gen Menon on candidate for the post of fecting the mental well-being on Healthcare, told IANS. 20 per cent. While the face to face are now reaching out for medical your thoughts; speak to people the prevailing security situation village head. Four persons account of the uncertainty of the While the current scenario is af- consultations have plateaued, tele- support as they are facing a lot of around and maintain social con- and operational preparedness in have been detained in the present and the future, the impact fecting all individuals, regardless consultations requests for seeking emotional stress,” Kumar. nectedness; and ensure to follow the region. He is scheduled to re- case and a probe is on in the on the physical health of the self and turn to the national capital on matter, Jai said. of their age, gender or other de- help have steadily increased,” Dr “Many experience guilt around all safety protocols and maintain loved ones, impact on work and mographics, more adolescents and Satish Kumar, Consultant Clinical not being able to adequately support Covid appropriate behaviour. Wednesday. FREE HOME DELIVERY OF DAIRY PRODUCTS P9 The Modi WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR government must To stop the surge in coronavirus infections, a realise that the battle is complete lockdown has been imposed in Indore. against Covid, it is not A major decision has now been taken to provide against the Congress or free home delivery of milk and dairy products other political by Indore Cooperative Milk so that the general y opponents public do not face any problem of getting

everyday essential food services.

k y m national RAHUL GANDHI | CONGRESS LEADER c

of the day uote Over 1 cr vax doses The holy World joins hands to rescue India occasion of Hanuman AGENCIES still available: Centre jayanti is the day to recall the spirit of 3.23 LAKH NEW compassion and New Delhi, April 27: Nations COVID-19 CASES The government of India has so far provided 15,65,26,140 dedication of Lord across the world have come for- vaccine doses to the states and UTs free of cost Hanuman. I wish that his blessings ward to help India in its fight against With 3,23,144 people testing positive are always upon us in the the raging second wave of the coro- for the coronavirus in a day, India's continuing fight against the COVID navirus pandemic, which is ex- infection tally has climbed to pandemic tremely virulent and has ravaged 1,76,36,307, while the national recov- the country in the past few weeks. ery rate further dropped to 82.54 per NARENDRA MODI | PRIME MINISTER As per official sources, the US, the cent, according to the Union Health UK, France, Ireland, Australia, Ministry data updated Tuesday. The India is better Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, death toll mounted to 1,97,894 with prepared Hong Kong, Thailand, the UAE, 2,771 new fatalities, the data updat- mentally and Kuwait and Russia have assured ed at 8 am showed. There has been a physically this year slight dip in the daily cases as com- medical aid to India with much of with more experience pared to the number of new infec- to beat the COVID-19 the support on its way. tions reported in the past few days. pandemic as The UK is sending 495 oxy- compared to 2020 gen concentrators, 120 non- invasive ventilators and 20 vaccine materials and therapeu- HARSH VARDHAN | UNION HEALTH MINISTER manual ventilators this SECOND tics. A consignment of containers week. Out of these, 100 for transportation of medical oxy- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA three days," the ministry stated. Fake data is ventilators and 95 oxy- WAVE OF for three months along and other medical supplies. gen arrived in India from Thailand The ministry said that recently being given to gen concentrators have with 120 ventilators and 80 while some more empty tankers New Delhi, April 27: More than some media reports quoting some show fewer PANDEMIC Saudi Arabia's aid of 80 MT of liq- deaths, while a rush is already arrived on million KN95 masks. uid oxygen is enroute via the sea will be airlifted from Singapore and one crore vaccine doses are still government officials from being witnessed at Tuesday. Australian Prime route, Hong Kong is sending 800 Dubai Tuesday, the Union home available with states and union Maharashtra have pointed out that crematoriums and France is sending relief ma- Minister Scott Morrison an- oxygen concentrators, while ministry said. Several member territories, and another 80 lakh the state has exhausted vaccine doses, graveyards. It is the terial in two phases. In the first nounced Tuesday that his gov- Thailand is sending four Cryogenic nations of the European Union are doses will reach them in the next thereby adversely impacting the vac- government's failure that even BJP MPs, phase, eight large oxygen generat- ernment will send 500 ventilators, oxygen tanks. India will also get rushing in medical supplies like three days, the Union Health cination drive. "It is clarified that MLAs are not satisfied with the current ing units that can be installed one million surgical masks, 500,000 six Cryogenic oxygen containers oxygen concentrators and venti- Ministry said Tuesday. the total COVID vaccine doses re- state of affairs. The number of doctors, quickly, liquid oxygen, 28 respira- P2 and N95 masks, 100,000 gog- from the UAE. lators to India in line with an an- The government of India has so ceived by Maharashtra as April 27 (at hospitals and other facilities given by tors and their consumables and 200 gles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and Also, India's Armed Forces nouncement made by the bloc to far provided 15,65,26,140 vaccine 8 am) are 1,58,62,470. Of this, the total the BJP is mostly fake electric syringe pushers are ar- 20,000 face shields to India. Kuwait Medical Services (AFMS) is im- support the country in its fight doses to the states and UTs free of consumption, including wastage (0.22 AKHILESH YADAV | riving this week. In the second and Russia have also committed to porting 23 mobile oxygen generation against a devastating second wave cost. "The total consumption, in- pc), was 1,49,39,410. SAMAJWADI PARTY PRESIDENT phase, five liquid oxygen contain- send medical supplies. plants from Germany. of coronavirus infection. EU mem- cluding wastage, is 14,64,78,983 "Balance of 9,23,060 doses is still ers will arrive next week. Some of the medical supplies After US President Joe Biden ber countries France, Ireland, doses. More than 1 crore doses available with the state for admin- Similarly, Ireland is sending 700 are also coming through private spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, (1,00,47,157) are still available with istration of vaccine doses to the eli- oxygen concentrators this week. channels from various countries. For Modi over phone on Monday, the Portugal and Sweden are send- the states and UTs to be adminis- gible population groups. Furthermore, SHORT TAKES Sources said that Germany is send- example, Singapore is sending 500 US has committed to provide a ing medical supplies to India tered. More than 80 lakh (86,40,000) 3,00,000 doses of COVID vaccines are ing a mobile oxygen production BiPAPs, 250 oxygen concentrators, range of emergency assistance, in- through the bloc's Civil Protection doses will be received in addition in the pipeline for delivery in the unit which will be made available four Cryogenic oxygen containers cluding oxygen-related supplies, Mechanism. by the states and UTs in the next next three days," the ministry stated. Assam imposes night curfew Rlys handed over 169 Guwahati/Shillong: To check MOTHER’S LOVE the rapid surge in the number Covid care coaches of Covid-19 cases, the Assam MP couple ties government Tuesday to different states enforced a night curfew across the state from 8 p.m. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE to 5 a.m., officials said. knot in PPE kits Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu New Delhi, April 27: The Indian Barua said in his order that PRESS TRUST OF INDIA of eight people at Indira Nagar Railways has handed over 169 the curfew would remain of Ratlam, an official said. train coaches to various states for inforce till May 1. Ratlam (MP), April 27: While The administration had got Covid care. most people spend lakhs on their information about the wedding In the united fight against the wedding attire, a couple in of a coronavirus infected per- Covid-19 pandemic, the Railways Vajpayee’s niece Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam dis- son Monday, Naib Tehsildar has developed nearly 4,000 Covid trict tied the knot wearing PPE Naveen Garg said. When a team care coaches with almost 64,000 dies of Covid-19 kits after the groom tested posi- from the administration reached beds ready for use by the states. Raipur (Chhattisgarh): Karuna tive for coronavirus. the spot, the family members In a statement, the Ministry of Shukla, a Congress leader and According to the district au- sought permission pleading that Railways said, "New demand for the niece of former Prime thorities, the 28-year-old groom an elderly member of the family, Covid coaches has come from Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, may now face action for allegedly who was unwell, wanted to see the Nagpur district. In this direction, died of Covid-19 in the violating the government order by groom getting married, he said. an MoU has been signed between Ramakrishna Care hospital in stepping out of the containment After a consultation with senior the divisional railway manager, Raipur. After testing positive zone. A video of the couple taking officials, the ceremony was allowed Nagpur, and the commissioner of for the virus, she was their 'saat pheras' in the protective in PPE kits and in compliance with Nagpur Municipal Corporation." undergoing treatment at the gear has gone viral on social the COVID-19 protocol, the official Accordingly, the Railways will hospital here. Shukla breathed media at time when the second said. "After testing positive for deploy a Covid care rake with 11 her last late Monday evening. wave of the COVID-19 pandemic coronavirus, the groom should coaches comprising modified sleep- has engulfed the country. have stayed in the containment ers with a capacity to accommo- In the purported video, the 25- zone. By coming out of the area, he date 16 patients in each coach. nCoV patient fails year-old bride and the groom are has violated the government order," The coaches will be equipped seen participating in the cere- he said. A report will be submitted with the necessary medical in- to get bed, dies mony, while a priest, also in the to the senior authorities, who may frastructure by the state health New Delhi: Family members of PPE kit, is chanting mantras. take action against the groom for authorities with Railways devis- a woman, who allegedly died The marriage was solemnised violating the containment zone re- ing the segmentation of space and due to COVID-19 after failing to at a function hall in the presence strictions, Garg said. utility for medical personnel in get a bed at Apollo Hospital in line with the MoU, besides taking south Delhi, attacked the staff care of sanitation and catering of the private healthcare arrangements. facility Tuesday, police said. The Railways will also mobilise However, they said no Covid care coaches for Nagpur, complaint has been filed in this Bhopal, Ajni ICD (Nagpur), and regard so far. Tihi (near Indore) as per the states' demand. Three killed in KUMBH MELA: SEERS road mishap A woman tries to protect her child from the Summer heat in Amritsar PTI PHOTO Bahraich (UP): Three people KEEP LAST ‘SHAHI were killed and six others injured when two buses SNAN’ SYMBOLIC collided head-on in Jarwal area of the district, police Centre’s Covid jab for world spells ‘ouch’ in India? PRESS TRUST OF INDIA said Tuesday. The incident took place late Monday Dehradun/Rishikesh, April 27: The night when a roadways INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE (April 27), the number of benefici- and Oman, Nigeria, Kenya, and the last 'shahi snan' at the Kumbh Mela bus going from Lucknow to ary countries has gone up to 95 and tearing hurry in which at least 12 in Haridwar Tuesday was a subdued Gonda collided with a Mumbai, April 27: In a startling the total doses supplied are 6.63- nations got their doses even before affair with seers keeping the ritual private bus coming revelation under RTI, it has crore, including 1.07 crore as grant the drive had fully got underway in symbolic in view of a nationwide from the opposite direction, emerged that the country has ex- `200/dose+GST), and the rest 3.57 India! Against this, the two com- surge in COVID-19 cases. Assistant Superintendent of ported the Covid-19 vaccines to at crore doses as per commercial agree- panies have announced their lat- Till the conclusion of the royal Police, Kunwar Gyananjay Singh, said. least 47 countries globally at rates ments, he pointed out. est prices for the vaccines supplies bath, nearly 2,000 seers of 13 cheaper than India, even as the Among the beneficiaries, for the domestic market. 'akhadas' (sects) had taken a dip domestic patients run helter-skel- Bangladesh - which Prime Minister The SII is supplying its Covishield in the Ganga at Har Ki Pairi ghat ter for the life-saver jab. Narendra Modi visited last month vaccine to state governments at which was reserved exclusively Sec 144 imposed Replying to an RTI query by a - has got the lion's share of 1.03 `400/dose and to private hospitals for them, officials said. in Haryana Nagpur-based activist-based lawyer, crore doses, including 33-lakh doses for `600/dose, and the BBIL is giv- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)'s as 'grant' and the rest commercially. ing it at `600/dose to state govern- April 17 had appealed to sadhus Chandigarh: Haryana Home Under Secretary Arun Kumar has The other big ones are Myanmar ments and `1200/dose to private to observe the remaining duration Minister Anil Vij Tuesday stated that vaccines were supplied (17-lakh doses), Nepal (11-lakh), and hospitals. Apparently justifying of the Kumbh only in a "sym- said that prohibitory orders as 'grant' and 'contractual supplies' on the lower rung is Seychelles (0.5- their rates, the SII said that global bolic" manner. Following this dif- under Section 144 of the under the Covax facility. lakh) and Dominica (0.7-lakh), and vaccines in the private markets are ferent 'akhadas' had agreed to CrPC are to be imposed "For grant supplies, vaccines a 'grant' of 2-lakh doses to UN available at much higher rates - keep their participation sym- throughout the state. He were procured at a rate of `200/dose Peacekeepers. `1,500/dose (American jabs), and bolic. also directed all Deputy plus GST from Serum Institute of "The question that arises is - `750/dose (Russian and Chinese Crowds at the ghats of the Commissioners to provide a India Pvt Ltd (SII-Pune) and at a rate available with the government. till April 10, the Centre has already when India with such a huge pop- jabs), while BBIL said the company Ganga started thinning down blueprint for oxygen beds, of `295/dose from Bharat Biotech The development comes on a day exported a total of 6.37 crore doses ulation is dying for the doses, is exporting its products at between drastically since last week after oxygen storage capacity and International Ltd (BBIL), in ac- when the government appealed to to 89 countries. This constitutes where is the need for us to display $15-20/dose (roughly averaging to the key 'akhadas' of seers began

y other requirements, cordance with the authorization the two main vaccine manufac- ` such generosity to far-flung coun- `1,200/dose). pulling out of the Maha Kumbh, including ventilators in all 1.03 crore doses at 200+GST rates,

given by the Ministry of Health & turers SII (private) and BBIL (gov- and the rest 3.44 crore doses at com- tries with low rates of infections Adv Ajmera said that ideally, one of the largest religious gath-

k y m private and government c hospitals of their districts by Family Welfare (MHFW)," the MEA's ernment-owned) to slash their prices mercial rates. For the same doses, and fatalities, many not heard of India should have ensured suffi- erings in the world, citing the 10 a.m. Thursday. Along with RTI reply stated. In addition, the for the mega-phase of inoculations now the Centre has allowed the in India or visible on maps, some cient doses for her own citizens, spike in the number of coron- this, in view of the alarming MEA said that the prices of other starting May 1. Till today, a total of same companies to levy double the never visited by Indian leaders," create a surplus before doling out avirus cases. Covid situation, orders have supplies undertaken by the manu- 14.53 crore people have got their rates in the Indian markets," Adv Adv Ajmera asked. the doses or permitting commercial Many spots wore a deserted also been given to strictly facturers in accordance with their first or second jabs, as per the offi- Ajmera told IANS. He said the surprise is 'grant' to exploitation by Indian companies look Tuesday at the Kumbh which enforce Section 144. commercial agreements are not cial data. "As per the data supplied According to the current data prosperous countries like Bahrain at the cost of the local population. will formally close only April 30. The question is US LAUNCHES SPY P10 whether the WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR White House is ready to SATELLITE INTO SPACE commit to a full-fledged A US spy satellite was launched negotiations strategy, or into space from California. The whether it will continue to NROL-82 satellite lifted off from play it safe and keep the Vandenberg Air Force Base policy on the back burner aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket Monday

JORGE ARREAZA FM, VENEZUELA

k y m international | c of the day uote US-IRAN N-TALKS

We obviously Ethnic allies capture govt base have a Iran wants nationals problem with India. Some of the THE FIGHTING TOOK PLACE AS THE JUNTA SAID IT WOULD “POSITIVELY” CONSIDER THE BLOC’S tests conducted in SUGGESTIONS TO END THE TURMOIL IN MYANMAR BUT ONLY WHEN STABILITY WAS RESTORED India either aren’t freed from US jails accurate or aren’t believable, and clearly that’s REUTERS MYANMAR UNREST Suu Kyi, detained her and other causing some issues here civilian politicians, and then cracked Bangkok, April 27: Ethnic mi- down with lethal force on anti-coup MARK MCGOWAN | PREMIER OF THE nority Karen insurgents attacked protesters. WESTERN STATE, AUSTRALIA a Myanmar army outpost near Security forces have killed more the Thai border Tuesday in some than 750 civilians in the demon- The purpose of the most intense clashes since strations, an activist group says. of this a military coup nearly three The Karen and other ethnic mi- spurious months ago threw the country nority forces based in frontier re- report is in no way into crisis. gions have supported the largely related to human The Karen National Union (KNU), urban-based pro-democracy oppo- rights, but to an Myanmar’s oldest rebel force, said nents of the junta. ongoing attempt by it had captured the army camp on HRW to undermine the State of the west bank of the Salween river, Israel’s right to exist as the nation which forms the border with PRE-DAWN ATTACK state of the Jewish people Thailand. meeting at the weekend they had In Tuesday’s fighting, villagers on the Thai side of MICHAEL BITON | The Myanmar military later hit reached a consensus with the junta the river said heavy gunfire started before dawn. STRATEGIC AFFAIRS MINISTER, ISRAEL back against the insurgents with air on steps to end violence and promote strikes, the KNU and Thai author- dialogue between the rival Myanmar Video posted on social media showed flames and smoke on the forested hillside and KNU forces had ities said. The fighting took place sides. The outbreak of hostilities in captured the outpost, the group’s head of foreign We have a as the junta, in a setback for diplo- the border area shifted the focus of affairs, Saw Taw Nee, told Reuters. The Myanmar PRESS TRUST OF INDIA The idea of a swap of global matic efforts by the Association of opposition to the junta away from military later mounted air strikes, Saw Taw Nee said. There was no word on casu- prisoners has always Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the pro-democracy protests that alties and 450 Thai villagers were moved away from the border to safety, the Thai Tehran, April 27: Iran said Tuesday been on the agenda and comprehensive said it would “positively” consider have taken place in cities and towns military said. The Myanmar army made no comment. It has historically portrayed that it was seeking the release of all adding they should be strategic the bloc’s suggestions to end the across the country since the coup itself as the one institution that can keep together the ethnically diverse country Iranian prisoners held in the US released because of humane partnership with turmoil in Myanmar but only when on Feb 1. of more than 53 million people. About 24,000 people are sheltering in the jungle amid talks in Vienna meant to bring concerns India. But the stability was restored. The military overthrew the after being displaced in recent weeks by violence near the Thai border. Tehran and Washington back into the secretary has been clear this is not The ASEAN leaders said after elected government of Aung San nuclear deal between Iran and world ALI RABIEI | CABINET SPOKESPERSON, IRAN about shots in arms in return for powers. political favours, in return for any Cabinet spokesperson Ali Rabiei also prisoner release in less than two sort of transactionalism hinted that another exchange of pris- weeks. NED PRICE | Palestinians plan IN SYNC oners between Iran and America was Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON, US possible, saying that “the idea of a Saeed Khatibzadeh last week made to call off elections swap of prisoners has always been on comments suggesting Tehran hopes PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the agenda and adding they should be to swing a major prisoner swap as part SHORT TAKES released because of “humane con- of ongoing negotiations in Vienna. A Jerusalem, April 27: Egyptian of- cerns.” Rabiei did not offer details similar swap accompanied the 2015 ficials say the Palestinian au- on how many Iranians are held in nuclear deal with world powers. Oz suspends thority plans to call off its first elec- the U.S. and claimed that releasing Iranian media in recent days iden- Indian flights tions in 15 years, citing Israel’s their names could harm them. However, tified seven Iranians in US custody refusal to allow voting in east he said, “their number is bigger than by name while the US regularly asks Melbourne: Australia Jerusalem. that of American prisoners in Iran.” Iran to release American prisoners, Tuesday suspended all direct The decision would effectively In 2019, a prisoner exchange saw including Siamak and Baquer passenger flights from India grant Israel a veto over the hold- Iran free a Chinese-American scholar Namazi, who are serving 10-year with immediate effect until ing of elections, though President May 15 due to the “very from Princeton who had been held prison sentences on spying charges. significant” spike in COVID-19 Mahmoud Abbas could also ben- for three years on widely criticized As nuclear talks are about to get un- cases, Prime Minister Scott efit from the cancelling a vote in espionage charges. At the time, derway Tuesday in Vienna following Morrison announced. which his fractured Fatah party Tehran said American authorities a brief break, Tehran has been in- Morrison, announcing the is expected to lose power and in- were holding about 20 Iranian na- sisting that the U.S. lift all sanctions temporary border closure fluence to the Islamic militant tionals in jail. imposed under then-President Donald with India, also launched an group Hamas. Iran has expressed readiness for Trump after he pulled America out immediate support package An Egyptian diplomat and an in- prisoner swaps with the US. When of the nuclear deal, including those for the country in its fight telligence official said they had they do take place, the exchanges not related to its nuclear program. against the ongoing been briefed on the decision, which are seen as rare diplomatic break- Meanwhile, Washington has said coronavirus crisis. will be announced Thursday at a throughs between Tehran and Iran needs to comply with all re- meeting of Palestinian factions. Washington. Tuesday, Rabiei said strictions imposed under the deal. In They said Egypt is in talks with Iranian judiciary has also voiced response to Trump’s withdrawal, Chad against Israel to reach a compromise to “readiness” for a swap. His remarks Iran has gradually violated the terms allow the vote but those efforts Turkish soldiers attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Turkish memorial to mark the 106th anniversary of the World marked the second statement by of the accord, including limits on ura- military transition have so far failed. War I battle of Gallipoli in Canakkale, Turkey REUTERS Iranian officials on a possible nium enrichment. N’Djamena (Chad): Thousands of people protested and two people were killed in Chad Tuesday Lanka Cabinet approves proposal Court restricts Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation in demonstrations against the rule of a transitional military council headed by the son of to ban burqa in public places PRESS TRUST OF INDIA and many of his aides and associ- The regional sites began the late President Idriss Deby ates were arrested or facing crim- their own investigations of graft by Itno, who was killed last PRESS TRUST OF INDIA full face will automatically in- Moscow, April 27: A court in inal charges. local officials and recruited ac- week. Those killed in violence clude burqa and niqab. Moscow ruled Tuesday to restrict Monday, the prosecutor’s office tivists, some of whom later ran for surrounding the protests Colombo, April 27: Sri Lankan The proposal now must be ap- the activities of an organisation ordered Navalny’s offices in dozens public offices themselves. The lo- include a man shot dead in Cabinet Tuesday approved a pro- proved by Parliament to become founded by imprisoned Russian op- of Russian regions to suspend their cations also were instrumental in Moundou, in southern Chad, posal to ban all forms of face cov- a law. Last month, Pakistan’s High position leader Alexei Navalny, activities, prompting them to ef- organizing nationwide rallies in and another person who died erings in public places, citing a Commissioner to Sri Lanka pending a decision on whether it fectively shut down. The Tuesday support of Navalny this year. in the capital. threat to national security. Ambassador Saad Khattak had should be outlawed as an extrem- ruling on the foundation just barred Navalny himself was ar- However, wearing face masks criticised the proposal to ban the ist group. it from performing certain activi- rested in January upon his return to combat COVID-19 is allowed. wearing of burqas in the coun- The Moscow City Court’s ruling ties. Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer repre- high-ranking Russian officials with from Germany, where he spent five B’Baria massacre The move came weeks after try, saying such “divisive steps” in on Navalny’s Foundation for senting the foundation, said the or- exposes on corruption, many in months recovering from a nerve Minister of Public Security the name of security will not only Fighting Corruption came amid a ganization is no longer allowed to the form of colorful and widely agent poisoning that he blames on to oust Hasina Sarath Weerasekara signed a hurt the sentiments of Muslims sweeping crackdown on Russian use the media or the internet to watched YouTube videos. the Kremlin — accusations that Dhaka: Zakaria Khan, militant paper in March, seeking the ap- but also strengthen wider appre- President Vladimir Putin most distribute content or to organize One of its latest posts, which re- Russian officials reject. leader of Hefazat-e-Islam, has proval of the Cabinet to ban hensions about the fundamental prominent critic, his allies and his rallies and public events, take part ceived 116 million views, alleges The arrest triggered protests confessed that the violence burqas -- outer garments that human rights of minorities in the political infrastructure. in elections or use bank deposits. that a lavish palace on the Black Sea across Russia that proved to be the was conducted in compliance cover the body and face worn by island nation. The Moscow prosecutor’s office Restrictions on the foundation, shore was built for Putin through biggest show of defiance in years. with the instruction of some Muslim women. Meanwhile, Weerasekera in a petitioned the court this month to however, will not disrupt its work, an elaborate corruption scheme. However, they didn't stop authorities Hefajat’s central leaders as The Cabinet has decided to ban Facebook post wrote that the label the foundation and Navalny’s director Ivan Zhdanov said on so- The Kremlin has denied there are from putting Navalny on trial for vio- part of a plan to oust the all forms of face coverings in pub- Cabinet has approved the pro- network of regional offices as ex- cial media, arguing that most of any links to Putin. lating the terms of a suspended sen- ruling pro-liberation war lic places, Cabinet spokesperson posal to ban all face coverings, in- tremist groups and effectively out- the restrictions don’t apply to the Along with the foundation, tence while he was in Germany. The government, led by Sheikh and information minister Keheliya cluding the burqa. law their activities, exposing mem- anti-corruption organization’s ac- Navalny set up a vast network of re- sentence stemmed from a 2014 em- Hasina. Police have arrested 10 militants including Rambukwella told reporters here, The Buddhist-majority nation bers and supporters to lengthy tivities. gional offices in dozens of Russian bezzlement conviction widely that Brahmanbaria district unit without specifying burqas. in 2019 had temporarily banned prison terms. “Some nonsense,” Zhdanov regions when he was campaigning Navalny has characterized as politically assistant publicity affairs “All forms of face covers are wearing of burqas under emer- If the court grants the request, tweeted. “(These) aren’t going to to run against Putin in the 2018 motivated. He was ordered to serve secretary of the militant a threat to national security,” gency regulations following the it would be a crippling blow to influence our work in any way.” presidential election. He eventu- 2½ years in prison and last month outfit Mufti Maulana Zakaria he said. The covering of the Easter Sunday attacks. Navalny’s beleaguered team. He Navalny’s foundation opened 10 ally was barred from running but was transferred to a penal colony no- Khan at midnight Sunday. has been in prison since January, years ago and has since targeted kept the infrastructure in place. torious for its harsh conditions. Rush to hospitals, big gatherings Soviet documents reveal cover-ups at Chernobyl worsen India’s Covid crisis: WHO AFTER A BOTCHED SAFETY TEST IN THE FOURTH REACTOR OF THE PLANT, CLOUDS OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FROM CHERNOBYL SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF EUROPE IN WHAT REMAINS THE WORLD’S WORST NUCLEAR DISASTER REUTERS GENEVA, April 27: People in REUTERS gencies” at the plant in 1984, it added. to radiation-related illnesses such India are rushing unnecessarily “In 1983, the Moscow leadership as cancer, although the total death to hospital, exacerbating a crisis Ukraine, April 27: The Soviet received information that the toll and long-term health effects re- over surging Covid-19 infections Union knew the Chernobyl nuclear Chernobyl nuclear power plant was main a subject of intense debate. caused by mass gatherings, more plant was dangerous and covered up one of the most dangerous nuclear The present day government in contagious variants and low vac- emergencies there before the 1986 power plants in the USSR due to lack Kyiv has highlighted the Soviet au- cination rates, the World Health fewer will need oxygen, he said. disaster, the Ukrainian authorities of safety equipment,” the SBU said. thorities’ bungled handling of the Organization (WHO) said Tuesday. “Currently, part of the problem said as they released documents to When a French journalist col- accident and attempts to cover up India’s death toll is now pushing is that many people rush to the mark the 35th anniversary of the ac- lected water and soil samples from the disaster in the aftermath. The towards 200,000, and hospitals that hospital (also because they do not cident on Monday. the Chernobyl area after the acci- order to evacuate the area came do not have enough oxygen sup- have access to information/ad- After a botched safety test in the dent in 1987, the KGB swapped the only 36 hours after the accident. plies and beds are turning away vice), even though home-based care fourth reactor of the plant, located samples for fake ones in a special “The 35th anniversary of the coronavirus patients. monitoring at home can be managed

in what was then Soviet Ukraine, operation, the SBU cited another Chernobyl tragedy is a reminder The WHO is providing critical equip- very safely,” Jasarevic said.

k y m c clouds of radioactive material from KGB report as saying. of how state-sponsored disinfor- ment and supplies to India, including Community-level centres should Chernobyl spread across much of Thirty-one plant workers and mation, as propagated by the to- 4,000 oxygen concentrators, which screen and triage patients and pro- Europe in what remains the world’s firemen died in the immediate af- talitarian Soviet regime, led to the only require an energy source, WHO vide advice on safe home care, worst nuclear disaster. that was covered up using what a tive rumours”, Ukraine’s security termath of the 1986 disaster, mostly greatest man-made disaster in spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said. Less while information is also made The archives show there was a ra- KGB report at the time called meas- service (SBU) said in a statement from acute radiation sickness. human history,” the foreign min- than 15% of people infected with Covid- available via hotlines or dash- diation release at the plant in 1982 ures “to prevent panic and provoca- Monday. There were separate “emer- Thousands more later succumbed istry said. 19 actually need hospital care and even boards, he said. I have not sold APPLE CAPTURES 48% SHARE IN P11 any of my WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Bitcoin. Tesla sold 10 INDIA PREMIUM PHONE MARKET percent of its holdings Apple maintained its leading position in essentially to prove the India premium smartphone market liquidity of Bitcoin as an with nearly 48 per cent share in the first alternative to holding quarter of 2021. Apple witnessed a cash on balance sheet massive 207 per cent growth

ELON MUSK | TESLA CEO (year-on-year) in India in Q1 2021

k y m business c of the day uote Banks to remain CAIT for action against RBI issues guidelines for appointment closed for 12 A collective initiative of Amazon, Flipkart over the US-India days in May Business Council of the US Chambers of of statutory auditors of banks, NBFCs AGENCIES Commerce, and the non-essential supplies US-India Strategic PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Mumbai, April 27: Banks in India and Partnership Forum and will remain shut for up to 12 days Business Roundtable, the task force Mumbai, April 27: The Reserve in May 2021, including weekends Apart from accusing is committed to get 20,000 oxygen Bank of India Tuesday issued guide- and festivals. Only the gazetted concentrators to India in the next lines for appointment of statutory holidays are observed by banks Flipkart and Amazon of few weeks auditors of banks and non-bank- all over the country. According to delivering non-essential PUNIT RENJEN | DELOITTE CEO ing finance companies (NBFCs), in- the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), cluding housing finance companies. banks in most of the states will re- items amidst the curbs, 'Guidelines for Appointment of main closed May 14, 2021, on ac- CAIT has also charged- Genetek Statutory Central Auditors (SCAs)/ count of Eid-UI-Fitra. In May, both the companies of LifeSciences Statutory Auditors (SAs) of banks including the public sec- ing every item as essential in- will start Commercial Banks (excluding tor, private sector, foreign banks, violating the inventory cluding mobile phones and acces- production of RRBs), UCBs and NBFCs (includ- cooperative banks and regional control norms sories," the CAIT alleged. remdesivir ing HFCs)' will be applicable for fi- banks, will observe holidays on The CAIT, further marking its injections, used in nancial year 2021-22 and onwards. May 1, May 7, May 13, May 14 and AGENCIES angst, said that the “government is the treatment of However, non-deposit taking May 26 on account of Labour Day, closing its eyes towards all viola- COVID-19, in Wardha (Maharashtra) NBFCs with asset size below `1,000 THE GUIDELINES PROVIDE joint audit of a minimum of two Jumat-ul-Vida, Id-Ul-Fitr, Akshaya Mumbai, April 27: The tions” by the e-commerce compa- from Wednesday crore have the option to continue NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS FOR audit firms. All other entities should Tritiya and Buddha Pournima, Confederation of All India Traders nies as they are “larger than life cor- NITIN GADKARI | UNION MINISTER with their extant procedure. APPOINTMENT OF SCAS/SAS, THE appoint a minimum of one audit respectively. (CAIT) Tuesday wrote to Union porations”. The guidelines provide neces- NUMBER OF AUDITORS, THEIR firm for conducting statutory audit. Minister for Commerce and The letter by the traders' body to sary instructions for appointment ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, TENURE "It shall be ensured that joint May 2, May 8, May 9, Industry Piyush Goyal seeking ac- Goyal comes days after a number A good of SCAs/SAs, the number of au- AND ROTATION, ETC. auditors of the entity do not have May 16, May 22, May tion against e-commerce giants of state governments imposed lock- number of ditors, their eligibility criteria, any common partners and they Flipkart and Amazon for “sup- down-like curbs, providing only a on-deposit anks and Covid tenure and rotation, etc. while en- are not under the same network of 23 and May 30 are plying non-essential items” amid four-to-five-hour window to shops taking UCBs will be survivors will opt for N B suring the independence of audi- NBFCs with required to take audit firms. Further, the entity weekly off days for the COVID-19 restrictions imposed selling essential items including life insurance in the tors, the Reserve Bank said. asset size below prior approval may finalise the work allocation by several states. groceries. The non-essential shops country. Covid-19 bank employees As the guidelines are being im- `1,000 crore of RBI for among SCAs/SAs, before the com- “Amazon and Flipkart are mak- and establishments have been asked survivors are now plemented for the first time for have the option appointment/rea mencement of the statutory audit, ing illegitimate financial gains by to completely remain shut. coming for life insurance, more so Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) to continue with ppointment of in consultation with their However, banks will not be closed supplying non-essential items which The e-commerce activities are al- post the raging second wave of the and NBFCs from 2021-22, "they shall their extant SCAs/SAs, on an SCAs/SAs," it said. for all five days for all states as have been strictly prohibited by lowed throughout the day in most pandemic. have the flexibility to adopt these procedure annual basis The guidelines further said that holidays vary from state to state. many state administrations due of the states, but are restricted to VIBHA PADALKAR | MD AND CEO OF HDFC guidelines from the second half of in order to protect the independ- The list of holidays given below has to ongoing lockdowns to prevent the only essential deliveries. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LTD FY 2021-22, in order to ensure that SCAs/SAs, on an annual basis, ence of the auditors/audit firms, been notified by RBI under the spread of COVID-19,” the traders’ The CAIT, apart from accusing there is no disruption". the guidelines said. entities will have to appoint the Negotiable Instruments Act. body stated in its letter to Goyal. Flipkart and Amazon of delivering Banks and UCBs will be re- For entities with an asset size SCAs/SAs for a continuous pe- In addition, May 2, May 8, May Amidst the raging pandemic, non-essential items amidst the SHORT TAKES quired to take prior approval of of `15,000 crore and above as at the riod of three years, subject to the 9, May 16, May 22, May 23 and the foreign e-commerce companies curbs, has also accused both the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for ap- end of previous year, statutory firms satisfying the eligibility May 30 are weekly off days for are trying to "capture the market companies of violating the inven- pointment/reappointment of audit should be conducted under norms each year. bank employees. share from small traders by defin- tory control policy. Toyota buys Lyft’s self-driving unit San Francisco: Toyota is SC allows Vedanta’s Tuticorin O plant to operate acquiring the autonomous Allow debt recast 2 car division of ride-hailing platform and Uber rival Lyft VEDANTA SHALL “There cannot be political bick- for $550 million, as the self- ering in this Court. We are in a na- driving car industry begins to for borrowers of NOT BE ALLOWED tional crisis, we have to support grow. Woven Planet Holdings, TO ENTER, OPERATE nation as a court. It’s a national a subsidiary of Toyota, will calamity.” it said. The top court acquire Lyft’s self-driving COPPER SMELTING also directed the Ministry of division, Level 5, for $550 NBFCs: FIDC to RBI Environment and Forests to form million in cash. Toyota has PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PLANT UNDER GARB a three-member panel of environ- provided $200 million to Lyft OF THIS ORDER, mental experts from Tamil Nadu. and the $350 million will be Mumbai, April 27: The Finance The victims of the Vedanta cri- paid out to Lyft over five Industry Development Council SAYS SC sis can choose two out of them to years. The ride-hailing (FIDC) has written to the Reserve company says it will see an be in the committee. If the victims annual savings of $100 Bank seeking restructuring of PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ing plant under the garb of this The bench asked Vedanta to sub- fail to nominate such members million of non-GAAP stressed retail and individual bor- order and that permission to oper- mit a list of technical and non-tech- within 48 hours, the State should expenses. rowers of non-banking finance com- New Delhi, April 27: The Supreme ate oxygen plant would not create nical staff to the committee who are nominate the members, it said. panies, irrespective of whether these Court Tuesday allowed Vedanta to any equity in the company’s favour. essential to run the oxygen plant. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, loans have been restructured earlier. operate its closed oxygen plant at A bench of Justices DY It said the order allowing Vedanta appearing for the organisation of af- In a letter written to the RBI Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, saying Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao to operate its oxygen plant would be fected families, contended that he Promoters of Governor Shaktikanta Das, the in- the order has been passed in view and S Ravindra Bhat directed the in operation till July 31, 2021 after is not averse to the idea of oxygen Indiabulls booked dustry body also requested loan nancial institutions like Sidbi, of “national need” for oxygen and Tamil Nadu government to form an that it will assess the ground situ- production but history of litiga- recast for smaller NBFCs, having Nabsamruddhi and Nabkisan and there should be no political bickering oversight committee to oversee the ation of the COVID-19 pandemic. tion shows Vedanta has tried sev- Mumbai: The Maharashtra asset size of less than `500 crore. large NBFCs. These smaller players over the generation of the gas by the functioning of the plant which While submissions were being eral times to restart the plant and Police has booked Indiabulls “Considering the severe second do not have access to the capital company as the country is facing a would include District Collector made raising various issues con- take people inside. group companies, including wave of COVID-19, the retail bor- markets and they do not issue bonds. “national crisis”. and Superintendent of Police (SP) nected with the plant, the bench The bench then said,we are not its flagship Indiabulls rowers, including the MSMEs, as also “We therefore submit that these The apex court made it clear that of Tuticorin, District Environmental said, “We are in a national crisis hearing appeal against Madras High Housing Finance (IBHL), for the retail and wholesale trader in- small NBFCs may be given the ben- Vedanta shall not be allowed to Engineer, Sub-Collector Tuticorin today where people are dying due Court order. “We are only dealing allegedly siphoning off funds dustry shall be in urgent need of sup- efit of getting their loans restruc- enter and operate its copper smelt- and two government officials. to the lack of oxygen.” with restarting oxygen plant.” and for accounting irregularities committed by port from the lenders, to revive their tured (one-time) from banks and fi- the promoters and directors economic activities,” FIDC said re- nancial institutions (FIs),” the of the company between questing extension of the restruc- FIDC said. It said the restructur- 2014 and 2020. A first turing scheme till March 31, 2022. ing will ensure that these small JSPL to divest coal fired power business information report was It said the borrower accounts, ir- NBFCs remain eligible for further registered by the Palghar respective of whether or not such bank finance, there is no mismatch INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE with the extant relevant guidelines. police April 13 under various accounts had been ‘restructured’ on in their asset liability position and “This divestment is in line with sections of Indian Penal Code any earlier occasion and which will help them to support their New Delhi, April 27: Jindal Steel our ESG objectives to be amongst dealing with cheating, fraud are ‘standard’ accounts as on March wholesale and retail borrowers & Power has accepted a binding the top 10 lowest Co2 emitting steel and criminal conspiracy. 31, 2021, may be allowed ‘restruc- with fresh credit. offer from Worldone Private to di- companies of the world. It is yet an- turing’ without any downgrade in The industry body also urged vest its 96.42 per cent stake in Jindal other step towards our vision to asset classification. the RBI to increase the overall sup- Power, a material subsidiary of the reduce debt substantially and cre- Maruti Suzuki Q4 However, this will be subject to port outlay to All India Financial company. ate a robust balance sheet for our the lending NBFCs undertaking Institutions (AIFIs) – Nabard, Sidbi, As per a JSPL statement, the di- in State of Chhattisgarh and other investors and stakeholders,” said VR profit declines fresh credit assessment of the bor- NHB and Exim Bank- from `50,000 vestment is in line with the com- non-core assets owned by JPL,” Sharma, MD, JSPL. ` New Delhi: India’s largest car rowing entity, it said. crore to at least 75,000 crore. pany’s strategic objective to con- the statement said. “Looking to the future, JSPL will manufacturer Maruti Suzuki The industry body urged the RBI “While the existing allocation tinuously reduce its debt, focus on According to the company, the be a key growth driver in the Indian India Tuesday reported a to allow standstill on buckets for for other sectors may continue its ‘India Steel’ business and sig- divestment is subject to receipt of steel industry and will now focus standalone net profit of restructured accounts for the first at their prescribed limits, the ad- nificantly reduce its carbon footprint requisite approvals including ap- on undertaking expansion of its `1,166.1 crore for the quarter quarter of FY22. The letter further ditional `25,000 crore may be made by almost half as part of its ESG ob- proval from shareholders of JSPL, Angul steel plant from 6 MTPA to ended March 31, 2021 said the only mode of borrowings available exclusively to medium jectives. “The equity value is an approval from lenders of JPL and 12 MTPA. Infrastructure spending (Q4FY21). It was down 9.72 for the smaller NBFCs (having asset and small NBFCs, through Sidbi all-cash offer of `3,015 crores for 96.42 JSPL, and such other statutory ap- in India is bound to grow expo- per cent from previous year’s size of less than `500 crore) is to for a period of three years,” the per cent stake in JPL including provals, consents, permissions and nentially and JSPL is fully aligned profit of `1,291.7 crore on raise term loans from banks, fi- letter said. 3,400 MW Coal fired power plants sanctions as may be necessary in line with GoI's vision,.” account of lower sales volume, increase in commodity prices, adverse foreign exchange movement, and lower non-operating India’s 4G subscriber base may grow to 820mn in FY22: Crisil income. In the December quarter, PAT stood at `1,941.4 crore. On a The active subscriber market share data indicates Jio and Airtel, are neck and neck, with neither ready to bite the bullet and raise tariff consolidated basis, the net profit slipped 6.1 per cent to `1,241.1 crore. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA The build-up in competitive in- (OTT) content and lower entry of subscriber churn. Also, given tensity also indicates that the in- points for upgrade customers, the the restrictions in major cities, Mumbai, April 27: Bharti Airtel dustry is unlikely to see unanimous report said. smartphone sales are likely to be im- and Reliance Jio are neck and neck tariff hikes at least in the near It said Jio’s recently launched pacted as well, which would slow 4G Fuel prices in terms of active mobile sub- term, limiting a large upside in av- JioPhone 2021 plans offering hand- subscriber additions in the current unchanged scriptions, and hence the industry erage revenue per user (ARPU) in sets along with one and two-year un- quarter, it said. is unlikely to see any unanimous tar- fiscal year 2022, it added. limited calling validity for `1,499 The pace of additions should New Delhi: Petrol and diesel iff hikes in 2021-22, a report said The report said there is a uni- and `1,999, respectively, is repre- pick up gradually over the re- prices remained unchanged Tuesday. verse of 250-300 million active non- sentative of the same. mainder of this fiscal as com- on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. In Domestic credit rating agency 4G subscriber base which will be on Individual players will most likely petitive intensity in the wireless- the national capital, petrol is Crisil’s research wing pointed out the radar of the telcos for conver- increase tariffs on selected plans telecom market increases, the ` being sold at 90.40 per litre, that there is a close contest between sion to 4G users in order to increase given their immediate need to im- report said. ` and diesel is priced at 80.73 the top two telcos, when one goes by revenues. prove ARPU, it said. While all play- In the best case, 4G subscribers per litre, according to the active subscriber base with Jio's While competition to attract this ers agree that tariff hikes are para- may rise to 820 million by the end Indian Oil Corporation. In

share at 33.7 per cent and Airtel’s user base did exist before, inadequate mount, they have differing levels of of this fiscal year from 720 million

k y m Mumbai, the price of petrol is c at 33.6 per cent. `96.83 per litre and diesel is ₹ spectrum and 4G coverage made urgency to implement the hikes. in 2020-21 end, assuming restric- 87.81 per litre, according to The active subscriber market operators err on the side of cau- With the onset of the second tions last only for the current quar- the state-run oil refiner. share data indicates the top two tion, it said, adding that with the re- aggression by the players to gain competition will be indirect in the wave of the pandemic and the re- ter. In the bear case, where lock- Currently, fuel prices are the players are neck and neck, with cent spectrum acquisition, telcos are market share. form of tie-ups with smartphone sultant restrictions, there is once downs extend through the second highest in Mumbai among neither ready to bite the bullet and well-positioned to handle any surge However, a price war like the one manufactures for low-cost phones, again reverse migration of labour. quarter, the number will reach 800- the four metro cities. raise tariffs, it said. in data traffic, leading to increased seen before 2019 is unlikely and increased bundling of over the top That could mean another quarter 810 million, it said. P12 WEDNESDAY | APRIL 28 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

IPL foreign recruits

k k y y m m c assured safe return c RCB BEAT DC IN THRILLER PRESS TRUST OF INDIA AGENCIES New Delhi, April 27: The BCCI Kuggeleijn replaces Tuesday said it would do every- Ahmedabad, April 27: So near Richardson for RCB thing to ensure that foreign play- yet so far – this was the situation for ers competing in the IPL reach Delhi Capitals as they lost by just AHMEDABAD: New Zealand their respective countries seam- one run in their IPL encounter pacer Scott Kuggeleijn was AB de Villiers lessely once the tournament ends, against Royal Challengers Bangalore Tuesday announced as a a day after three Australians quit replacement for Kane became the here, Tuesday. the event amid an upsurge of rying on. “As some of you have Richardson in the Royal Chasing a competitive 172, skip- quickest to reach COVID-19 cases in India. Challengers Bangalore squad for said, ‘if we can help distract peo- per Rishabh Pant (58 n o, 48b, 6x4) and the remainder of IPL 14. Along 5,000 runs in IPL Andrew Tye (Rajasthan Royals) ple from all the troubles of recent Shimron Hetmyer (53 n o, 25b, 2x4, with compatriot Adam Zampa, and the duo of Kane Richardson and times, even if it is for a short while, 4x6) almost pulled it off for Delhi de- Australian Richardson Monday in terms of balls Adam Zampa (both Royal we have done a great job’. When you spite their side being reduced to quit the tournament midway faced as he Challengers Bangalore) withdrew all walk out onto the field, you are 92/4 in 12.4 overs. The duo added citing personal reasons in the as apprehension set in after a cou- bringing hope to millions of peo- an unbeaten 78 runs in just 7.2 overs. wake of a second COVID-19 wave achieved the feat ple of weeks went by smoothly for ple who have tuned in. Delhi were needed to score 14 off in the country. The Aussie on his 161st the league held in front of empty “If, even for a minute, you can the final over – bowled by cricketer flew back to his nation stands across six venues. bring a smile on someone’s face, Mohammed Siraj, but they man- as the cases of Covid-19 kept innings facing “We understand that many of then you have done well. While aged to score only four runs off the mounting in India. Kuggeleijn, 3,228 balls. He you are apprehensive about how you you are professionals and will play first four delivery including a dot who has been part of the IPL will get back home once the tour- to win, this time you are also play- ball. Pant struck a couple of bound- bubble as a reserve for Mumbai surpassed SRH’s nament concludes... We want to ing for something much more im- aries off the last two balls but it Indians, moved to RCB as a David Warner apprise you that you have nothing portant,” he concluded. was not enough. replacement for Richardson, to worry about,” BCCI COO The letter also stated that the Delhi lost their top three – Prithvi ‘ESPNcricinfo’ reported. No (135 innings, 3554 Hemang Amin said in a letter ad- teams will no longer be allowed to Shaw (21), Shikhar Dhawan (6) and replacement has been named yet dressed to the players. order food from outside. “...Earlier for leg-spinner Zampa. Richardson balls). Suresh Steve Smith (4) – in 7.2 overs with “The BCCI will do everything in the tournament, we had per- and Zampa are set to be flying the scoreboard reading 47/3. Pant Raina, who is to ensure that you reach your re- back to their country from mitted food deliveries from out- and Marcus Stoinis (22) tried up Mumbai, Tuesday night via Doha. third in the list, is spective destinations seamlessely. side your designated hotels, but the ante with 45 runs stand before The BCCI is monitoring the situ- these privileges have also been the Australian all-rounder perished ing his first match of the season, the quickest (173 ation very closely and is working withdrawn. Apart from this, we off Harshal Patel (2/37). got rid of the dangerous Padikkal. innings, 3620 with the government authorities to have also increased our level of Earlier, the ever-reliable AB de With two new batsmen in the balls) among make arrangements to get you caution to strengthen our bio-bub- Villiers (75 n o, 42b, 3x4, 5x6) hit an middle, the seasoned speedster went home once the tournament con- bles,” it said. “I am sure you will un- unbeaten half century to power on to bowl a wicket maiden to slow Indians cludes. derstand and co-operate with us RCB to 171/5. It was a collective ef- down the proceedings as RCB col- “Be rest assured that the tour- on these steps taken to strengthen fort from the Delhi bowlers – Ishant lected 36/2 in the Powerplay. nament is not over for BCCI till the bubble.” Sharma (1/26), Axar Patel (1/33), Maxwell played a short cameo each one of you has reached your Several England and New Kagiso Rabada (1/38), Amit Mishra but was caught at long on by com- home, safe and sound,” he added. Zealand players are also competing (1/27), Avesh Khan (1/24) – who all patriot Smith of leggie Mishra as India is recording over three in the event but haven’t yet spo- picked one wicket apiece. RCB reached 68/3 at the halfway lakh daily cases for the past few days ken about their concerns. The IPL De Villiers hit 22 runs off the mark. Patidar and De Villiers stead- and the health infrastructure is final is scheduled to be held May 30 last over bowled by Stoinis (0/23) that ied the ship by stitching a 54-run struggling to handle the rise with in Ahmedabad. included three sixes. Rajat Patidar stand but all-rounder Axar, who shortage of oxygen and some cru- As many as 14 Australian play- (31) and Glenn Maxwell (25) also accounted for the Indian in the 15th cial medicines adding to the crisis. ers remain in the event, including provided valuable contributions. over. Barring De Villiers all RCB bats- Australia, Tuesday, suspended stars such as Steve Smith (DC), Put in to bat, Devdutt Padikkal men were guilty off not capitalis- all direct passenger flights from David Warner (SunRisers (17) and skipper Virat Kohli (12) ing on good starts. India with immediate effect until Hyderabad) and Pat Cummins were off to a flying start, amassing BRIEF SCORES May 15 due to the “very signifi- (Kolkata Knight Riders), as well 30 runs in 3.5 overs. However, that Royal Challengers Bangalore cant” spike in COVID-19 cases. as coaches Ricky Ponting (DC) and changed as DC bowlers affected 171/5 (AB de Villiers 75 n o, Rajat Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Simon Katich (RCB). back-to-back blows. Patidar 31, Glenn Maxwell 25; Avesh David Hussey acknowledged that Commentators Matthew Hayden, Pacer Avesh provided the Capitals Khan 1/24, Ishant Sharma 1/26) Australians in the IPL are a “bit Brett Lee, Michael Slater and Lisa with the first breakthrough, dis- beat Delhi Capitals 170/4 (Rishabh nervous” about getting back home Sthalekar are also among the missing the RCB captain in the fourth Pant 58 n o, Shimron Hetmyer 53 n in the wake of the situation here. Australians involved with the league over. In the very next ball, Ishant, play- o; Harshal Patel 2/37) by 1 run. Amin lauded the players for car- right now. CSK favourites against SRH Goa play out draw vs Al Rayyan PRESS TRUST OF INDIA PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NATARAJAN GOES Margao, April 27: FC Goa con- New Delhi, April 27: Operating like UNDER THE KNIFE ceded an 89th minute goal to squan- a well-oiled unit, Chennai Super der the chance to become the first Kings will start as overwhelming NEW DELHI: India’s Indian club to win a match in the favourites when they clash with yorker sensation T prestigious AFC Champions struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad Natarajan Tuesday League (ACL) as they played out in an Indian Premier League (IPL) underwent a sur- a 1-1 draw with Al Rayyan of Qatar gery to treat a match, here Wednesday. here Monday. knee injury that The MS Dhoni-led CSK have had ruled him out Jorge Ortiz gave FC Goa the bounced back in style after losing of IPL-14. The SRH pacer was ruled lead in the third minute of the the opening match. They are on a out of the League last week due to Group E match but Ali Ferydoon roll with four straight wins and the injury that he originally picked up equalised with just a minute left will hope that the new venue – during the tour of Australia earlier in the regulation time. Al Rayyan Feroze Shah Kotla ground – also this year. He thanked the BCCI and had the majority of possession in favours them. ing assault on Harshal Patel in the team’s Indian middle order to step medical team for looking after him. the first half but it was an even con- The three-time champions had an final over shut out RCB Sunday. He up has cost SRH more often than not “Today, I underwent knee surgery test in the second session. underwhelming 2020 season but has been among the wickets with and the think-tank needs to get the and am grateful for the expertise, The Indian Super League side the team, packed with seasoned his accurate left-arm spin apart combination right if they have to attention and kindness of the medical went out of reckoning for a knock- players, is now displaying the effi- from effecting stunning run-outs. move out of the last spot on the team, surgeons, doctors, nurses and out berth after Al Wahda of the ciency it is known for. Openers – Faf du Plessis and points table which they currently staff. I’m grateful to @bcci and to all UAE beat last season runners-up All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has Ruturaj Gaikwad – have found form occupy. that have wished well for me,” Persepolis FC 1-0 in another Group been the driving force behind CSK’s while Suresh Raina and Ambati Warner needs to shrug off his Natarajan tweeted. The 30-year-old E match played earlier in the day. impressive run so far. His blister- Rayudu are due for big knocks. The poor run and for that he needs to ne- Natarajan had played only two games Persepolis are still on the top CSK batters are aware of the Rashid gotiate CSK pacer Deepak Chahar, for SRH this season. It is understood group standings with 12 points that he had never fully recovered Khan threat but the rest of the SRH who has impressive ability to strike while Al Wahda are second with from the knee injury because of TODAY’S MATCH 10 points. FC Goa are third with attack doesn’t inspire much confi- upfront, well. Apart from Chahar, heavy workload he endured on the dence. spin all-rounder Jadeja and vet- tour of Australia. three points and Al Rayyan at the CSK SRH Hyderabad rely heavily on their eran Imran Tahir along with Sam bottom with two points. foreign recruits, led by skipper Curran form a strong CSK bowling patchy with the experienced All the four teams have one David Warner, opener Jonny unit. Bhuvneshwar Kumar lacking con- match remaining in the double Bairstow, Kiwi great Kane SRH will need one of Warner, sistency while the absence of yorker round-robin league. The top team Jorge Ortiz, who put FC Goa ahead against Al Rayyan, in action, Monday Williamson and Rashid, which is a Bairstow and Williamson to go big specialist T Natarajan due to in- in each of the five groups TIME 7.30 PM cause for concern. and hope that the middle-order can jury is a huge blow. It’s an onerous and three best runners-up sides draw with Al Rayyan in their first 2 and 0-4 in the double header. FC Their biggest weakness is a frag- make a meaningful contribution task for SRH to revive their for- advance to the Round of 16 leg match before holding Al Wahda Goa’s last match against Al Wahda Telecast: Star Sports channels ile batting order and over-reliance to thwart CSK. tunes with the limited resources knock-outs. to another goalless draw. The Goan Thursday will thus be an incon- on the top order. The inability of the The Hyderabad bowling has been they have at their disposal. FC Goa had played out a 0-0 side then lost to Persepolis FC 1- sequential one. LEE DONATES BITCOIN FOR Foxes move closer to Champions League

ASSOCIATED PRESS to Leicester goalkeeper Kasper FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 Schmeichel. Leicester, April 27: Kelechi Iheanacho’s hot streak could push PRESS TRUST OF INDIA One bitcoin was trading at over Iheanacho extended his career-best Leicester over the line in the race `40 lakh, Tuesday evening. Bitcoin scoring form with a blistering win- for Champions League qualifica- New Delhi, April 27: Inspired by is not considered legal tender in ning goal as Leicester rallied to tion, too. The win cemented third his countryman Pat Cummins’ ges- India but that has not stopped Lee, beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in the English place for Brendan Rodgers’ team, ture, former Australian pacer Brett one of the fastest bowlers to have Premier League and establish a which is four points ahead of Chelsea Lee on Tuesday decided to donate played the game, from lending a seven-point cushion in the top four. in fourth and seven clear of West one bitcoin (approximately `40 helping hand. The Nigeria striker made it 14 Ham in fifth. Liverpool is a point fur- lakh) to help India in its fight against Like Cummins, who plays for goals in his last 14 games in all ther behind, with all four teams the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, competitions — and brought having five games to play. Cummins, Monday, won lots of Lee is also in India as part of the Champions League qualification The Foxes faded away badly at the hearts when he announced a USD IPL commentary panel. one step closer for Leicester — end of last season to drop out of 50,000 donation towards the PM “Now is the time to be united when he brought down a long ball the top four on the final weekend. CARES Fund for oxygen supplies and ensure we do as much as we can forward from Jonny Evans, cut in- That doesn’t look like happening this in India’s hospitals ravaged by a to help the ones in need. I’d also want side and smashed a rising shot with time, with a second year in the deadly second wave of the pan- to thank all the frontline workers little back-lift inside the near post Champions League — after 2016- demic. India,” Lee said in a statement who have been working round the in the 80th minute. Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates his winner against Crystal Palace, Monday 17 — looking likely even after a “It saddens me deeply to see peo- which he posted on Twitter. clock during these tough times. Iheanacho had earlier set up grueling season that included a y ple suffering due to the ongoing “India has always been like a “I request people to please take Timothy Castagne for the 50th- teammates Harvey Barnes and the team’s talisman and most likely Europa League campaign.

pandemic. I feel privileged to be in second home for me. The love and care, stay at home, wash your hands minute equaliser, which canceled James Maddison. scorer. Leicester’s win left Liverpool

k k y y m m c c a position of making a difference affection that I have got from the peo- and head out only if absolutely out Wilfried Zaha’s opening goal It is his first lengthy stint in the The brilliant finish, which saw with even slimmer hopes of qual- and with that in mind, I’d like to do- ple of this country both during my necessary, wear a mask and main- for Palace, and is proving to be a rev- starting lineup since joining from Iheanacho shift the ball onto his ifying for the Champions League, nate 1 BTC (Bitcoin) to Crypto Relief professional career and even after tain social distancing. Well done elation in the second half of the Manchester City in the offseason of favored left foot and shoot before the just a year after Jurgen Klopp’s to help with the purchase of oxy- my retirement, holds a special place Pat Cummins for the initiative yes- season after coming into the team 2017 and he is even outshining strike defender and goalkeeper in front of team won the league for the first time gen supplies for the hospitals across in my heart.” terday,” Lee said. in February because of injuries to partner Jamie Vardy, for so long him were set, came as no surprise in 30 years.

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