y k y cm AAHANA SEEKS MIN’S HELP HAPPIEST COUNTRY SERIES-DECIDER TODAY Actor Aahana Kumra seeks help of Union For a fourth consecutive year, Finland has been After levelling the series with a win in the Health Minister to get Covid vax ranked the world’s happiest country, a fourth T20I, India look to seal series against England in final match certificates for her parents LEISURE | P2 UN report said INTERNATIONAL | P10 SPORTS | P12 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 347 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | SATURDAY, MARCH 20 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00 IRREGULAR by MANJUL Centre will control mines POST NEWS NETWORK New Delhi, March 19: The Lok Sabha Friday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021, that empowers the Union government to auction mines and issue directions with regard to utilisation of District Mineral Now, dial 112 for He wants a copy of every Foundation (DMF) funds. govt advertisement so that he can The Bill empowers the Union gov- know what he is doing for the people ernment to notify the mining area and all emergencies conduct auction in cases where the state governments fail to notify the area SHORT TAKES or conduct auction in order to ensure POST NEWS NETWORK women and elderly persons. auction of more number of mineral The CM exhorted the po- blocks on regular basis for continuous Bhubaneswar, March 19: lice officials ‘to work for the Centre to HC: Block supply of minerals in the country. Chief Minister Naveen safety, dignity and welfare of Union minister of coal and mines Patnaik Friday launched the all by providing faster, WA’s policy update Pralhad Joshi, while moving the Bill, infrastructure project,” Joshi said. Section 9B of the amendment Bill that Emergency Response prompter and immediate n The amended Bill empowers the said the country has potential like He also congratulated the Odisha empowers the Union government to Support System (ERSS), response during emergency Union government to issue New Delhi: The Centre Friday South Africa and Australia but still government for its performance in under which people in dis- and distress.’ Patnaik also in- directions with regard to utilisation issue directions for utilisation of DMF urged the Delhi High Court to imports minerals like gold and coal. auction of mines and said the state funds. He said that this provision should tress can avail the services augurated the state-of-the- restrain Facebook-owned of District Mineral Foundation funds “The reform in the mining sector had given several suggestions and the be couched as it has the potential to whit- of police, fire and ambu- art State Emergency WhatsApp from implementing n It also empowers the Centre to take its new privacy policy and would generate 55 lakh direct and indirect ministry has incorporated them in the tle down the powers of the state. lance by dialing 112 in place Response Centre at IDCO over the auction process if state terms of service which are to employment opportunities. To enhance amendment Bill. However, the BJD supported the Bill in of multiple emergency num- tower at Mancheswar on the governments fail to auction mines take effect from May 15. The mining activity, we will allow the private Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) the Lok Sabha and requested the Union bers like 100 (police), 102 and occasion. He also flagged off Ministry of Electronics and sector with enhanced technology in has flagged concerns over some of the minister to take its suggestions 108 (ambulance) and 101 (fire). the Emergency Response Information Technology made mineral exploration,” Joshi said. amendments which empower the Union powers should be done very sparingly on board. While launching the serv- Vehicles fitted with mobile the statement in its affidavit The Bill also allows the transfer of government to issue directions with re- and only in exceptional circumstances Congress MP from Koraput Saptagiri ice, Patnaik said, “From data terminals. filed in response to a petition clearances to the next bidder once the gard to utilisation of DMF funds and to and that this should not become an Ulaka highlighted the condition of now on, people will have to The state government challenging the new privacy lease period is over. The Union minister take over the auction process if state gov- excuse for these powers to be contin- mining districts of the state. “Most of dial only a single number had earlier allocated `157.12 policy of social networking said a miner needs around 23 clearances ernments fail to auction the mines. uously exercised and to take away and the mining areas are occupied by tribal ‘112’ for all their emergency crore for proper imple- platform WhatsApp. to start mining operations after the al- BJD parliamentary party leader in whittle down the powers that the state people, who are unskilled. A mining needs.” He also lauded the mentation of the project. lotment of lease. “This will take years the Lower House Pinaki Misra opined governments have under the company does not provide employment state police for its efforts in As many as 2,500 additional together. Now we have decided that these that the Bill does tend to give the Union Constitution with regard to the to the tribal youths and instead hires introducing this single-num- posts have been created for President arrives clearances should normally be trans- government excessive powers. mining sector.” skilled people from other parts of the ber service which will be smooth running of the in city today ferred to the new owner like any other Misra said, “The exercise of these He also flagged concerns over the country,” Ulaka said. beneficial for all, especially ERSS project. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Odisha from March 20 to 22, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Paddy to be procured Bhavan Friday said. He will reach Bhubaneswar Saturday evening. The president will grace the 18th annual from all listed farmers convocation of NIT Rourkela Sunday. On the same day, he will inaugurate a super will continue till March 31, he said. specialty hospital in Rourkela Swain said Chief Minister Naveen Steel Plant, it said. On March Patnaik has directed the authorities con- 22, the President will visit the cerned to ensure that registered farmers India Oil Foundation Trust did not face problems in selling their pro- Interpretation Centre at Konark, duce in the state. before returning to New Delhi, The total paddy procured in this kharif the statement said. P4 season is 18 per cent higher than last year’s kharif season. Till date, 11.50 lakh farm- ers have sold their paddy to the government MARKET WATCH against 9.3 lakh last year which indicates more participation of farmers, Swain said. INDEX VARIATION The minister called upon the MLAs to report if they find any genuine farmer de- SENSEX 49858.24 641.72 prived of selling his paddy so that neces- sary steps can be taken to resolve the issue. BOURSES NIFTY 14744.00 186.10 The government is taking all possible steps DOLLAR 73.00 `0.01 to ensure smooth and hassle-free paddy POST NEWS NETWORK procurement in the state, Swain added. EURO 86.17 `0.43 However, the minister's statement failed CURRENCY Bhubaneswar, March 19: The six-day to pacify the Opposition. Leader of GOLD `44,900 `65 long stalemate in the Assembly over the Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik said the SILVER `67,325 `465 paddy procurement issue came to an end government has cheated them and as- BULLION Friday after Food Supplies and Consumer serted that they would not allow the House Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain to function until all the paddy is procured assured the House that paddy would be pro- from the farmers. The BJP members also WEATHER cured from all registered farmers in the staged protest in the House for not allow- state till March 31. ing them to speak during the Zero Hour. BHUB CTK As per the instruction of Speaker SN Congress legislature party leader MAX 39.2° 38.8° Patro, Swain made a fresh statement in the Narasingha Mishra sat on a dharna near Assembly on the issue. The minister in- the Speaker's podium as he was not given TEMP MIN 24.0° 22.0° Forecast formed that in the current kharif mar- more time to speak on the issue. Other Humidity 89% 82% Fog/mist keting season, 61.24 lakh tonnes of paddy party MLAs also joined Mishra. The in the worth `11,441 crore has been procured in Speaker adjourned the House multiple Rainfall Nil Nil morning the state so far. The procurement process times following din. For how many generations will reservations continue, asks SC PRESS TRUST OF INDIA you continue,” observed the bench, which also comprised New Delhi, March 19: For Justices L Nageswara Rao, S how many generations would Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta reservations in jobs and edu- and S Ravindra Bhat. cation continue, the Supreme The bench said 70 years Court sought to know during have passed since the Maratha quota case hear- Independence and the states ing Friday and raised concerns have been carrying on so many over “resultant inequality” in beneficial schemes and “can case the overall 50 per cent changed circumstances. weaker sections also breached we accept that no develop- limit was to be removed. Arguing in favour of the the 50 per cent cap. ment has taken place, that no y A five-judge Constitution Maharashtra law granting “If there is no 50 per cent or backward caste has moved bench headed by Justice Ashok quota to Marathas, Rohatgi no limit, as you are suggesting, forward”.