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IRREGULAR by MANJUL

It was a horrible year.We had to manage 3

full days without a maid

SHORT TAKES

London: The coronavirusvaccine designed by scientistsat the University of Oxford andproduced by AstraZeneca wasWednesday approved forhuman use by the UK’sindependent regulator. Theapproval by Medicines andHealthcare productsRegulatory Agency (MHRA)means the vaccine is both safe and effective. P10

Oxford vaccineapproved by UK

12 PAGES | `4.00BHUBANESWAR | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 | 2020

WEATHERBHUB

28.7° 28.8°CTK

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Humidity 92% 88%Rainfall Nil Nil

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in themorning

16.0°

Actor Ileana D’Cruz says strength isn’t always just a big dramaticshow of bravado

DEFINING STRENGTHSixteen persons killed in blast, gunfire in Yemen after plane carrying newgovernment lands

BLAST IN YEMEN

INTERNATIONAL | P10LEISURE | P2

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa urges‘missing’ UK returnees to cooperatewith government TWO STATES | P8

TACKLING NEW STRAIN

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 269 | www.orissapost.com

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: In the wakeof the high profile rape and murder caseof a minor girl in Nayagarh district,Chief Minister Naveen PatnaikWednesday announced the creationof a special wing in the police de-partment to curb rising cases of crimeagainst women and children.

The announcement was made atthe valedictory session of 62nd seniorpolice officers’ conference, 2020 viavideoconferencing.

“Crime against women and chil-dren remains our focus area. I herebyannounce creation of Special wing inOdisha Police to look after offencesagainst women and children. I expectthat with these initiatives, qualityservices will be provided to the womenand children,” the CM said.

Expressing concern over low con-viction rate in the state, Patnaik askedsenior cops to take all possible stepsto enhance conviction rate by factor-ing in modern technology into the in-vestigation.

“Road Safety is another area of con-cern. Road accident related fatalitiesare very high in the state. There is aneed to take up preventive and en-forcement initiatives as well as publicawareness campaigns in coordination

with other stakeholders like Transport,Works department etc. to bring downsuch fatalities,” he said.

Stating that the law and order situ-ation in the state remained peaceful in2020, Naveen said, “A progressive andsustainable improvement has been no-

ticed in the Left Wing Extremism sit-uation. Two brave hearts laid downtheir lives this year in the fight againstMaoists. Families of the martyrs shouldbe taken care of by the state police.”

As the LWE problem is dynamic innature and keeps changing, he asked

the police officers to closely monitor itand continue to take focused efforts. Hecommended the work of SPs ofMalkangiri and Kandhamal in thisconnection. He also appreciated the ef-forts of SP, Keonjhar and Angul forthe overall improvement in the in-dustrial atmosphere.

The Chief Minister also lauded theoverall effort of Odisha police in han-dling the pandemic with compassionand empathy. While doing so manypolice personnel have laid down theirlives in the line of duty. He paid hom-age to the departed souls and assuredtheir families of all support.

Speaking on 5T and Mo Sarkar ini-

tiatives, the Chief Minister said, “It issatisfying to see that the feedbacktaken under Mo Sarkar has been verypositive. Though certain good initia-tives under 5T in Odisha Police havebeen taken up, there is a need to in-crease the same.”

Within record time, special familypension has been sanctioned to 38next of kin. Similarly, 29 next of kinhave received `50 Lakh ex-gratia com-pensation and rest should be processedwithout any delay. He also lauded the930 police personnel who have vol-untarily donated plasma for treat-ment of Covid patients for their spiritof service.

He congratulated the state policefor organising an effective drive againstnarcotic drugs throughout the statewith the STF taking the lead. A recordquantity of narcotics has been seized.Commendable work has been done byDIG, STF and SP, Koraput.

However, special drive against or-ganized crime and extortion should becarried out with more focused efforts,he told the cops. On this occasion, theCM inaugurated six police stations atAngul Sadar in Angul district,Bharatpur in Bhubaneswar,Jharsuguda Sadar in Jharsuguda,Belaguntha in Ganjam, and Sabrangand Pirahat in Bhadrak district.

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Patna, Dec 30: Defection of JD(U)MLAs to the BJP in ArunachalPradesh and the resultant cold vibesbetween the partners in the rulingcoalition in Bihar, seem to havekindled fresh hopes in the RJDwhich has ended up heading theopposition here despite being the sin-gle largest party.

Shyam Rajak, a former nationalgeneral secretary of the JD(U)who joined RJD shortly beforethe recent assembly elections,Wednesday sought to fish in thetroubled waters with the claimthat 17 MLAs of Chief MinisterNitish Kumar’s party were willingto cross over.

They are all feeling stifled in thecurrent dispensation where the CMappears to have capitulated before

a domineering BJP. They are will-ing to switch sides as soon as pos-sible, Rajak, who was the JD(U)’sdeputy leader in the previous as-sembly, said here.

He claimed en masse defection ofthe JD(U) MLAs has been put onhold since the RJD hoped that morewould like to follow suit soon which

would raise the number sufficientlyenough to cause a split, tenableunder the anti-defection law in theparty which has 43 MLAs.

At the JD(U) national execu-tive meeting here Sunday, theparty adopted a resolution con-demning the violation of the spiritof coalition politics in the north-

eastern state.K C Tyagi, the party’s outspo-

ken national general secretary andspokesman, asserted that events inArunachal will not cast a shadowin Bihar but admitted that the JD(U)had felt aahat (hurt).

BJP leaders here have insistedthat the party did not poach the

JD(U) MLAs in Arunachal Pradeshwhere legislators recently switchedsides of their own accord.

However, RJD national vice-pres-ident Shivanand Tiwary has main-tained that a common link ranthrough the Arunachal Pradeshdefections and the rebellion by LJP.

The LJP could not have donewhat it did in the assembly pollswithout the BJP’s tacit approval,Tiwary, who was formerly withthe JD(U), said.

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Legendary Odia musicDirector Shantanu Mohapatra died here, fam-ily sources said on Wednesday. He was 84.

Mohapatra was suffering from old age re-lated ailments and finally succumbed to pneu-monia and cardiac failure Tuesday night. Alarge number of people paid their last respectto the music maestro at his Palaspalli residence.

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Andhra PradeshGovernor B B Harichandan, Odisha ChiefMinister Naveen Patnaik, Union MinisterDharmendra Pradhan and many dignitaries

condoled thedemise ofMohapatra.

In a condo-lence mes-sage, Lal saidSantanuMohapatrawas part ofOdisha musicfor almost sixdecades andhe will be re-membered byall for long.

Patnaik de-scribed

Mohapatra as an ‘Unfading Talent’. As a lyricistand music director, he has left the shining sig-nature of his talent. The music directed by himwill keep him immortal forever, the chief min-ister said. Noting that Odisha has lost a talent,Patnaik announced state honour for the de-parted music director.

Apart from Odia, Mohapatra also worked indifferent languages. He composed the first mod-ern Odia ballad Konark Gatha with lyrics by lyri-cist Gurukrushna Goswami and sung by AkshayMohanty. He also wrote ‘Kalijae’ which wassung by Sikandar Alam. More on P2

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: OdishaPolice has failed to utilise funds earmarked for modern-ization of the force in recentyears, as per a report by Bureauof Police Research andDevelopment (BPRD).

Every year, the force receivesgrants from both the state andcentral government to upgradeits infrastructure and capacityto meet emerging challenges ininternal security.

“The focus of the scheme is onstrengthening of the police in-frastructure by way of con-struction of secure and peoplefriendly Police Stations, PoliceOutposts, Police Housing,

Improved Mobility, ModernWeaponry, Computerization,Communication Equipment,Moder n Traf fic ControlEquipment, etc,” stated the report.

As per the report, the force got`68.91 crore for modernisation

out of the total `3,559.51 croreearmarked for the police forcein the state’s annual budget forthe year 2018-19. However, theBPRD report reveals that OdishaPolice managed to spend only`41.49 crore out of the total

budget during 2018-19, whilethe rest is still unspent.

Similarly, Odisha police re-ceived `35.10 crore as mod-ernisation grant from the cen-tral government and`23.40 fromthe state government duringthe financial year 2018-19.

The force could only spend`14.89 crore out of the combined`58.50 crore it received as grantin the period.

On similar lines, the force re-ceived`42.45 crore from the cen-tral government and`28.3 crorefrom the state government asmodernisation grant during2019-20 financial year. As perthe report, the force police spenta meager `6.8 crore out of thetotal `70.75 grant it received.

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Followinga nine-month hiatus, cinema hallsand theatres in the state are all setto reopen with 50 per cent capacityfrom January 1.

In its unlock guidelines for themonth of January, the state gov-ernment stated, “Cinema halls,theatres will be allowed to openwith up to 50 per cent of capacityand operate as per SOPs issued bythe Government of India/ StateGovernment in that regard.”

However, reopening of open airtheatres and entertainment parksalong with ‘jatras’ will be permit-ted by the local authorities (dis-trict collector, municipal commis-sioner or any officer authorised

by them) subject to compliance ofsafety protocols such as manda-tory wearing of face masks andphysical distancing among others.

The School & Mass Education,Higher Education and SkillDevelopment & TechnicalEducation departments will de-cide the date of re-opening of ed-ucational institutions under theircontrol in a graded manner.

Higher education institutionswill continue to open for researchscholars and post-graduate studentsin science and technology stream re-quiring laboratory work. Medical col-leges will also remain open.

However, examinations (acade-mic, competitive and entrancetests), evaluation and other ad-ministrative activities will con-tinue in the state, as per the order.

All Anganwadi Centres will con-tinue to remain closed till January31, 2021 and the arrangement forsupply of ration to the benefici-aries will continue.

Social/religious/sports & othergatherings will be allowed with aceiling of 200 persons and fu-neral/last rites related gatheringswith a ceiling of 100 persons.

AGENCIES

New Delhi, Dec 30: The govern-ment and farm unions reachedsome common ground Wednesdayto resolve protesting farmers’ con-cerns over rise in power tariffand penalties for stubble burn-ing, but the two sides remaineddeadlocked over the main con-tentious issues of the repeal ofthree farm laws and a legal guar-antee for MSP.

After nearly five hours of thesixth round of negotiations be-tween three union ministers anda 41-member representative groupof thousands farmers protestingon Delhi borders, AgricultureMinister Narendra Singh Tomarsaid at least 50 per cent resolu-tion has been reached with mutualagreement on two out of four itemson the agenda and discussionswould continue on the remainingtwo January 4.

"Discussions on the three farmlaws and MSP are continuing andwill continue in the next round oftalks on January 4," Tomar told re-porters after the meeting ended.

He said talks were held in a cor-dial atmosphere and the two sidesreached an agreement on two is-sues -- one relating to the proposedelectricity law and the other aboutan ordinance on penal provisionsfor stubble burning.

POST NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi, Dec 30: TheCabinet Committee onEconomic affairs headedby Prime Minister NarendraModi Wednesday approveda`3,000 crore project to turnParadip Port world-class bysetting up a dock.

The project fo-cuses on‘Deepening andOptimization ofInner HarbourFacilities in-cludingDevelopment ofWestern Dockon Build,Operate andTransfer (BOT) basis underPublic-Private Partnership(PPP) mode to handle capesize vessels at Paradip Port.’

Addressing media on theissue, Union Petroleum andNatural Gas MinisterDharmendra Pradhan andUnion Minister of State forPorts, Shipping and water-ways (I/C) MansukhMandaviya informed thatthe estimated cost of theproject is `3,004.63 crore.

This includes developmentof the new Western Dock onBOT basis and capital dredg-ing by the selected conces-sionaire at a cost of `2,040crore and `352.13 crore re-spectively. It has also beeninformed that there will beinvestments to the tune of`612.50 crore towards pro-

viding CommonSupportingProjectInfrastructure.

“On com-missioning ofthe project, itshall cater tothe require-ment of coal &limestone im-

ports besides export of gran-ulated slag and finished steelproducts,” DharmendraPradhan said.

“The Concession periodshall be 30 years from thedate of Award of Concession.Paradip Port Trust(Concessioning Authority)shall provide the CommonSupporting ProjectInfrastructure works to fa-cilitate handling of cape sizevessels,” the ministry said.

MUSIC MAESTROSHANTANU DIES,TRIBUTES POUR IN

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ALLIANCE IN TROUBLE

RJD claimed that as many as17 JDU MLAs were willing

to defect to BJP after theArunachal Pradesh episode

If the CM pulls out of NDA,there will be a realignment

between the RJD and theJD(U), the party said

`3,000 crore Paradipport project okayed

Nitish should give upthe CM’s chair. He

should help Tejashwiform the new governmentand the RJD would return thefavour by backing him as PMcandidateUDAY NARAYAN CHAUDHARY I RJD LEADER

RJD seeks to fish in troubled NDA waters in Bihar

NEW WING FOR WOMEN, CHILD SAFETY

Police modernisation: Funds lie idle Consensus withfarmers on twoissues, says govt

New Delhi: Extending thedeadline for the third time,the government onWednesday allowedindividuals to file income taxreturns for 2019-20 fiscal tillJanuary 10. The deadline forcompanies and individualswho need to get theiraccounts audited too havebeen extended by 15 days tillFebruary 15, the financeministry said in a statement.

Last date for ITR filing now Jan 10

Cinema halls set to reopen Paradip port inOdisha is one of

the 12 majorports under

the control ofthe Centre

Odisha Policecould only spend

`14.89 crore out ofthe combined `58.50crore it received asgrant in 2018-19

Similarly, the forcespent a meager

`6.8 crore out of thetotal `70.75 grant itreceived in 2019-20

Narendra Singh Tomar

POOR CONVICTION RATE

ODISHA (21.5%) IS FOURTH IN THE LIST OFCONVICTION RATES FOR CRIMES UNDER

IPC AFTER ASSAM (6.7%), BIHAR (13.1%) ANDWB (13.4%)

CM NAVEEN PATNAIK ASKED SENIOR COPSTO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO ENHANCE

THE CONVICTION RATE BY FACTORING INMODERN TECHNOLOGY

HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A NEED TOTAKE UP PREVENTIVE AND ENFORCEMENT

INITIATIVES TO BRING DOWN ROAD FATALITIES

Crime against women andchildren remains our focusarea. I hereby announcecreation of a special wing inOdisha Police to look aftersuch offencesNAVEEN PATNAIK I CM

Police DG Abhay and other senior police officers attend the 62nd seniorpolice officers’ conference at Odisha Police headquarters, Cuttack

SHANTANU MOHAPATRA, AN M.TECH IN APPLIED GEO SCIENCE FROM IIT-KHARAGPUR, WAS A GEOLOGIST BY PROFESSION.BUT HE WAS ALSO THEFIRST MUSIC DIRECTOR TO GET THE HINDI FILMGREATS LIKE, LATAMANGESHKAR, MOHDRAFI, MANNA DE ANDUSHA MANGESHKAR TO SING IN ODIA FILMS

P2 BEEN GREAT PLAYING A DUMB PERSON IN FRIENDS: LISA

leisure Actress Lisa Kudrow, who gained global fameplaying Phoebe Buffay in the popular sitcomFriends, says it has been great playing a dumbperson because people talk much more freelywhen they assume you don’t understand them.

Actress Amanda Seyfried has recalled the timewhen she became obsessed with ghost stories. “Ibecame really obsessed with ghost stories when Iwas young, so my first memory is how comfortableand safe I felt exploring those tales,” she said.

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

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AQUARIUSYou will be on the cloudnine today! With effortsgetting recognised andrewarded, you are moti-vated to beat your on standards and raisethe bar. Not that you have not worked hard,but at work, you may have to put in moreefforts as your bosses expect you to bemore efficient and productive.

PISCESYou will need to enlist thecooperation of your col-leagues while chalking outstrategies at the work-place today, if you desire to make substan-tial progress, says Ganesha. The good newsis that your efforts are likely to fructify.

SAGITTARIUSSelf-righteousness, anda sense of duty set themood for the day today.You'll be a miserlyscrooge in the afternoon. But later in theday, expect dinner with your sweetheartto be extravagant and blissful.

LIBRAHaving an elderly handto guide you and backyou up is always a goodthing. Today promises tobe very advantageous to you when itcomes to gaining from your seniors. It mayhave something to do with your exceptionalskills in building rapport with people, oryour ability to perform truthfully.

SCORPIOGet your family togethertoday and spend most ofthe time with them, saysGanesha. If being practi-cal is important, then have your closefriends over at your place too.

LEOSurviving an earth-quake will seem easiercompared to gettingthrough this day with-out ruffling your feathers, saysGanesha. It is not your best day, andyou shall have to work really hard tomeet your targets today.

VIRGOSunshine time today,says Ganesha. Thespotlight is on you,and it'll be one ofthose excellent days. Difference ofopinions might crop up at work, butstroll over them, says Ganesha. Late inthe day, candles and dinner will makeyou feel blessed. You'll make quite animpression today.

GEMINIIt will be more or less ahassle-free day, predictsGanesha. Some of yourpersonal belongings are very dearto you. But you need not be too pos-sessive about them, especiallywhen you have no options but toshare them with others.

CANCERA lot can happen over acup of coffee, and todaya lot will. Things will bemoving quite swiftlytoday; a little too swiftly to your liking.You will get a lot of authority at theworkplace, and you will use it to thepoint of abuse.

ARIESGanesha says you aregoing to have the time ofyour life; that is if youmake the right plans. At work, there willbe the usual ups and downs. But planthe evening well and you may surpriseyourself. Try candlelights, roses, music...

FORTUNE FORECAST

TAURUSGanesha predicts thatyou will work extremelyhard to meet your targetstoday. The dividends may not be what youanticipated, but do not let that bog youdown. There will be no cause for anxietyor trouble today, says Ganesha.

CAPRICORNYou may have craved fora mini vacation to someplace quaint and peace-ful for long, and wouldhave given up the idea every timebecause of the burgeoning work pres-sure. But it's time to get impulsive. Giveyour imagination a free reign today, andgo where it takes you, for travel is on thecards, and that too with your sweet-heart, says Ganesha.

BREVITY

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS CROSSWORDSUDOKU

SOLUTIONS

CRO

SSW

ORD

SUD

OKU

CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW

post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 0 to 9 and the letters A to E.

WHEN AMANDA SEYFRIED WAS 'OBSESSED' WITH GHOST STORIES

Starting from acclaimed filmmakerManmohan Mohapatra to play-wright Bijoy Mishra, to legendary

actors Bijoy Mohanty and Ajit Das thestate has lost a galaxy of stars thisyear.

The latest addition to the list is leg-endary music composer ShantanuMohapatra.

One of the greatest music directorsto have graced the soil, Shantanu wonnearly 100 awards/honours for hisunique contributions to the field ofmusic in the last 60 years.

He composed music for many block-busters like Suryamukhi, Meghamukti,Priyatama, Agni Parikhya, Dora, JagaBalia, Golamgiri, Ranabhoomi andmany others and was part of a numberof National Award winning movieslike Chilika Tire, Priyatama, AgniParikhya, Megha Mukti, Sitarati andJibana Sangram.

He was also the music director ofaward-winning Hindi films Shodh andBagh Bahadur.

Orissa POST takes a look at the jour-ney of multi-talented ShantanuMohapatra.

BORN TO SINGB o r n i n N ove m b e r 1 9 3 6 a t

Baripada, Mayurbhanj to Soudaminiand Ramesh Mohapatra, Shantanulearnt classical and traditional vocalm u s i c f ro m S a n g e e t N a r aya nBanchhanidhi Panda from the age offive and was ready for public per-formances at state level competi-tions when he was just nine. He wenton to create a storm during the AllOrissa Music Competitions organisedby Utkala Sangeet Samaja, Cuttackby bagging the Best Singer Trophyfor four consecutive years, singingDhrupad, Khayaal, Odissi, Champuand Bhajan.

MAN OF MANY ‘FIRSTS’Shantanu has many firsts to his

credit in the field of Odia Modern/Lightmusic. He composed the first ballad, thefirst lullaby, the first qawali, the firstbhangra tune, the first fusion compo-sition(Classical+Western) in Odia. He,as a music director, also has this uniquedistinction of being the first to get theHindi film greats like, Lata Mangeshkar,Mohd. Rafi, Manna Dey and UshaMangeshkar to sing in Odia films. Andthis is in the 60’s when all of themwere in their peak.

Song: Mayuri Go Tuma Akashe MuFilm: Arundhati Singer: Mohd RafiSong: Aji Mu ShrabaniFilm : ArundhatiSinger : Lata MangeskarSong: Mu Ta Thili Ekutia Banra PakhiFilm : DoraSinger : Suresh WadekarSong: Duniyare Samayara Nai Film : SuryamukhiSinger : Manna DeSong: Sei nila pari desheFilm : Surya mujkhiSingers : Sikander Alam andNirmala Mishra

ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCEn Total Songs Tuned: More than 1,900 in Odia, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Assamese, Sanskrit .n Music directions: In over 50 Films

n 36 music cassettes/CD and 39 LP records (Discs)

n Being a mining expert, he led the massive operation on Bauxite(Aluminium ore) exploration jointly with Geological Survey of India.Successfully explored more than 1800 million tones of Bauxite whichled to the establishment of NALCO (National Aluminium Co.) in Odisha.

n He played a key role in the establishment of NALCO (National Aluminium Co.) in Odishaas the nodal officer in deputation from Govt of Odisha.

Shantanu (2nd from R) with Mohd Rafi (2nd from L) during a recording session

Exit of a wizard

Mumbai: Actress Ileana D’Cruzhas shared what she believes isthe definition of strength.

“Strength isn’t always just abig dramatic show of bravado. Itisn’t always a long monologuefilled with inspirational wordsa n d h a rd h i t t i n g t r u t h s.Sometimes it’s just uncurlingyourself up from that ball oftears and lost confusion, clean-ing yourself up, and steppingout into the world again,” theactress shared on her verifiedInstagram account.

On the work front, Ileana is allset to star in Unfair N Lovely, acomic take on India’s obsessionwith fair skin.

S e t i n t h e b a ck d ro p o fHaryana, the film chronicles thestory of a dusky girl, and will fea-ture Ileana D’Cruz oppositeRandeep Hooda. The film marksthe directorial debut of screen-play writer Balwinder SinghJanjua. IANS

Ileana sharesher definitionof strength

Mumbai: Actress Kritika Kamra says herupcoming web series, Tandav, is engag-ing because of its multi layered charac-ters, and that was a factor that got herhooked to the script.

“I received a call from the castingcompany and was given two pages outof the script to prepare for the audi-tions. The read interested me, and I de-cided to audition for the show.Meanwhile, I also came to know that itwas going to be an Ali Abbas Zafar di-rectorial, and I was sure that it wouldbe a great experience,” Kritika said.

“After two rounds of auditions, I fi-nally got a chance to meet him andthat’s when I got the complete script.While I started reading it, I fell in lovewith Gaurav Solanki’s writing. Theseries is very engaging owing to themulti layered characters and by theend I knew that -- I have to be a partof it, so I agreed for my role ofSana,” she added. IANS

Kritika on whatdrew her to theupcoming series

Tandav

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THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWARHERITAGE STRUCTURE

Atharanala bridge in Puridecorated with ornamentalplants as part of abeautification drive,Wednesday

INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD

World 8,25,46,018 5,85,54,774 18,01,724

India 1,02,44,852 98,34,141 1,48,439

Odisha 3,29,306 3,25,103 1,871

COVID-19 TRACKER

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: All gov-ernment offices across the statewill continue to remain closedSaturdays in January in view ofthe Covid-19 pandemic, as per a no-tification issued by GeneralAdministration and PublicGrievances department, Wednesday.

Offices in Bhubaneswar andCuttack will function with 75 percent strength of employees (allstaffers including Group A offi-cers) during January. The depart-ments/head of of fices inBhubaneswar and Cuttack havebeen given power to decide the man-ner of selection of employees whowill attend office.

However, essential offices and

services like Special ReliefCommissioner (SRC) & OdishaState Disaster ManagementAuthority (OSDMA), police, fire,health & municipal services amongothers will function in full strength.

All government offices and em-ployees have been instructed tostrictly follow all precautionarymeasures issued by the depart-ment, it said.

In case of detection of anyCovid case among the office em-ployees, the office concerned willfo l l ow t h e p ro t o c o l i s s u e d earlier.

The officers/staffers, who have

been provided with VPN will con-tinue to work from home, whennot assigned roster duty. Theymust be available to attend toany office work of urgent nature,at short notice and be availableon telephone at all times, readthe order. Meanwhile, the gov-ernment has put restrictions oncongregation and celebration ofNew Year’s Day in government of-fices. The employees have beenasked to use virtual means forconveying New Year greetings tocolleagues and seniors.

Weekend holiday for govt staff to continueOffices in Bhubaneswar and

Cuttack will function with 75per cent strength of employeesduring January

All government offices andemployees have been

instructed to strictly follow allprecautionary measures

The government has putrestrictions on congregation

and celebration of New Year’sDay in government offices

NO COMPLACENCY

No Zero Night, NYD bash in stateBhubaneswar: In view of Covid-19, state government has prohibitedcelebration of Zero Night and New Year Day parties in public places.“Congregation in public places including hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks,convention halls, kalyan mandaps, etc. for Zero Night celebration/ welcometo New Year/similar other function on December 31, 2020 and January 1,2021 will remain prohibited throughout the state,” read an order issued byChief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Wednesday. Usually, a large number of peoplecongregate in hotels, restaurants, clubs, parks and other public places forZero Night celebration on the eve of New Year. Since such congregationshave large potential of spreading Covid-19 infection, the state governmenthas imposed the order in public interest. Any person found violating thisorder will be punished under the provisions of the Disaster ManagementAct, 2005 and other relevant laws, warned the government.

ESSENTIAL OFFICESAND SERVICES LIKESRC & OSDMA, POLICE,FIRE, HEALTH ANDMUNICIPAL SERVICESWILL FUNCTIONIN FULL STRENGTH

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Amidstconcern over spread of a new vari-ant of Covid-19, about 12 returneesfrom the United Kingdom (UK) arestill untraceable as civic authori-ties have failed to establish anycontacts with them.

As per information provided bythe Bhubaneswar MunicipalCorporation (BMC), about 62 pas-sengers had arrived here from theUK. Out of these, 50 have been con-tacted, but others are still out ofreach. Meanwhile, out of the 50contacted, tests have been con-ducted on 15 persons.

“We have formed six specialsearch teams to find the where-abouts of the people. Earlier, we hadreceived a list of 20 travellers whohad returned from the UK. We con-tacted all of them and only threetravellers tested positive for Covid-19. Their swab samples have beensent to National Institute of Virology(NIV), Pune for genome sequenc-ing to verify if they carry the newCovid strain.”

It’s worth mentioning here thatDirector of Public Health, DrNiranjan Mishra, had stated that181 passengers had returned toOdisha from the UK betweenNovember 30 and December 21.These returnees are said to have dis-persed to 18 districts of Odisha.Out of them, a majority were fromthe Capital city followed by Ganjam.

“Though at least 92 of them hadgiven only their phone numbersand vague addresses, we couldreach out to around 65 of themthrough persistent efforts. There isnothing for these returnees toworry about. We will study theirgenome sequence and are follow-ing the SOP issued by the Centre,”the Director had mentioned.

12 UK returneesstill untraceable PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Odisha’sCovid-19 tally mounted to 3, 29,306 Wednesday as 305 more peopletested positive for the infection,while three fresh fatalities pushedthe state's coronavirus death tollto 1,871, a Health and FamilyWelfare (H&FW) department of-ficial said.

As many as 174 new cases werereported in quarantine centres,while 131 infections were detectedduring contact tracing, he said.

Sundargarh and Sambalpurdistricts registered the highestnumber of new cases at 28 each,followed by Angul (26), the offi-cial said. The fresh fatalities werereported in Bhadrak, Bolangirand Puri districts, he said.

Fifty-three coronavirus patientshave died due to comorbidities,the official said. Khurda district,under which Bhubaneswar falls,has reported the highest numberof fatalities at 322, followed byGanjam (246), Sundargarh (166)and Cuttack (138), he said.

The state now has 2, 607 activecoronavirus cases, while 3, 24, 775people have been cured of the dis-ease so far, the official said.

305 new Covid cases pushstate tally to 3, 29, 306

Food safety officials examine synthetic paneer seized from a bus at OMP Square in Cuttack, Wednesday. Around a quintal of synthetic paneer was being brought to the Silver city from Kolkata OP PHOTO

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: The stateunit of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) Wednesday objected theOdisha government’s plan to takecredit for pucca houses built in thestate under Central schemes.

BJP leader PrithvirajHarichandan Wednesday objectedto the new plan of the state gov-ernment to paste posters on puccahouses built under schemes of theCentre. He said, “The state gov-ernment had started setting wrongprecedence by pasting the postersof their own on the houses con-structed under central scheme.People are now fumed with the mal-practices. Many villagers are ask-ing such people in the governmentto go back.”

He also said, “We are going to

protest against the proposed planof the government to have jointposters of the Centre and the stateon the works done under Centralschemes. We will continue ourfight against this. The Chief

Minister has planned to misleadthe people on the issue. The gov-ernment now plans to send lettersto the beneficiaries from the CM.We want such misleading lettersbe taken back.”

Harichandan said that the partywanted that the government mustclarify as to which houses werebuilt under which scheme and thatthe new plan of revised posters islikely to add more financial bur-den on the government. “It has al-ready spent funds on the olderposters. Earlier, the governmenthas already spent upto Rs 10 croreon the works,” he said.

The BLP leader said that PrimeMinister Narendra Modi hasvowed to provide pucca housesto all and actions are now beingtaken on the same accordingly.He requested the state to help inachieving the target.

The BJD, however, countered theallegations. BJD spokesperson LeninMohanty said, “Odisha providesalmost the same amount of finan-cial resources/funds that the Centre

provides for the housing pro-grammes in Odisha. The success ofhaving built 20 lakh houses in only5 years by the BJD government hasunnerved the BJP in Odisha.”

He also added, “Harichandan'sstatement is a reflection of thefear and anger within OdishaBJP relating to the success ofthe pro-poor, pro-people housingdevelopment programmes inOdisha under leadership of CMNaveen Patnaik.”

BJP slams govt for ‘mileage’ over pucca housesWe are going to protestagainst the proposed planof the government to have joint postersof the Centre and the state on the worksdone under Central schemesPRITHVIRAJ HARICHANDAN I BJP LEADER

Harichandan's statement is a reflectionof the fear and anger within Odisha BJPrelating to the success of the pro-poor,pro-people housing developmentprogrammes in Odisha underleadership of CM Naveen PatnaikLENIN MOHANTY I BJD SPOKESPERSON

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: BJPleader and Bhubaneswar MPAparajita Sarangi Wednesdaysought a consensus among thepolitical parties and the people ofthe state on simultaneous elec-tions in the country.

“The Union government is goingto take a historic decision and theOdisha BJP is going to support thesame. On November 26, 2020, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi had briefedelection officials of Gujarat andtalked about ‘One Nation OneElection’ and termed the same asnational need,” she said.

Sarangi said that under his vi-sion, different activities have startedacross the state. “In Odisha, we or-ganised a webinar and tried to in-teract with the people. Our na-

tional spokesperson Sambit Patraand national party leader VinaySahsrabuddhe took part in the elec-tions,” she said

The Lok Sabha MP said that theEC has been entrusted with thetask of conducting elections, enu-meration of voters and other worksbut multiple elections often leadto burden on state resources and ad-ministration. “Rs 450 crore wasspent on EVM machines alone dur-ing the last elections,” she said.

“Earlier, state elections and theLok Sabha elections used to takeplace simultaneously. However, theearlier governments dissolved sev-eral state assemblies and imposedPresident’s Rule in the states in1968-69. Later, the Parliament wasalso dissolved and due to these ac-tivities, the two elections started tak-ing place differently,” she said.

APARAJITA FOR CONSENSUS ON SIMULTANEOUS POLLS

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Takingstern action against corrupt offi-cials, the state gover nmentWednesday gave compulsory re-tirement to six tainted officialswith immediate effect. Of the sixofficials, four are engineers andtwo from Excise department.

By the order of Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik, compulsory re-tirement has been given to the cor-rupt and inefficient officials. Theofficials are: Ajit Kumar Debata(deputy executive engineer of ruralworks division, Keonjhar), JitendraKumar Dalai (assistant engineer,quality control department of R&Bdivision, Cuttack), Bijay Parida(assistant engineer, rural workssection-1, Karanjia, Mayurbhanjdistrict), Ganeswar Sethi (assis-

tant engineer, R&B division-II,Bhubaneswar), Jayadeep Patnaik(deputy superintendent of excise)and Rihaz Ahmed Beg (ExciseInspector, Sundargarh). They wereasked to take retirement for al-leged corruptions and indisciplineactivities.

Action against the engineeringstaffers has been taken for cor-ruption charges. Two Excise de-partment officials have been askedto take retirement on the basis ofallegations of misbehaviour, dere-liction of duty and inefficiency.

6 tainted officialsshown the door

Two Excise officials wereasked to take retirementover allegations of misbehaviour, derelictionof duty and inefficiency

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Intensifyingits drive against littering in publicand open spaces, the BhubaneswarMunicipal Corporation (BMC) col-lected penalties over Rs 1.61 lakhfrom different shops and estab-lishments in two days.

Carrying out enforcement drivesin the three zones, the civic au-thority is reported to have collectedRs 1,61,650 as fine from 1,970 shopsand commercial establishmentsfor littering the public places sinceMonday. Two shops were also sealedduring the drive.

“As per an earlier order issuedby BMC for penalising thosefound dumping garbage in openand not using dustbins we carriedthe enforcement drive. On thefirst day of enforcement, we hadinspected 620 shops and imposedRs 41,750 penalty. Meanwhile, onsecond day a total of Rs 1.19 lakhwere imposed on 1,350 shops,”

said a senior officer of the en-forcement squad.

L a u n c h e d u n d e r ‘ M uSafaiwala’ campaign, the civicauthority in November hadpassed an official order banningany sort of littering in publicspaces. However, it was foundthat shops and other entities arenot following the thumb rule ofkeeping dustbins in their units,

thereby not contributing in clean-liness of the city.

Speaking on the fines imposed,BMC Commissioner Prem ChandraChaudhary said, “Initially, we hadconduced awareness drives and in-formed shopkeepers to strictly usedustbins. Our objective is not tomake profits out of penalties but toenforce efficient hygiene and cleanenvironment for the city.”

Violators pay for littering City THE BMC IS REPORTEDTO HAVE COLLECTEDRS 1,61,650 FINE FROM1,970 SHOPS AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR LITTERING THEPUBLIC PLACES IN CITYSINCE MONDAY

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30:East CoastRailway (ECoR) General ManagerVidya Bhushan Wednesday laid thefoundation stone for constructionof a Rail Heritage Museum atChandrasekharpur here in thepresence of Additional GeneralManager, Sudhir Kumar, and otherprincipal heads of ECoR depts.

The objective to establish the railmuseum at Bhubaneswar is topreserve the old railway equip-ment, showcase the rich history ofRailways in this region, enlightenthe public about railways and itsachievements and boost tourism.

Old equipment, instruments,technology devices and modelswill also be preserved in theHeritage Museum through an im-pressive display of artifacts, mod-els and photographs. In the in-door section, various documents,old manuals, railway maps, equip-ment and others will be placed.

Rail museum in City on the cards

POST NEWS NETWORK

Cuttack, Dec 30: A miscellaneouscase with regard to the allegedmurder of a minor girl at Jadupurin Nayagarh was filed in OrissaHigh Court, Wednesday.

Surendra Panigrahiof Bharatiya VikashParishad filed the mis-cellaneous case and urged the HCto take steps to conduct polygraphtest of Babuli Nayak of Nayagarh.

In their FIR with police, the vic-tim’s parents had alleged the in-volvement of Nayak in the inci-dent. However, a SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT), formedby the state government, has ar-rested Saroj Sethy of Jadupur inconnection with the murder. TheSIT claimed that Sethy raped theminor girl after killing her.

The petitioner also urged the

HC to order for a CBI probeinto the incident. In his pe-

tition, Panigrahi informed thecourt that the State Forensic ScienceLaboratory, Bhubaneswar, has failedto determine the semen stain foundfrom the victim’s frock.

Panigrahi had earlier filed a mis-cellaneous case in the HC and soughtpolygraph test on SIT chief ArunBothra. He had also pleaded for aCBI investigation into the case.

A division bench of Justice BRSarangi and Justice PramathPatnaik would take up Panigrahi’spetitions January 12.

Plea in HC for polygraph test of Babuli Nayak

MINOR GIRLMURDER

SYNTHETIC PANEER Promotion for 35senior IAS officers POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Ahead ofthe New Year’s Day celebrations, thestate government has given pro-motions to 35 senior IAS officers.

Sanjeev Chopra, a 1990-batchIAS officer, has been promoted tothe Additional Chief Secretaryrank while three 1996-batch IASofficers—Saswata Mishra, VirVikram Yadav and Vishal KumarDev – have been promoted toPrincipal Secretary rank.

Similarly, eight 2005-batch officerswere promoted to Super Time Scale.The officers are: R Vineel Krishna,Ratnakar Rout, Dasarathi Satpathy,Prafulla Chandra Pradhan, AnjanKumar Manik, Benudhar Behera,Suresh Chandra Dalai andDebendra Kumar Jena.

As many as 12 IAS officers of

2008 batch have been promoted toSelection Grade. The officers are:Bhupendra Singh Poonia, YaminiSarangi, M Muthukumar, BParameswaran, Guha PoonamTapas Kumar, Maguni CharanPatra, Brundaban Behera,Dhananjaya Hembram, GangadharPatra, Pabitra Mandal, Sunil KumarNayak and Batakrishna Dehury.

Seven 2012-batch IAS officersand four 2017-batch officers havebeen promoted to JuniorAdministrative Grade and SeniorTime Scale.

Sanjeev Chopra, a 1990-batch IAS officer,has been promoted toAdditional ChiefSecretary rank

State ready for nCoVvaccine dry runPOST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: The stategovernment Wednesday expressedits readiness to conduct dry runof Covid-19 vaccines.

State Director of MedicalEducation and Training (DMET)CBK Mohanty Wednesday saidthat the vaccine dry run is like amock drill where the coordinatedefforts undertaken by the gov-ernment are analysed under theprogramme.

“This will see how the vacci-nation can reach from the manu-facturer to the beneficiaries. Thiswill reflect the need of the chainand the bottlenecks. The dry rundirections are given by the Uniongovernment, which directed fourstates to conduct the same. Odishawas not in the list. Odisha has al-ready been doing vaccination pro-grammes and when needed, wecan conduct the same. We areready for the same,” he said.

power post P4

In the book/film ‘Sophie’s Choice’, the protagonist is forced to choose be-tween the lives of her two children. How would you decide? Many meateaters try to justify killing animals by claiming they can neither feel nor

think. They place intelligence as the primary criterion that warrants con-tinuation on the planet. Here is proof that all creatures great and small areboth wise and wonderful.

Let’s start small. Look how social insects, like bumblebees, can solvecomplex non-natural tasks. A research team trained bumblebees to pull ona string in order to access a sugar water treat. The bees that acquired thestring-pulling skill were labelled ‘innovators’. Twenty-five untrained beeswatched the innovator bees solve the puzzle. About 60 per cent of these‘naïve’ bees learned just by watching trained bees. The team then introduceda single innovator bee to three separate colonies of untrained bees. The skillspread quickly and half of the untrained bees gained the ability by learn-ing from the innovator bee. Even after the original innovator bee died, theskill continued to be passed on to future generations. So, apart from the enor-mous intelligence required to design and operate intricate hives and socialsystems, bees have the ‘smarts’ to learn, teach, internalise and pass on new skills.

Cambridge University tested western scrub jays to see what they re-membered about foods they had salted away. The birds were given differentitems to hide, some perishable (worms), others durable (peanuts). Fourhours later, the jays looked for the worms—their favourite food—beforethey looked for the nuts, but five days later their response was reversed. Theydidn’t bother to look for worms, which by then would have rotted, but theystill remembered the peanut locations. So, not only were the birds clever enoughto remember their hiding places, but also to judge what should be eaten nowand what saved for later.

Never be mean to a crow. Studies show how these birds can accurately iden-tify tormentors. Like us, crows seldom forget or forgive and take revenge when-ever their target is least expecting it. Plus, they call in reinforcements, inthe form of their mates, who happily join in the surprise attack. The intel-ligence at work here seems comparable to our military strategists execut-ing surgical strikes.

Chickens have a sense of numbers and can actually count. In one study,young chicks were able to track the changes oftwo quantities of objects hidden behind screens.They could consistently point out where thelarger quantity was hidden, even when the puz-zle required addition or subtraction.

But when it comes to maths, elephants mayjust be one of the cleverest creatures. A 2018study shows how Asian elephants are able toprocess numbers in a more complex manner,similar to humans. Researchers trained a 14-year-old Asian elephant, named Authai, to usea computer touch screen panel. She had to in-dicate with the tip of her trunk, which one oftwo figures, shown to her at a time, containedmore items. These ranged from 0 to 10 items.Authai was rewarded whenever she chose thefigures featuring the larger number of items. Thisshe did correctly 181 out of 271 times -- a successrate of 66.8 per cent. Not just a pretty good scorebut evidence that non-human animals have cog-nitive characteristics, partially identical tohuman counting.

Rats are so small that the terror they evokeseems like an overreaction. Rats display a re-markable ability to reason. The fact that they avoidcertain toxic foods, even if they don’t become nau-seated until hours later, cannot be explainedby simple association. It seems they are able tothink back to previous food encounters to determine which one was likelyto have made them sick. This kind of memory, known as episodic memory,is different from associative learning, as, when a dog learns he will earn acookie by responding to the command ‘sit’. Episodic memory is the capac-ity to think back to a specific event, sometimes long ago— something thatrats are able to do just like humans.

Fish are often mistaken to have no intelligence, no memory, and no abil-ity to feel pain. Completely false. A new, well researched, book shows howfish have many abilities not that different from our own. Archerfish and dam-selfish are able to recognise human faces, even when the faces are partly obscured.

Of course we know that dogs can tell humans apart, but they can also iden-tify human expressions. Studies show how dogs are able to consistentlyrecognise the difference between happy and angry human faces. Even bet-ter, dogs can manifest emotional expressions on their own faces to evoke adesired human response. In a 2017 study, psychologists concluded that dogsdisplay certain facial expressions in order to win human sympathy and at-tention. These particular facial expressions are not a reaction to food or anyother stimuli, and nor are they something that dogs do when they interactwith each other. In other words, dogs make these ‘faces’ only in the presenceof humans to get their attention!

Goats are as clever as dogs. They too read emotions and can tell the dif-ference between happy and sad humans. They gaze at humans in the sameway as dogs do when asking for a treat that is out of reach. They are, in fact,just as capable of building emotional relationships with humans as any dogor cat. Sheep too are good with faces. They can distinguish between differ-ent expressions in humans, as well as detect changes in the faces of anxioussheep. Researchers found that sheep recognise the faces of at least 50 othersheep and can remember 50 different images.

Perhaps the greatest sign of intelligence, even in humans, is knowing whatyou previously do not know. In one study, a dolphin named Natua was askedto identify a high tone and a low tone. He swam at different speeds towardthe response, depending on how easy or hard the answer was. When the toneswere quite distinct, Natua swam confidently at full speed. If the tones weresort of similar, though, Natua slowed down, waggled his head, and wavered.Instead of touching one of the paddles to make his choice, he selected theopt-out paddle (asking for a new trial), which meant he knew that he’d prob-ably flunk the task. So clever.

No surprises at how bright are our closest animal relatives, chimps. Whenheading out to a specific fig tree, where they have recently eaten, they canfigure out how much sooner they would need to set out for trees far awayfrom their nest, as for those nearby, to arrive at about the same early hourat both, in order to beat the rush by other animals. This suggests calcula-tion of travel time based on distance, as well as the ability to plan ahead basedupon past experience. Equally impressive is their power of inferential rea-soning. In a test, apes were presented with two covered cups after they hadlearned that only one would contain grapes. Both cups were covered and shaken.As expected, the apes preferred the cup in which they could hear the grapes.

When mice are in pain, they grimace. Just like us. When chimps are tick-led, they laugh. If we cannot see how amazingly bright animals are, it is ourown lack of intelligence, not theirs. And if you can still bring yourself toeat an animal, you are clearly not using your head. Or your heart.

To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in,www.peopleforanimalsindia.org

I n a year dominated by COVID-19, it’s perhaps understandablethat we’ve neglected the most

profound, existential crisis we face:runaway climate change. But wemust quickly make up for lost time,before it’s too late.

Fortunately, the prospects for ef-fective international climate actionin 2021 already look much betterthan they did a few months ago. Forstarters, as soon as President-electJoe Biden takes office in January,the United States will rejoin the2015 Paris climate agreement – thehistoric protocol that aims to limitglobal warming to well below 2°C,and preferably to 1.5°C, relative topre-industrial levels.

This will send an unmistakablesignal that the world’s biggest econ-omy is again serious about accel-erating its transition to net-zerocarbon-dioxide emissions, and willbuild on China’s recent commit-ment to become carbon neutral be-fore 2060. These two superpowerswill define the twenty-first cen-tury, so the prospect of their en-hanced climate collaboration pro-vides real cause for optimism.

Likewise, the European Union ispressing ahead with its ambitiousEuropean Green Deal and aims tobe climate neutral by 2050. And

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’sten-point plan for a Green IndustrialRevolution also points the wayahead. Energy efficiency and di-versification, sustainable infra-structure and housing, renewablepower generation, green tech-nologies, carbon capture and stor-age, and nature-based solutions allprovide a clear pathway to a net-zerofuture. This is the “Marshall Planfor the Planet” we urgently need,and we must now double down onachieving a true green recovery.

It is encouraging to see the in-ternational community mobilis-ing. Next year, China will play a piv-otal role in helping to protect andrestore nature as the host of theUnited Nations BiodiversityConference (COP15). The meetingcomes at a critical time: one millionspecies are threatened with ex-tinction, and the destruction ofour oceans, forests, peatlands, andmangroves – which all act as es-sential carbon sinks – has regret-tably become routine business.

Valued at $125 trillion a year,our natural capital and biodiversityare the real source of our wealth.Or, as the economist Herman Dalyargues, “the economy is a whollyowned subsidiary of the environ-ment, not the reverse.” That’s why

Business for Nature – a diversegroup of more than 600 firms and50 partner organisations – is ad-vocating more ambitious govern-ment and corporate action to pro-vide nature with the safety net itneeds to flourish.

Next year’s UN Food Systemsand Nutrition for Growth summitswill also be important opportuni-ties to raise collective ambition.But perhaps the most critical in-ternational meeting in 2021 willbe November’s UN climate con-ference (COP26) in Glasgow.Governments must boost their car-bon-cutting measures in a race tothe top that helps the world achievenet-zero emissions by 2050 – at thelatest. Crucially, COP26 must alsouphold rich countries’ commit-ment to provide poorer economieswith the climate finance they needto manage extreme weather hazards– storms, droughts, and wildfires– which are increasing in prevalenceand holding back their develop-ment and growth.

Decisive climate action cannotbe the responsibility of govern-ments alone. Business must alsoplay its part by setting science-based emission-reduction targets,improving energy efficiency, en-hancing climate reporting and dis-

closures, and eliminating defor-estation from supply chains.

The We Mean Business coali-tion is a great example of joint pri-vate-sector action. Companies witha combined market capitalisationof over $24 trillion are working to-gether to drive more ambitious cli-mate policies and accelerate thetransition to a zero-carbon economy.Similarly, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures ishelping firms better calculate therisks and opportunities of climatechange, thereby making it easier forinvestors to support sustainablebusinesses. This is creating adomino effect that is helping tomove financial markets in a greenerdirection.

The pandemic has led to a tem-porary decrease in greenhouse-gas emissions and a resurgence ofnature. But a brief reprieve forthe planet is no substitute for a co-herent global climate strategy. Alltold, 2021 promises to be a super-yearfor climate action, with the starsaligning for a cleaner and moresustainable future. We must seizethe opportunity while we still can.

The writer is Chair of theFood and Land Use Coalition.

©PROJECT SYNDICATE

A Marshall Plan for the planet

‘ASIAN CENTURY’I

n the early stages of theCOVID-19 pandemic, it wascommon to divide countriesand their responses accord-

ing to their political systems, withmany attributing China’s successin controlling the virus to its au-thoritarianism. As of late 2020,however, it is clear that the real di-viding line is not political but ge-ographical. Regardless of whethera country is democratic or au-thoritarian, an island or conti-nental, Confucian or Buddhist,communitarian or individualis-tic, if it is East Asian, SoutheastAsian, or Australasian, it has man-aged COVID-19 better than anyEuropean or North Americancountry.

While this line is not exactlyhemispheric, it is close enough tobe suggestive. Even Asia’s worstperformers (in public-health terms)– such as the Philippines andIndonesia – controlled the pan-demic more effectively than didEurope’s biggest and wealthiestcountries. Notwithstanding rea-sonable doubts about the qualityand accuracy of the reported mor-tality data in the case of thePhilippines (and India), the fact re-mains that you were much likelierto die of COVID-19 in 2020 if youwere European or American thanif you were Asian.

Comprehensive, interdiscipli-nary research is urgently neededto explain these performance dif-ferentials. Because much of our cur-rent understanding is anecdotaland insufficiently pan-regional, itis vulnerable to political exploitationand distortion. To help all countriesprepare for future biological threats,several specific questions need tobe explored. First is the extent towhich the experience of SARS,MERS, Avian flu, and other dis-ease outbreaks in many Asiancountries left a legacy of health-sys-tem preparedness and public re-ceptiveness to anti-transmissionmessaging.

Clearly, some Asian countrieshave benefited from existing struc-tures designed to prevent out-breaks of tuberculosis, cholera,typhoid, HIV/AIDS, and other in-fectious diseases. For example, as

of 2014, Japan had 48,452 public-health nurses (PHNs), 7,266 ofwhom were employed in public-health centres where they could bemobilised quickly to assist withCOVID-19 contact tracing. Althoughoccupational definitions vary, onecan compare these figures withthose for England, where just 350-750 PHNs served 11,000 patients in2014. (England’s population isroughly half the size of Japan’s.)

We also will need a better un-derstanding of the effect of specificpolicies, such as rapidly closing bor-ders and suspending internationaltravel. Likewise, some countriesdid a much better job than othersat protecting care homes and otherfacilities for the elderly – espe-cially in countries (notably Japanand South Korea) with a high pro-portion of people over 65.

Moreover, the effectiveness ofpublic-health communicationsclearly varied across countries,and it is possible that genetic dif-ferences and past programs of anti-tuberculosis vaccination may havehelped limit the spread of the coro-navirus in some areas. Only withrigorous empirical research will we

have the information we need to pre-pare for future threats.

Many are also wondering whatAsia’s relative success this year willmean for public policymakingand geopolitics after the pandemic.If future historians want a precisedate for when the ‘Asian Century’began, they may be tempted tochoose 2020, just as the US pub-lisher Henry Luce dated the‘American Century’ from the onsetof World War II.

But this particular comparisonsuggests that any such judgementmay be premature. After all, Luce’sAmerica was an individual su-perpower. Emerging victoriousfrom the war, it would go on toclaim and define its era (in com-petition with another superpower,the Soviet Union). The AsianCentury, by contrast, will featurean entire continent comprising awide range of countries.

In other words, it is not simplyabout China. To be sure, the risingnew superpower has been notablysuccessful in coping with the pan-demic after its initial failures andlack of transparency. But its scopefor asserting systemic superiority

is circumscribed by the fact thatso many other Asian countrieshave been equally successful with-out Chinese assistance.

The post-war comparison alsomay be premature for economicreasons. Asian countries’ eco-nomic performance in 2020 didnot match the success of theirpandemic response. WhileVietnam, China, and Taiwan havebeaten the rest of the world interms of GDP growth, the UnitedStates has not fared too badly, de-spite its failure to manage thevirus. With forecasts pointing toa 3.6 per cent contraction for theyear, the US is in better shape thanevery European economy, as wellas Japan, Malaysia, Singapore,Thailand, the Philippines, andothers in Asia. The difference islargely a function of intercon-nectedness: compared to the US,many Asian economies are moreexposed to trade and travel bans,which cut deeply into the tourismindustry.

Although China’s public-healthand economic outcomes have beenbetter than the West’s in 2020, it hasneither found nor really soughta political or diplomatic advan-tage from the crisis. If anything,China has become more aggressivetoward nearby neighbours andcountries like Australia. This sug-gests that Chinese leaders are noteven trying to build an Asian net-work of friends and supporters.

How China approaches the issueof international debt restructur-ings – especially those connectedwith its Belt and Road Initiative –will be a key test in 2021. But, ofcourse, the US and the rest of theWest also will be tested, and on awide range of issues, from inter-national finance to sociopoliticalstability.

It may be too soon to announcea new historical epoch; but it is nottoo early to start absorbing thelessons of Asia’s public-healthsuccesses.

The writer, a former editor-in-chief of The

Economist, is co-director ofthe Global Commission for

Post-Pandemic Policy. ©PROJECT SYNDICATE

FOCUS

SPECTRUM

If future historians want a precise date forwhen the ‘Asian Century’ began, they may betempted to choose 2020, just as the US publisher Henry Luce dated the ‘AmericanCentury’ from the onset of World War II

Children of one God

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

Take Truth for your force;take Truth for your refuge.

THE MOTHER

CLIMATE CRISIS

IT MAY BE TOOSOON TO

ANNOUNCE ANEW

HISTORICALEPOCH; BUT IT

IS NOT TOOEARLY TO STARTABSORBING THE

LESSONS OFASIA’S

PUBLIC-HEALTHSUCCESSES

Bill Emmott

WISDOM CORNERGreat minds have purposes; others have wishes. WASHINGTON IRVING

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. WALT DISNEY

Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today. MARK TWAIN

POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

Readers of Orissa POSTare most welcome to contribute letters(200 words), articles andcolumns (between 750-1250words). Contributors arerequested to send theircontact numbers and fullpostal address/email ID. They may alsosend in their valuable comments, opinionand suggestions, preferably by email, to: edit@orissapost.com

B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate,Bhubaneswar-751010

LettersTO THE EDITOR

2021 PROMISES TOBE A SUPER-YEAR

FOR CLIMATEACTION, WITH THE

STARS ALIGNINGFOR A CLEANER

AND MORE SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE

Paul Polman

Effort for equality

Sir, A State Cabinet meeting held on 28 December 2020, decided to re-serve seats in Engineering and Medical courses for students passingout of government schools in an effort to bring down the disparity be-tween rural and urban students in higher education. Undoubtedly,this would inspire more rural talents to take part in the competitivering. Generally, students of rural areas and particularly those from gov-ernment schools are not getting basic facilities and therefore the gov-ernment’s step may be welcomed. But if we analyse the decision fromthe point of view of genuine hardworking students who are crackingengineering and medical entrances without getting any coaching dueto economic disadvantage, the decision might be agonising. Therefore,it would rather be good if the government ensures supply of sufficientstudy material, employ professionals, develop advanced infrastruc-ture in every block as a hub for coaching, assess individual aspirantsafter due coaching, and develop crash courses ahead of entrance ex-aminations. Though the decision will be beneficial to students from ruralbackground and government schools, a meticulous effort to pick up themost eligible is needed to ensure equality.

Santosh Kumar Satapathy, PARALAKHEMUNDI

Clean governance

Sir, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik is committed to administer clean gov-ernance in the state. Realising that corruption is an impediment onthe road to development and making administration people-friendlyis the need of the hour, he has made it mandatory for all governmentservants at all levels and politicians including the Chief Minister todeclare their property every year. In a span of one year, ninety-onegovernment officials have been shown the door and cases are con-templated against many. The latest case being investigated into is thatof a tainted IFS officer charged with amassing wealth dispropor-tionate to his known sources of income. The cleansing drive includesbringing names of corrupt officials in public domain. This wouldact as a deterrent for erring public servants. The cases pertainingto politicians and top bureaucrats would be referred to the Lokayukta.Patnaik has called upon his party MPs to voluntarily declare prop-erty that would set an example in national arena. The CM’s dras-tic measures may see noticeable results in 2021 as he is a leader andadministrator who believes in action, not in mere words. Let’s hopeeverything augurs well for him and for the state as the New Yearis about to arrive. Sanjib Das, CUTTACK

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If we cannot see howamazingly bright

animals are, it is ourown lack of

intelligence, not theirs. And if you

can still bring yourself to eat an

animal, you are clearly not using your

head. Or your heart

Maneka Gandhi

stateTHURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWARP5

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POST NEWS NETWORK

Koraput, Dec 30: The central gov-ernment has drawn up an actionplan for a major road project toshor ten distance betweenVishakhapatnam and Raipur. Theroad project to be developed underBharatmala Yojana will passthrough Koraput. But as soon asthe groundwork for the project isgoing to start, people in some partsof the district have opposed it, areport said.

According to the report, peoplewho are going to lose their land forthe ambitious road project inMahadeipur and Mastipur pan-chayats under sadar block have ac-cused the government of payingmeagre amounts of compensationfor their land.

They have expressed their dis-pleasure over the fact that the com-pensation the government is of-fering them is much less than theright value of their land.

They are unlikely to spare theirland for the project. The reportsaid, the current market price of anacre of land in the two panchayatis Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per acrewhile the government has fixed the

price at Rs 30,000 per acre. The land losers have come to-

gether over the issue and recentlyheld a meeting at Litiguda.

Jeypore MLA TaraprasadBahinipati observed that the gov-ernment should provide rightamount of compensation to theland losers and provide land in

equal measure elsewhere. The district administration is

preparing for a public hearing to beheld January 21 about land acqui-sition. The land losers have decidedto take up the issue with the DistrictCollector well before the publichearing.

They warned that they will

strongly oppose the BharatmalaYojana if they are not paid rea-sonable compensation for theirland. They said that many house willbe af fected by the project atRangamati village in Mahadeiputpanchayat.

In the current situation, the dis-tance between Vishakhapatnamand Raipur is 514 km. After com-pletion of this road project, the dis-tance between their two cities willbe reduced to 464 km.

A 124.881-km stretch of this proj-ect will be laid in Chhattisgarhwhile 114.989 km will pass throughNabarangpur and Koraput districts.The road will be laid throughBorigumma, Dasamanthpur,Koraput, Semiliguda and Pottangiblocks before touchingVishakhapatnam.

On the other hand, scores of peo-ple who were affected by waterreservoir and mines in Koraputhave not yet got their compensa-tion. They have been staging agi-tations in the past over their issue.

That another project is going totake away their land has left themworried. Many Congress leadersand people’s representatives havesupported the land losers.

Land losers oppose Bharatmala projectThe road project connecting Vishakhapatnam and Raipur will pass though Koraput and Nabarangpur

People who are going to lose their land for the ambitious road project inMahadeipur and Mastipur panchayats under Sadar block have accused the

government of paying meagre amounts of compensation for their land

The report said, the current marketprice of an acre of land in the two

panchayat is Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh peracre while the government has fixedthe price at Rs 30,000 per acre

Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipatiobserved that the government should

provide right amount of damages to theland losers and provide land in equalmeasure elsewhere

THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO BEHELD JANUARY 21 ABOUT LAND ACQUISITION

After nine months, temples were open to public in Koraput with relaxation of Covid norms. A devotee is scanned ther-mally at the entry point of a temple in Jeypore Wednesday OP PHOTO

DIVINE BLESSINGS

POST NEWS NETWORK

Sonepur/Sambalpur, Dec 30:Even as farmers in different partsof western Odisha have been crib-bing about delayed tokens and otherprocurement issues, some tradersare brining paddy from other dis-tricts to Sonepur. Some millers areallegedly buying outside paddy atunder rates, a report said.

According to the report, tradersare buying paddy at low rates inother districts like Bhadrak, Boudhand Nayagarh.

Following such allegations, thecivil supplies department has beenon its toes. It has started raids in var-ious areas.

A team of officials led by dis-trict civil supplies officer BishnuPrasad Supakar raided Patabhadiand Kalapathar Tuesday. Theyseized two trucks laden with paddylate Monday night.

It was learnt that one of thetrucks was carrying paddy fromNayagarh to Bargarh. Another wascarrying paddy from Kantamalarea of Boudh district to a rice millin Sonepur. This has revealed the

mess in the paddy procurement inthe district.

On the other hand, the govern-ment has laid stress on smoothpaddy procurement so that farmersdo not face any problem in their re-spective areas. Despite all this,paddy being brought from otherdistricts has added to the problemsof the farmers in Sonepur wheremost of them fail to dispose of theirpaddy in mandis, it was alleged.The civil supplies department hasregistered a case in this regard.

Meanwhile, a report fromSambalpur said, even as paddy pro-curement is under way inSambalpur, paddy from other dis-

tricts is landing at market yardsin the district.

Such allegations made by farm-ers in different areas had come outin media earlier. About 70 per centof the paddy has been procured,but the administration has nowwoken up to this problem.

A special squad recently formedto check supply of paddy from otherdistricts seized a truck carrying541 sacks of paddy at Jujumaralate Tuesday night.

The seized paddy sacks havebeen unloaded at a rice mill atBatemura. An official said therewas no valid document for thepaddy loaded in the truck.

Paddy from other districtslands in Sonepur, Sambalpur

POST NEWS NETWORK

Jhumpura, Dec 30: As a solar-pow-ered drinking water project and tubewell are lying defunct, people in hillyand remote areas under Jhumpurablock of Keonjhar district are forcedto drink water from streams and pits,a report said.

According to the report, the gov-ernment has made provisions of solar-powered drinking water projects inhilly and remote panchayats like

Malda, Nayagad, Basantpur, Kutuganand Nischintapur.

Over 200 tube wells have been setup in these areas too while nearly Rs10 lakh from the DMF fund has beenspent for these projects.

The state-owned OREDA had beenawarded a contract to set up solarpanels to run drinking water proj-ects. A project was set up in Malda pan-chayat, but it has been left half-waydone. Two years have passed, but no

step was taken to set it right, locals al-leged. The company is bound by anagreement to repair the projects when-ever necessary till five years sincetheir installation.

As water is not available from theproject, people have to drink waterfrom a nearby stream, said a villagerof Kutugan. The villagers accusedthe OREDA of being apathetic to theirproblem.

Villagers of Andharkhamani,

Goduatopa, Hatimara, Sanakalimati,Bagarampada Sahi, Jampada Sahi,Kutugan and Chipinda alleged thatnobody from the OREDA or RWSScomes to repair once solar systemsgo out of order. Unless five to sixprojects go defunct in the area, theOREDA officials will not come for re-pair, they alleged.

At Kutugan, tow solar projectshave been lying defunct for the lasttwo months. The villagers apprisedthe Jhumpura-based RWSS divisionof their miseries that have croppedup over shortage of water, but nosteps have been taken to set theseprojects right.

When asked about the problem, ajunior engineer who is in charge ofthese projects at the RWSS office, saidhe is on leave for the last two months.

Another engineer SubhamsitaKhamari said that she has intimatedthe problem to the district office.

Dayanidhi Sahu, executive engi-neer of the Keonjhar RWSS officesaid that technical staff f the OREDAhas been intimated about the defunctsolar projects. These projects will berepaired, Sahu added.

PEOPLE DRINK WATER FROM STREAMS

POST NEWS NETWORK

Nayagarh, Dec 30: After a brieflull, the Special Investigation Team(SIT) has intensified its probe in theminor girl murder case in Jadupurvillage in this district, Tuesday.However, the SIT stayed away fromvisiting Jadupur village and in-stead called selected persons fromthe village and interrogated themin this connection.

This has left the residents un-nerved as they chose to keep theirmouth shut and refused to speakanything when questioned by themedia or some other persons. Whenquestioned, they said to have onlyreceived a call to appear in personbefore the SIT but are yet to be in-terrogated in this connection. Theywaited there for long and were re-turning home, a person called for

questioning said, in condition ofanonymity.

Meanwhile, regular visits by theSIT team to Jadupur village and thetime to time interrogation of theresidents during the probe had itsimpact on the villagers. A villagerclaimed that this has led to loss oflivelihood for many. As result, peo-ple are preparing to migrate toother states in search of livelihood.

When contacted, the village com-mittee president Jaykrushna Paridaand nine others are preparing toleave for Kerala in search of liveli-hood after January 12. He said healong with other villagers has fullycooperated with the SIT in their in-vestigation and expect it to completeits probe soon. However, he re-quested not to implicate innocentpersons in the case and arrest onlythose involved in the crime.

Jadupur villagersprepare to migrate

SIT INTENSIFIES PROBE INTO PARIMURDER MYSTERY

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bargarh, Dec 30: Nihar RanjanPradhan of Jharpali village underAmbabhona block in Bargarh dis-trict has been selected to join theIndian Space ResearchOrganisation (ISRO) in Bangaloreas a research scientist. Nihar saidhe got the intimation recentlyfrom ISRO and he will join the or-ganisation in January

Nihar is the youngest son of fa-ther Rajkumar Pradhan andPankajini. The family ekes outtheir living from farming. Localssaid that Nihar from his child-hood had expressed keen inter-est towards science. He frequentlyused to make models of various sci-entific products.

After completing his primaryschooling from the village, Niharstudied at Kedarnath Adivasi HighSchool at Ambabhona in this dis-trict. He cracked the JEE Mainand Advanced and took admis-sion at the Indian Institute ofSpace Science and Technology(IIST) at Trivandrum. He did hisB.Tech course in aerospace engi-neering.

“I got selected as a research sci-entist in ISRO for my excellentperformance in IIST absorptiondrive. I came out successful in mycareer, owing to the stress-freestudy atmosphere and career op-tions provided by my family,” theyoung scientist said.

Village youthbecomes ISROresearch scientist

Undertrial dies at DHH in Dhenkanal

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhawanipatna, Dec 30: Bringingpride to Odisha, a folk dance groupfrom Bhawanipatna town inKalahandi district has been se-lected to per-form at 2021Republic Dayparade atRajpath inNew Delhi.

Accordingto sources,Bhawanipatna's Bajashala dancetroupe will be the only group whichwill represent eastern India atRajpath January 26, 2020. The groupwill take part in the parade throughEastern Zonal Cultural Centre(EZCC), Kolkata under the Ministryof Culture. As many as 80 membersof Bajashala dance troupe has beenselected to perform at the parade.Two gurus (dance masters) ChintuPrasad Naik and Debesh Singhwill manage the troupe.

After arrival at New Delhi, thegroup will start rehearsal for theRepublic Day. Ministry of Defensewill do all the preparation for thefinal performance of all dancetroupes.

Bajashala dancetroupe to performat R-Day in Delhi

SOLAR PROJECTS IN MANY HILLY AND REMOTE AREAS OF JHUMPURA BLOCK HAVE GONE KAPUT

POST NEWS NETWORK

Dhenkanal, Dec 30:In a bizarre de-velopment early Wednesday morn-ing, an under-trial prisoner (UT)died while undergoing treatment atthe district headquarters hospital(DHH) in Dhenkanal. He was ad-mitted to the hospital after he com-plained of severe stomach ache.

According to sources, the de-

ceased prisoner was identifiedas Brahmananda Dehuri ofHaripur village in the district.He suddenly fell sick Tuesdaynight and was rushed to the DHH.The doctors treating the man pro-nounced him dead in the morn-ing. Dehuri was earlier arrestedin 2013 in connection with a mur-der case and was lodged in the dis-trict jail here.

In a similar incident, an under-trial prisoner who was lodged indistrict sub-jail in Malkangiridied under mysterious circum-stances while undergoing treat-ment at Malkangiri DHHDecember 27. The prisoner iden-tified as Danu Golori was a resi-dent of Khajuriguda ofSwabhiman Anchal in the dis-trict.

POST NEWS NETWORK

Chitrakonda, Dec 30: The deathof a Malkangiri sub-jail inmatetook a twist Tuesday when the de-ceased’s family members broughtup allegations that he was brutallymurdered in the jail.

The inmate, Danu Goleri, diedwhile undergoing treatment at ahospital in Malkangiri Sunday.

Danu was suspected to be aMaoist and was thus arrestedthree months ago. The familymembers met him at the sub-jailmore than once and, they claimed,he never complained of any kindof sufferings.

After his death, the jail author-ities had said he had slit his throatwith a knife Saturday. He was ad-mitted to a hospital in Malkangiri.He succumbed Sunday.

The family members alleged thatthey were told that Danu had fallensick. It was when they reached atthe sub-jail to enquire about hiscondition, the jail authorities askedthem to take his body.

Demanding a high-level inquiry,the aggrieved family members werenot performing the last rites of thedeceased. Only when the villagersand relatives intervened, theybudged and the last rites of Danuwere performed.

Malkangiri inmate’s death is murder: KinPOST NEWS NETWORK

Jagatsinghpur, Dec 30: Separateteams of Vigilance sleuths simulta-neously raided the houses of policeASI Rabindra Nath Senapati Wednesdaymorning over charge of amassing as-sets disproportionate to his knownsources of income. The searches wereconducted in his parental house atPanchapalli area under Ersama block,a residential house at Mukundapur,his office room in Jagatsinghpur dis-trict and his flat at Hanspal area inBhubaneswar.

The ASI is presently working atTirtol court. Over 10 bank passbooks,huge gold ornaments, 3 houses worthover Rs 1.5 crore were traced.

Cop under Vig scanner

FILE PHOTO

FILE PHOTO

GOOD NEWS FOR GOVT SCHOOL PUPILSI n a major move to

promote studentspassing out of gov-ernment-run highschools, the OdishaCabinet December28 passed a resolu-tion to reserve someseats in medical andengineering col-leges for these stu-dents. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said, after intro-duction of centralised exams like NEET and JEE for medical and engineeringcourses, it is observed that the number of meritorious students from govern-ment-run high schools and colleges in Odisha, qualifying for admissions inthese institutions, has been reducing over the years. This is not due to lack ofmeritorious students but a deeper divide in access to coaching classes which ismissing in rural areas, he said. The government realized that thousands of meri-torious students from government schools are at a disadvantage and fare lowerthan their potential in the entrance exams. To correct the imbalance and pro-vide confidence to meritorious students of government schools, to help themfulfill their dreams to become doctors and engineers, the state governmentdecided to provide reservation to eligible government school and college stu-dents of Odisha for admission into medical and engineering colleges in thestate. The decision will come into effect from the next academic year.

T o contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus,the Indian government initiated the largest na-tional lockdown in the world March 2020.

Initially announced to last until April 14, the lockdownseverely affected the movement of people, disruptingdaily life and access to healthcare facilities.

One of the consequences of lockdown measures inthe country has led to an unprecedented migrationof workers and families from large urban centers torural India. For decades, millions of workers have mi-grated from their rural homes and villages to urbancities, looking for opportunities and livelihoods. Thesudden enforcement of lockdown following a 14-hour‘Janata curfew’ March 22 immediately disadvantagedalready vulnerable populations as it restricted peoplestepping out from their homes. All transport—road-ways, airways and railways—were suspended, in-cluding hospitality industries, educational institu-tions, and industrial units. As the factories andworkplaces closed down, millions of migrant work-ers had to deal with loss of income, food shortages andan uncertain future.

With no money, no job, unsure when the lockdownwill finally end, the migrant workers had no other op-tion than to return to their villages. Their massive mi-gration from working states has formed a humanitarianand health security challenge and an exceptional lo-gistical nightmare.

This instigated the next problem for them. How toreach home? With road and rail transport links stillsuspended, walking back was the only option andthey initially took to the road.

People have undertaken hazardous journeys, some-times walking up to 1,000 km with no money to spendand often without food for days together. Many werearrested by law enforcement officials for violating thelockdown, many died due to exhaustion or accidentson the roads.

To alleviate the workers’ plight, the state govern-ments started arranging buses to take them back totheir villages for free. But these were heavily over-subscribed with migrants hanging on footboards andclimbing on rooftops to find a place. Some group of mi-grants tried to hire people carriers, however returningmigrants faced other danger.

On May 1, 2020, the governmentintroduced special ‘ShramikSpecial’ trains from manydistricts in the country formigrants. Since then,Indian Railways haveferried over 5 mil-lion migrant work-ers by more than3,000 Shramikspecial trains.

For manymigrantworkerswho des-

perately tried to return home, homecoming has beenbittersweet. They stare at another crisis. With sig-

nificantly reduced work opportunities (the very rea-son for them to migrate) and trying to come to termswith the labelling of ‘virus carrier’ stigma has causeda great deal of anxiety and associated violence has beenreported. Migrants thought that going back to theirhometown; they could return to farming or take upemployment in the Mahatma Gandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee Act scheme, but only a for-tunate few could avail the benefit.

With chronic underfunding in the rural health-care and economy, the pandemic has highlighted thefailings of rural infrastructure.

The extraordinary migrant crisis due to Covid-19is unparalleled since Indo-Pakistan partition of 1948.Similar to the fallout from the partition, this currentcrisis will leave a lasting legacy on future of India. Itappears the Covid-19 pandemic has forced India to fi-nally acknowledge the migrant.

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THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

YEAR OF UNLEARNING, RELEARNINGThe year 2020 has been one

of anguish, fear and uncertainty, but if nothing

else, it’s taught us to remainsteadfast in commitment to

helping one another. It forcedus to look at our humanity in

relation to others on this planet, Orissa POST

brings back glimpses of the year

Covid-19 and the plight of migrants

How the pandemic changed the worldW hen the world celebrated the dawn

of a new decade with a blaze offirework parties and revelry

January 1, few could have imaginedwhat 2020 had in store.

In the last 12 months, the novelcoronavirus has paralysedeconomies, devastated commu-

nities and confinednearly four billion

people to theirhomes. It has beena year that changed

the world like noother for at least ageneration, possi-bly since WorldWar II. More than1.8 million peopledied. At least 82million people areknown to have con-tracted the virus,though the actual

number is likelymuch higher. Children be-

came orphans, grandpar-ents were lost and part-ners bereaved as lovedones died alone in hospi-

tal, bedside visits consid-ered too dangerous to risk.

Still Covid-19 is far from the dead-liest pandemic in history. Bubonic plague

in the 14th Century wiped out a quarter of

the population. At least 50 million succumbedto Spanish Influenza in 1918-19. Thirty-threemillion people died of AIDS.

The scale of the global disaster wasscarcely imaginable when December 31,Chinese authorities announced 27 cases of"viral pneumonia of unknown origin" thatwas baffling doctors in the city of Wuhan.

The next day, authorities quietly shut theWuhan animal market initially linked tothe outbreak. On January 7, Chinese officialsannounced they had identified the newvirus, calling it 2019-nCoV. On January 11,China announced the first death in Wuhan.Within days, cases flared across Asia, inFrance and the United States.

By the end of the month, countries wereairlifting foreigners out of China. Bordersaround the world started to close and morethan 50 million people living in Wuhan'sprovince of Hubei were in quarantine.

As the horror went global, the race for avaccine had already begun. A small Germanbiotech company called BioNTech quietlyput their cancer work aside and launchedanother project. Its name? "Speed of Light".

On February 11, the World HealthOrganization named the new disease asCovid-19. First Italy, then Spain, France andBritain went into lockdown. WHO declaredCovid-19 a pandemic. US borders, alreadyclosed to China, shut to much of Europe. Forthe first time in peacetime, the summerOlympics was delayed. From Paris to NewYork, from Delhi to Lagos, and from London

to Buenos Aires, streets fell eerily silent, theall too frequent wail of ambulance sirens,a reminder that death loomed close.

Scientists had warned for decades of aglobal pandemic, but few listened. Some ofthe richest countries in the world, let alonethe poorest floundered in the face of an in-visible enemy. In a globalised economy, sup-ply chains ground to a halt. Supermarketshelves were stripped bare by panic buyers.

Chronic underinvestment in healthcarewas brutally exposed, as hospitals strug-gled to cope and intensive care units wererapidly overwhelmed. Underpaid and over-worked medics battled without personalprotective equipment.

Businesses closed. Schools and collegesshut. Live sport was cancelled. Commercialairline travel saw its most violent contrac-tion in history. Shops, clubs, bars and restau-rants closed. Spain's lockdown was so severethat children couldn't leave home. People weresuddenly trapped, cheek by jowl in tinyapartments for weeks on end.

Those who could, worked from home.Zoom calls replaced meetings, businesstravel and parties. Those whose jobs werenot transferrable were often sacked or forcedto risk their health and work regardless.

Social inequities, which for years hadbeen growing, were exposed like neverbefore. Hugs, handshakes and kisses fellby the wayside. Human interaction tookplace behind plexiglass, face masks andhand sanitizer.

US ELECTIONS T he US elections became the talking point

across the world during the second-half of2020. On December 14 the Electoral Collegeconfirmed Democratic candidate Joe Biden asAmerica’s next President,ratifying his Novembervictory in an authoritativestate-by-state denial byPresident Donald Trump’srefusal to concede hisdefeat. The presidentialelectors gave the 78-year-old Biden asolid majority of306 electoralvotes ascompared toTrump’s 232. Thisis the samemargin thatTrump braggedwas a landslidewhen he won theWhite House in 2016.

SEAN CONNERY Scottish movie legend SeanConnery, who shot to interna-tional stardom as the suave,sexy and sophisticated British

agent James Bond and went onto grace the silver screen forfour decades, died October 31at the age of 90.

AHMED PATELAhmed Patel was a Congress leader,MP and political secretary to Congresspresident Sonia Gandhi. He passedaway November 25 at the age of71. He died due to multipleorgan failure stemmingfrom Covid-19.

PIERRE CARDINFashion designer Pierre Cardin diedDecember 29 aged 98. The French cou-ture legend worked for Dior in histwenties, before founding his ownladies boutique in 1954.RUTH BADER GINSBURG

Ruth Bader Ginsburg became a heroineto the American Left after overcomingentrenched sexism in the legal profes-sion to ascend to the US SupremeCourt, where she championedgender equality and otherliberal causes during 27years on the bench.Ginsburg diedSeptember 18 at theage of 87.

QASEM SOLEIMANI Iran's most powerful military com-mander, Gen Qasem Soleimani, hasbeen killed by a US air strike in IraqJanuary 2. The 62-year-old spearhead-ed Iranian military operations in theMiddle East as head of Iran’s eliteQuds

RIP

DIEGO MARADONAWorld soccer great Diego Armando Maradona diedNovember 25 less than a month after his 60th birthday. Hewas worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, buthis demons almost destroyed him.

HOSNI MUBARAK Former Egyptian President HosniMubarak, who held power for 30 yearsuntil he was ousted in 2011 in a pop-ular uprising against corruptionand autocratic rule, diedFebruary 25 at the age of 91.Mubarak presided over anera of stagnation and oppres-sion at home and was an earlyvictim of the "Arab Spring" rev-olutions that swept the region.

PRANAB MUKHERJEE Pranab Mukherjee, who served asthe 13th President of India, diedAugust 31 at the age of 84. PranabMukherjee had tested positive forCOVID-19 prior to a surgery to

remove a blood clot in his brain.BAC

K H

OM

E PRICE FOR ‘FLYING HIGH’T he year

exposed an IFSofficer, who hadamassed ill-gottenwealth and wasleading a plushlifestyle. TheVigilance sleuthsDecember 27arrested Odishacadre IFS officer,Abhay Kant Pathak, for possessing assets disproportionate to his knownsources of income and his son Akash Pathak for duping job seekers.Akash had identified himself as the MD of Tata Motors. The state govern-ment placed the senior officer under suspension immediately after thearrest. The Vigilance department said that Pathak’s total properties arearound 435 per cent of his known sources of income. Pathak had paid `3crore towards booking chartered planes for travelling to cities likeMumbai, Patna and Delhi during the lockdown. The Vigilance officialsalso seized gold ornaments weighing around 800 grams worth `23 lakh,`60 lakh cash from his house and also found three luxury cars likeMercedes, BMW and Tata Harier in is possession along with threeYamaha FZs registered in his son’s name. Gopalpur MLA PradeepMaharathy was also arrested and expelled from the BJD for his allegedcomplicity with the Pathaks.

FAITH PREVAILED OVER FEARA midst the

intense waragainst novelcoronavirus, faithfinally prevailedover fear as thisyear’s Rath Yatrawas organisedwithout congrega-tion of devoteeson the Grand Roadin Puri, adding anew chapter to theSrimandir’s history. Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, was shut fordevotees since March end due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. TheSupreme Court ordered for cancellation of Car Festival due to Covid-19spread while hearing a petition June 18. The order created a lot ofresentment among the devotees and servitors. The state governmentfiled an affidavit in the SC and supported Rath Yatra with restrictions inplace. Finally, on June 22 a three-member bench of the SC allowed con-duct of Car Festival in Puri. With just a few hours in hand for the megafestival, the state government pulled out all the stops to hold the festivalJune 23. In another development, the temple, which remained out ofbounds for devotees for nine-long months, reopened for servitors andtheir family members December 23 and for Puri residents December 26.

NAYAGARH HORROR

The alleged murder of a minor girl of Nayagarh continued to hog thelimelight throughout the second half of the year. The allegation of

organ trading by the minor girls’ parents and the Opposition parties putthe state government in a tight spot. Parents of the deceased minoralleged that their kid was murdered for organ smuggling and accusedMinister Arun Sahoo of being involved in the act. The BJP and Congresstook out rallies and staged demonstrations demanding CBI probe intothe incident. Buckling under pressure from the Opposition parties, thegovernment had to form an SIT to probe the matter. It was headed byOSRTC CMD Arun Bothra. The minor girl was playing near her house July13. Her skeletal remains stacked in a gunny bag were found in the back-side of her house July 23. The incident came to the fore after girl’s par-ents attempted self-immolation in front of the Assembly in BhubaneswarNovember 24 as the district police failed to crack the case severalmonths after the incident. The SIT picked up Saroj Sethi, a college stu-dent and neighour of the girl, from Jadupur village in the district.

KAMALA HARRIS

Kamala Harris who has Indian roots madehistory as the first woman, the first Asian

American and the first Black American tobecome Vice President of America November 4.The Biden-Harris ticket received the most votesever – more than 74 million – in the history ofAmerica’s elections.

MUKESH AMBANI

A fter the Reliance Jio-Facebook deal wasannounced April 22, Mukesh Ambani’s

wealth surged to make him Asia’s richest mansurpassing Jack Ma. Ambani’s fortune rose by$4.69 billion to $49.2 billion after RelianceIndustries gained 10 per cent, according to the

Bloomberg Billionaires’ Index April 25. Theranking that changes after the close of everytrading day in the US puts Ambani $3.2 billionahead of Jack Ma’s $46 billion.

RATAN TATA

Veteran industrialist Ratan Tata was conferredthe title of “Global Visionary of Sustainable

Business and Peace” by the Federation of Indo-IsraelChambers of Commerce (FIICC) for epitomising“unity, peace and sustainability”, December 22. Hereceived the honour for his commitment to put Indiaon the global map with dignity and respect has beennoted by each and everyone.

MS DHONI

P utting an end to 16-year-old career, formerIndian cricket captain and veteran wicket-

keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni August15 announced his retirement from internationalcricket. Posting a video on Instagram, Dhoni –who last donned the blue jersey against NewZealand in the 2019 ICC World Cup 2019 semi-final -- thanked his fans “for their love andsupport” while announcing his retirement.

PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNA

P riyanca Radhakrishna became New Zealand’sfirst-ever Indian-origin minister after Prime

Minister Jacinda Ardern inducted her asMinister for Diversity, Inclusion and EthnicCommunities November 2. Radhakrishnan is oneof the 5 members of freshly-re-elected LabourPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ‘incrediblydiverse cabinet’.

GENERAL BIPIN RAWAT

General Bipin Rawat took over as India's firstChief of Defence Staff (CDS) January 1. He is

entrusted with coordinating with the threeServices and reporting to the Prime Minister.The tri-service agencies, organisations and

commands relating to cyber and space will comeunder the command of the CDS, who will alsofunction as the Military Adviser to the NuclearCommand Authority.

SONU SOOD

Sonu Sood hit the headlines for his reliefefforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he

has been hailed as a real-life hero for migrantworkers and those who lost jobs. Sood has beeninvolved in charitable work through his trust,Professor Saroj Sood Trust, named after hismother.

CAPTAIN TANIA SHERGILL

Captain Tania Shergill is the first woman armyofficer to become parade adjutant for

Republic Day. She also leads the all-mencontingent on Army Day. Commissioned in March,2017, from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai,

Shergill is electronics and communicationsgraduate. Shergill, a fourth generation woman Armyofficer will break a glass ceiling on Wednesdaywhen she becomes the first female to lead an all-men contingent at the Army Day Parade.

ARCHANA SORENG

A rchana Soreng, climate activist from Odisha, was been named by UnitedNations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres July 28 to his new advisory

group comprising young leaders. Archana joined six other young climateleaders from around the world who have been named by Guterres to his newYouth Advisory Group on Climate Change.

ROUND THE GLOBE

BIZZARE NEWS

NEWS MAKERS

FARMERS’ PROTESTS

BLACK LIVES MATTERGeorge Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 25, this year

while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. During the arrest Derek Chauvin, awhite police officer from the Minneapolis Police Department, knelt on Floyd’s neck for about 9 andhalf minutes after Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down. Two police officers, J. Alexander Kuengand Thomas Lane, assisted Chauvin in restraining Floyd, while another officer, Tou Thao, preventedbystanders from interfering with the arrest and intervening as events unfolded. The barbaric killing ofFloyd was captured by a man on his mobile, and the video went viral, following which widespreadprotests began not only in the US but across the world by the slogan, “Black Lives Matter”.

INDIA-CHINA CLASHAt least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a

disputed Himalayan border area, June 15. The incident follows risingtensions, and is the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45years. The Indian Army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed,adding that both sides suffered casualties. But later officials said a num-ber of critically injured soldiers had died of their wounds. India's external affairs ministry accused China of breakingan agreement struck the previous week to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley.

AI PLANE CRASHAn Air India Express plane with

190 people on board has crashedat an airport in Kerala, killing at least18 people August 6, officials say. TheBoeing 737, en route from Dubai, skid-ded off the runway in rain and brokein two after landing at Calicut airport,aviation officials said. The flight wasrepatriating Indians stranded by thecoronavirus crisis. The rescue opera-tion at the crash site has now beencompleted and survivors have beentaken to hospitals in Calicut andMalappuram, according to KeralaChief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.Dozens of people were injured, 156ofthem seriously, officials say. Air IndiaExpress said the two pilots wereamong the dead. Flight IX 1134 wascarrying 184 passengers, including 10infants, and six crew members.

TINSEL TOWN DRUGS CASESushant

Singhwas foundhanging athis Bandrahome June14, sparkingoff a hugepolitical con-troversy, an upheaval in the Hindi film worldbesides multiple probes by the Mumbai Police,Patna Police, Central Bureau of Investigation, EDand the NCB. On September 4, the brother ofSushant’s ex-girlfriend Rhea- ShowikChakraborty – was arrested by the NarcoticsControl Bureau (NCB) in a drugs related case aspart of the investigations into the death ofSushant Singh Rajput. He was granted bailDecember 2, three months after his arrest.

BREXITB ritain and

theEuropeanUnion (EU)finally willlook forwardto begin a new chapter in their relationship; thenegotiations to which began in 2017. UK PrimeMinister Boris Johnson is expected to announcethe contours of the trade deal at Downing Streetsoon. Johnson and European CommissionPresident Ursula von der Leyen have been in closecontact over the past few days as the December31 transition period cut-off loomed over the nego-tiations, which have missed repeated deadlinesas the two sides failed to agree on key areas offishing rights in each other’s waters that wouldapply to the UK as a non-member of the 27-mem-ber economic bloc.

Cannabis mistaken for methi

A family in Uttar Pradesh had to be hospitalisedafter cooking a dish with cannabis leaves. Theythought the leaf was fenugreek or methi.

AK-47 rifle as wedding gift

A groom in Pakistan got a bizarre wedding gift froma guest: an automatic rifle. A video of the womangreeting the newlyweds and asking someone tohand over what looked like an AK-47 rifle got plentyof comments on social media.

Snake as mask

A man in England was spotted using a snake as a face cov-ering prompting a range of reactions from across theworld. A video showed the man with the snake wrappedaround his neck and mouth even as he sat calmly in a bus.

Harmonica stuck in mouth

In an attempt to entertain her cousin, a high school stu-dent from Ontario stuffed a harmonica in her mouth.However, the musical instrument got stuck, making itdifficult for O’Brien to breathe. The harmonica was laterremoved by a dentist.

For over three weeks, kilometersafter kilometers of trucks and

tractor-trailers have been piled upjust north of New Delhi. The farm-ers who drove to New Delhi borderare protesting agricultural lawsthey worry will hurt their earningsand benefit tycoons. And there is nosign of a retreat. Trucks hand outoranges, and stalls distribute hottea and pudding to passersby.Temporary salons have sprung up.For now, these roads and trailersare their home, despite the cold.“More farmers are joining us nextweek,” says farmer Ram Singh, whotraveled 140 miles to join. “Most ofour wives and children are backhome for now, but they’ll join us,too, if needed.” As Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s administrationveers right, fellow Hindu national-ists have often dismissed critics as“anti-national.” But agricultureemploys half of India’s workforce,making the farmers’ protests oneof the most serious challenges yetto his populist image. And thedemonstrations have come tosymbolise a wider kind of discon-tent, about democratic ideals androom for dissent.

HEARTBREAKINGAn exhausted migrant kid clinging onto suitcase wheeled by mother

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THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWARP8

GOA

AGENCIES

Panaji, Dec 30: Ministers in Goaappear to be a divided lot on regu-lated cannabis cultivation in thecoastal state for medicinal pur-poses, a day after Law MinisterNilesh Cabral made a strong pitchfor such endeavour.

Speaking to reporters in PanajiWednesday, Art and CultureMinister Govind Gaude said thatthat while the move could help gen-erate employment, it could alsolead to adverse social impact. Earlierin the day, he said he did not evenknow what cannabis was.

"I don't even know what cannabisis. Whether it is used for 'ganja' orfor medicinal purposes, I cannotcomment on it. I will study it first,"Gaude told reporters.

"If we are looking at it from theemployment point of view,

we must also spare a thought for thefamilies which may be destroyed onaccount of such a decision," Gaudesaid.

According to Tourism MinisterManohar Ajgaonkar, the proposalmooted by the Health Departmentneeded a thorough vetting by ex-perts, to under the long-term impact

of the decision."It should be studied. This is a mat-

ter which deals with people's health,"Ajgaonkar said. The CabinetMinister also said that expertsneeded to be consulted before al-lowing legal cultivation of cannabisin Goa.

"It should be studied and a re-port needs to be compiled beforetaking such a decision... if expertsgive us good inputs, the govern-ment can go ahead with it, but onlyafter a proper study is conducted,"Ajgaonkar said.

The opposition is up in armsover the proposal -- which has al-ready been vetted by the LawDepartment -- claiming that the im-plications would be disastrous for

Goa, a tourism-dependent state thatis already infamous as a narco-tourism destination.

While Chief Minister PramodSawant has maintained that a finaldecision on the matter is yet to betaken and that the proposal neededCabinet approval, Law MinisterNilesh Cabral has said that 'bhang',a derivative of the cannabis plant,is already legally sold in sevenIndian states.

"In seven states in India, a formof this (cannabis) plant, known as'bhang', is already available. Bhangis sold across the counter in somestates in licensed stores like liquorvends elsewhere," Cabral said on Tuesday.

The Goa Forward party has op-posed the move, saying it may leadthe youth in Goa to ruin.

"How will this benefit the youthof Goa? Is this needed for their fu-ture?" Goa Forward President andformer Deputy Chief Minister VijaiSardesai had asked.

The Shiv Sena in Goa had also op-posed the move and its statePresident Jitesh Kamat said sar-castically: "Now that farmers inGoa will be allowed to far mcannabis, the government shouldnow consider issuing them Krishi cards".

Will Goa legalise cannabis cultivationMINISTERS IN THE STATE ARE DIVIDED IN THEIR VIEWS

I don’t even knowwhat cannabis is.

Whether it is used for‘ganja’ or for medicinalpurposes, I can’tcomment on it. I willstudy it firstGOVIND GAUDE I ART AND CULTUREMINISTER

It should be studied and a reportneeds to be compiled beforetaking such a decision... if expertsgive us good inputs, thegovernment can go ahead with it,but only after a proper study isconductedMANOHAR AJGAONKAR I TOURISMMINISTER

AGENCIES

Panaji, Dec 30: Despite the rushof domestic holidaymakers in Goa,only 1,400 of the 4,000 hotels reg-istered in the coastal state haveopened for business. The emer-gence of the new mutated strain ofCovid-19 has also had a detrimen-tal effect on the state’s tourismprospects, a top tourism officialsaid Wednesday.

According to Nilesh Shah,President of the Travel and TourismAssociation of Goa, hotel rates inthe state during the festive seasonwere nearly 20 to 30 per cent lessthan the comparative period last year.

"The situation is still evolving.Vaccination will play a major rolein determining how the tourismprospects for 2021 pan out. The

emergence of the second strain ofcoronavirus has caused some neg-ativity, as a result of which thetourism trade which we thoughtwas opening up, has now gone intoreverse gear," Shah told IANS

Wednesday. While Goa has wit-nessed a surge in domestic touristarrivals during the week fromDecember 25 onwards, Shah said theshortfall in expectations could begauged from the number of regis-

tered hotels which have opened upduring the pandemic and the com-paratively low pricing of the existing hotels.

"Many hotels have not openedyet in Goa. At present, of 4,100 reg-istered hotels, only 1,300 to 1,400are open," Shah added.

While charter tourism, whichused to facilitate the arrival ofnearly half a million foreign touristsevery year, has gone for a toss, thevolume of domestic tourists hasmade up for the loss, he said.

The Travel and TourismAssociation of Goa is one of the old-est tourism bodies in the state,comprising members from thetravel and hospitality industry.

"The tourism season in 2021 lookschallenging. We are not expectingany charter bookings till October.We have been lobbying for a flight

bubble arrangement from Russiawhich could help," Shah added.Over the last decade and a half,Russian tourists have topped thenumber of foreign tourists visitingthe state, followed by travellersfrom the United Kingdom.

He said that once the vaccinationprogramme rolls out globally, thetourism industry across the worldcould possibly be salvaged by atravel document regime like theone made for travelling to Africa.

"If you are flying to Africa, youneed to be immunised for certainillnesses and travellers need tocarry official certificates. The sameprotocol may kick in vis-a-vis Covid-19, after the vaccination programmerolls out. This means if one wishesto cross international boundaries,a Covid-19 immunisation shot maybecome compulsory," Shah added.

Tourism in Goa yet to recover from Covid-dent ONLY 1,400 OF 4,000 HOTELS IN GOA ARE OPERATIONAL, SAYS A TOURISM OFFICIAL

AGENCIES

Bangalore, Dec 30: KarnatakaChief Minister BS YediyurappaWednesday appealed to all “miss-ing” UK returnees to get tested forthe new strain of coronavirus, fortheir own safety and also to curb thespread of the infection.

"As the Chief Minister of thestate, I urge all those who have re-turned from the UK to come forwardand get their health check up done.See to it that you don't create trou-ble for others," Yediyurappa said be-fore reporters.

Yediyurappa tweeted: "Dear cit-izens, the danger of corona has stillnot subsided. As we enter into theNew Year even a slightest ignoranceregarding the pandemic is not done.Follow the government's guidelinesand rules and stay safe by taking all

the necessary precautionary meas-ures, and cooperate." The CM's ap-peal comes in the wake of sevenpeople, who returned to the statefrom the UK recently, testing posi-tive for the new strain of the virusand who are undergoing treatmentat designated hospitals in the city.

A total of 2,500 people have cometo the state from the UK betweenNovember 25 and December 22 ontwo fl ights - - Air India and British Airways.

Till Tuesday evening, theKarnataka health department hadconducted tests on 1,903 UK pas-sengers. Out of them 29 have testedpositive and 1,599 negative, while theresults of 275 are awaited.

In view of some UK returneesgoing off the radar, Karnataka'shealth department has sought the

home department's help to locatethem. The CM ruled out any changein the Covid safety guidelines fornow as the danger of coronavirushas not subsided. "There is nochange in guidelines at this pointin time. If there is any instructionsfrom Delhi (Union government),let's see then," he said in responseto a query.

The Chief Minister said that theUnion Health Ministry is moni-toring the spread of the new UK vari-ant of coronavirus in India, there-fore Karnataka cannot decide on its own. "We will wait for freshguideline from them only then thestate will think of changing pres-ent Covid safety protocols," he said,adding that until then all will haveto remain alert and test those whohave come from outside.

AGENCIES

Panaji, Dec 30: The verdant jun-gle which covers this steep area ofIndia’s Western Ghats mountainrange is home to leopards, Bengaltigers, pangolins, black panthersand hundreds of endemic speciesof flora and fauna found nowhereelse on the planet. The muscularstate animal of Goa – the gaur, orIndian bison – is often seen trudg-ing through the forests, and thepark’s Dudhsagar waterfall is amongthe highest in the country.

Yet Mollem and the adjoiningBhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, cov-ering a protected area of 240 sq km,is set to be splintered and partiallydeforested by three invasive projects;the doubling of a railway line, roadexpansion and an electric powertransmission line.

“This is an area declared byUnesco to be one of the world’seight biodiversity hotspots andwhich includes a proposed tiger re-serve. This project will undo somuch that can never be recoveredagain,” said Claude Alvares, an ac-

tivist with the Goa Foundation whohas taken up litigation against allthree projects in the Bombay highcourt and before a committee ofthe Supreme Court.

Indian law bans construction inwildlife sanctuaries but the gov-ernment has approved them in thename of public interest and Goa’sfuture development. However, manybelieve these three projects are partof a masterplan to turn India’ssmallest state into a corridor for afivefold increase in coal importsby some of India’s biggest indus-trialists, known for their close tiesto the ruling Bharatiya Janata party(BJP).

Cumulatively it will involve di-verting 378 hectares (934 acres) offorest in Goa, felling 40,000 pro-tected trees and shifting more than1.8m tonnes of mud and earth frominside the sanctuary.

Activists and citizens claim theseprojects have been foisted on Goaby the central government with-out any public consultation or trans-parency. They are now subject tomultiple legal challenges and have

sparked a grassroots oppositionmovement unlike anything seen inGoa for decades, with thousandstaking to the streets in protest.Students, artists, biologists, tourismbodies and 150 scientists have writ-ten to India’s environment minis-ter Prakash Javadekar and theSupreme Court requesting the proj-

ects be halted, alleging environ-mental laws have been broken or ig-nored. More than 8,000 people tookpart in a recent demonstration anddozens have been booked by policeor arrested.

“We are not just saving Mollemforests for their beauty but for thevery survival of life in Goa,” said

artist Svabhu Kohli, who began theMy Mollem campaign, whichbrought together artists, lawyers,researchers, biologists and localcommunities to raise awarenessthrough art and action of the impactthe projects could have on Mollem.

“They say they are doing this tobenefit the people of Goa. But every-one in Goa knows Mollem has aspecial magic, so how can cuttingdown irreplaceable forests be ben-eficial? And if it’s for us, why werewe never consulted?”

For the past three years, Goa’smain port, Mormugao Port Trustin the north of the state, has beenon an expansion drive to become ahub for imported coal. Since 2018,two of India’s biggest coal importers,Adani and JSW, have set up multi-ple terminals at the port.

In 2020, the environment min-istry granted clearance for a thirdcoal terminal and deep-water dredg-ing to accommodate large coal ves-sels. Currently the port handles12m tonnes of coal, but importershope to increase that to 51m tonnesby 2035.

Undertrial escapesGoa police custody

Two accomplices sprayed pepper and firedwarning shots to stop the police escort from

foiling their attempt to flee

AGENCIES

Panaji, Dec 30: An undertrial ac-cused of robbery and lodged inthe Colvale central jail in North Goa,escaped from police custodyWednesday while returning froma medical check-up at a nearbygovernment hospital. Two accom-plices sprayed pepper and firedwarning shots to stop the policeescort from foiling their attempt to flee.

Deputy Superintendent of PoliceGajanan Prabhudessai said the at-tempt was pre-planned and thatthe police were now on the lookoutfor the accused Vivek KumarGautam, who originally hails fromUttarakhand.

According to the police official,the incident occurred Wednesday

morning after Gautam complainedthat he was suffering from a painfulstomach ailment and was feelinguneasy.

While Gautam was returningfrom a government hospital inMapusa town, his accomplicessprayed pepper spray at the po-lice escort and fired shots in the airto deter the policemen from fol-lowing them.

"We have intensified our searchto nab the three accused. It wasclearly a pre-planned move andpoints to the use of mobile phoneswithin the jail. We have recoveredthe used cartridges from the sceneand have begun interrogating keypersons, including the ambulancedriver who went missing at thetime of discharg e," Prabhudessai said.

AGENCIES

Bangalore, Dec 30: KarnatakaHealth Minister K SudhakarWednesday confirmed that sevencases of the new coronavirus strainhave been reported in the state.

"All seven Covid cases had re-turned from Britain and landed inKarnataka during December. Ofthe seven cases, three are inBangalore and four in Shivamoggadistrict, which is also the home dis-trict of Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa," the Minister toldthe media.

According to Sudhakar, threeprimary contacts of theShivamogga cases have also testedpositive. "Their samples have beensent for testing for the new coro-navirus strain. All seven Covidpositive patients have been putunder home quarantine," he said.

The apartment of the three pos-itive patients from one family inBangalore has been sealed by theBruhat Bangalore Mahanagara

Palike (BBMP) for 14 days.The civic body claimed the ac-

tion was taken as a precaution-ary measure and all residents hadbeen advised to stay at home for 14days.

In the wake of the new strain ofthe coronavirus, Chief MinisterYediyurappa appealed to all theUK returnees in the past twomonths to get themselves tested.

"A few returnees are still un-traceable and the health depart-ment has asked the home depart-ment to help in tracing the UKreturnees," Sudhakar said.

The swab samples of 26 personswho tested positive for Covid-19were sent to the National Instituteof Mental Health and NeuroSciences (Nimhans) to ascertainwhether it is the new strain andseven of them were found to havecontracted the UK variant, theHealth Minister added.

He claimed that the 26 personswere among the 1,614 UK returneeswho were subjected to the tests.

7 UK returnees test +ve fornew Covid strain in Karna

OF THE SEVEN CASES,THREE ARE INBANGALORE AND FOUR INSHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT

3 PRIMARY CONTACTS OF THE SHIVAMOGGA CASES HAVE ALSO TESTEDPOSITIVE

THE APARTMENT OF THE THREE POSITIVEPATIENTS FROM ONE FAMILY INBANGALORE HAS BEEN SEALED BY THEBBMP FOR 14 DAYS

Yedi appeals for cooperation MUTATED COVID STRAIN

The Karnataka CM urges ‘missing’ UK returnees to cooperate with govt

As the Chief Minister ofthe state, I urge all

those who have returnedfrom the UK to come forwardand get their health check updone. See to it that you don’tcreate trouble for othersBS YEDIYURAPPA | CHIEF MINISTER,KARNATAKA

AGENCIES

Bangalore, Dec 30: With schoolsset to reopen from January 1 inKarnataka, Primary and SecondaryEducation Minister S Suresh KumarWednesday visited a few institu-tions here and reviewed their pre-paredness to conduct classes ad-hering to COVID-19 guidelines.

The Minister inspected arrange-ments in classrooms and spoke tothe headmasters, principals, lec-turers and teachers, instructingthem to take precautions to pre-vent spread of the virus once theclasses resume, official sourcessaid. He also advised the staff to sen-sitise the students about the sig-

nificance of passing the SSLC andsecondary PU classes with highmarks, they said.

The state is gearing for reopen ofschools and pre- university (highersecondary) colleges, which haveremained shut since March due toCOVID-19, after the governmenton December 19 decided to resume

regular classes for Class X and PU-II year (class 12) students fromJanuary 1.

It has also planned to hold reg-ular classes for PU-I year fromJanuary 15 and to start Vidyagamaprogramme for students of classessix to nine in government schools,taking education to their doorsteps.

Under this programme a teacherwill teach a small batch of studentsat a place convenient for them to as-semble and study by abiding bythe COVID-19 guidelines.

The government's decision to re-open schools has been opposed bysome quarters, including rulingBJP MLC AH Vishwanath, a formereducation minister.

Will Mollem park survive rail, road expansionMOLLEM NATIONAL PARK HAS LONG BEEN THE EMERALD IN GOA’S CROWN

Karna prepares for schools reopening

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nationalTHURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

Dupe anddeceive the Anndata isthe ‘new normal’ in Indiaas complicit BJPgovernments looksidewaysRAHUL GANDHI | CONGRESS LEADER

The External Affairs MinistryWednesday launched the GlobalPravasi Rishta portal and app toconnect with the nearly 3.12-crore strong Indian diasporaacross the world

PRAVASI RISHTA PORTAL APP

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The DigitalIndia initiativeof the

government shouldcontinue to strivetowards reducingthe digital divide

RAM NATH KOVIND | PRESIDENT

of theday uote

It has been ayear now(since the

Thackeray-led MVAgovernmentassumed office).They (BJP) were tobring down the government in twomonths, then they were to do so insix months, then in eight months.But, nothing will happen

SHARAD PAWAR | NCP SUPREMO

The BJP-ledgovernmentmust shed its

out of sight and outof mind approachand take concretesteps to bring oursailors back home; the families ofsailors are tensed up

JAIVEER SHERGILL | CONGRESS LEADER

Congress leader,nephew shot dead Chitrakoot (UP): A localCongress leader and hisnephew were shot deadallegedly by their neighbourin Prasiddhpur village here,police. Pahadi police stationSHO Shravan Kumar Singhhas been suspended oncharges of laxity followingthe double murder. Formerdistrict unit vice-president ofCongress Ashok Patel (55)had an old rivalry with hisneighbour Kamlesh Kumar,who arrived at his houseTuesday night and opened firewith his rifle, Superintendentof Police Ankit Mittal said.

3 militants killed Srinagar: Police Wednesdayclaimed to have killed threemilitants in an overnightencounter in the city'sParimpora area but familiesof the slain youths said theyhad no connection withmilitancy and that two ofthem were students. Thefamilies from southKashmir's Pulwama andShopian districts also stageda protest outside the policecontrol room here andclaimed that of those killed,one was a Class 11 student,one a university student andthe other a carpenter.

SHORT TAKES

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Dec 30: The Unionhealth ministry was in the thickof action throughout 2020 in India'sfight against coronavirus, ramp-ing up testing facilities as well ashealth infrastructure while simul-taneously issuing COVID-19 treat-ment and management guidelinesfrom time and time.

At the same time, it put on trackthe development of a vaccine whichis likely to be available early next year.

The first case of coronavirus in-fection in the country was recordedJanuary 30 in Kerala and the firstdeath on March 10 in Karnataka. BySeptember, India became the secondworst-hit nation, after the US, interms of COVID-19 cases.

As the country eased the lock-down norms through a graded andpre-emptive approach, the healthministry started issuing standard

operating procedures for opening upof religious places, shopping malls,restaurants, hotel and offices andmost recently for educational in-stitutions to prevent the spread ofthe virus.

The Centre March 30 alsolaunched Rs 50-lakh insurance coverfor health workers fighting COVID-19. It also constituted 11 empow-ered groups on different aspects ofCOVID-19 management in the coun-try to take informed decisions on var-ious issues.

The number of daily coronaviruscases peaked in September with97,894 infections being reported onthe17th day of the month, afterwhich India began witnessing a de-cline in cases even though severalother countries saw a surge in in-fections.

Recoveries have crossed 98 lakhputting the country in the numberone position in terms of the num-ber of recovered coronavirus cases,

followed by Brazil while it is in thethird spot in terms of fatalitiesglobally after the US and Brazil,according to the Johns HopkinsUniversity, which has been com-piling global COVID-19 data.

While battling the pandemic,India ramped up the production ofCOVID-19 protective gears like PPEand N-95 masks while scaling up test-

ing facilities boosting indigenousproduction of such items therebyreducing dependency on foreigncountries.

India has so far tested over 17crore samples for COVID-19 in itsover 1,200 government and 1,080private laboratories.

As several countries raced to de-velop a vaccine against the deadly

viral disease, Indian scientists tooplunged into action and developedat least three vaccine candidates, oneof which now is under active con-sideration for approval. At pres-ent, six COVID-19 vaccines are un-dergoing clinical trials in India.

They are: Covaxin, developed byBharat Biotech in collaborationwith ICMR; Oxford vaccine manu-factured by SII under licence fromAstraZeneca; ZyCOV-D being de-veloped by Cadila Healthcare Ltd inAhmedabad in collaboration withthe Centre 's De par tment ofBiotechnology; Sputnik V vaccinemanufactured by Dr Reddy's Lab,Hyderabad, in collaboration withRussia's Gamaleya National Centre;one manufactured by Biological ELtd, Hyderabad, in collaborationwith MIT, US and the sixth developedby Pune-based GennovaBiopharmaceuticals Ltd in collab-oration with HDT, US.

Besides, there is NVX-CoV2373,

which is being developed by SII incollaboration with Novavax and itsphase-3 clinical trial is under con-sideration with the drug regulator.

An eighth vaccine is being de-veloped by Bharat BiotechInternational Ltd in collaborationwith Thomas Jefferson University,US and it is at the pre-clinical stages.

Another vaccine, which is in theinitial stage, is being developed byAurbindo Pharma.

Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech,Serum Institute of India and Pfizerh ave ap p l i e d t o t h e D r u g sController General of India seek-ing emergency use authorisationfor their COVID-19 vaccines. WhilePfizer is yet to make a presentation,the applications of Bharat Biotechand Serum Institute are being ex-amined, the Centre recently saidasserting that DCGI's requirementfor more data from the companieswill not impact the vaccine-rollout timeline.

Fight against nCoV kept health ministry on its toes in 2020

Rlys to link Indiawith B’desh, Nepal

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

Guwahati/Agartala, Dec 30:The Nor theast FrontierRailways (NFR), which oper-ates trains and executes proj-ects partially in Bihar and WestBengal besides the northeast-ern states, will link India withBangladesh and Nepal via railin the next nine months.

According to railway offi-cials, the NFR is now executingtwo international railway proj-ects -- the 12.03-km long newbroad gauge railway line fromAgartala (Tripura) to Akhaurain Bangladesh and the 18.6-kmlong railway line from Jogbani(Bihar) to Biratnagar in Nepal.

NFR's spokesman(Construction Organisation)

Jayanta Kumar Sarma saidthat with an estimated cost ofRs 967.5 crore, the Agartala-Akhaura railway project wouldbe completed by Septembernext year while the Jogbani-Nepal project, with an esti-mated cost of Rs 374 crore,would be finalised by July 2021.

"The first phase of the two in-ternational railway projects iseither completed or just aboutto complete. Work on both therailway projects is going on infull swing. Once the two proj-ects are completed, railwayconnectivity would bring greatchange in the land locked north-eastern states and in easternIndia with its neighbours -Bangladesh and Nepal," Sarmasaid in a statement.

A Royal Bengal Tiger walks inside an enclosure of Alipore Zoological Garden, in Kolkata PTI PHOTO

ROYAL WALK

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

New Delhi, Dec 30: In a big boostto India's indigenous defence ca-pabilities, the government ap-proved Wednesday the sale ofAkash missile system to foreign na-tions, Defence Minister RajnathSingh said.

A surface-to-air missile with arange of 25 km with over 96 percent indigenisation, Akash, de-veloped by the DRDO, is India's firstindigenously designed missile sys-tem and can target fighter jets,cruise missiles, drones and otheraerial assets. It was inducted intothe Indian Air Force in 2014 andin the Indian Army in 2015.

Rajnath Singh, in a series oftweets, said that the Cabinet,chaired by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, approved the ex-port of Akash Missile System anda Committee for faster approvalshas been created.

Noting that till now Indian de-fence exports included parts orcomponents for defence equip-ment, he said: "The export of bigplatforms was minimal. This de-cision by the Cabinet would helpthe country to improve its defenceproducts and make them globallycompetitive." The Defence Ministry,in a statement, said: "After its in-duction in the Services, interestwas shown in Akash missile bymany friendly countries duringInternational Exhibitions/DefenceExpo/Aero India. The Cabinet ap-proval will facilitate Indian man-ufactures to participate in RFI/RFPissued by various countries."

The export version of Akashwill be different from the systemcurrently deployed with Indianarmed forces.

India targets global arms sales

CLASSIFIEDLOST

AGENCIES

New Delhi, Dec 30: Experts atIndia’s drug regulator were meet-ing on Wednesday to consider ap-proving an AstraZeneca/Oxfordcoronavirus vaccine for emergencyuse after Britain became the firstcountry to do so, two sources withknowledge of the matter said.

A representative of India’sCentral Drugs Standard ControlOrganization (CDSCO) declined toreveal the agenda of the meeting butsaid its minutes would be uploadedon its website within hours.

Sources earlier told Reuters theCDSCO was likely to approve thevaccine this week after its localmanufacturer, Serum Institute ofIndia (SII), submitted additionaltrial data.

SII, the world’s biggest producerof vaccines, has already stockpiledabout 50 million doses, enough for25 million people.

It welcomed the UK approval.“This is great and encouraging

news,” Chief Executive AdarPoonawalla said in a statement.“We will wait for the final approvalfrom Indian regulators.”

India wants to start administer-ing the shots starting next monthand is also considering emergencyuse authorisation applications forvaccines made by Pfizer Inc withGermany’s BioNTech and by India’sBharat Biotech.

India, which has the world’s sec-ond highest number of COVID-19infections in the world after theUnited States, plans to inoculate

300 million people in the next six toeight months and the affordableOxford vaccine is its biggest hope.

Though the Indian governmenthas not yet signed a purchase agree-ment with SII, the company says itwill focus on its home market first,and then exports, mainly to SouthAsian countries and Africa.

India's COVID-19 caseload rose to1,02,44,852 with 20,549 new infec-tions being reported in a day, whilethe number of people who have re-cuperated from the disease surgedto 98.34 lakh pushing the national

recovery rate to 95.99 per cent, ac-cording to the Union HealthMinistry data updated onWednesday. The death toll increasedto 1,48,439 with 286 new fatalities,the data updated at 8 am showed .

Panel to consider SII’s request for vaccine use20 people found with new UK variant

India Wednesday recorded 14cases of a mutant strain of

coronavirus, which is 70% moretransmissible, and has prompted awave of panic and border closuresaround the world. With 14 morecases in India, the authorities saidtoday morning that 20 patients havebeen infected with the mutantstrain, which was first reported inthe United Kingdom in September,so far. The fresh 20 cases includesix persons reported earlier (threein NIMHANS, Bengaluru, two inCCMB, Hyderabad and one in NIV,Pune). Around 107 samples weretested in the 10 labs as indicated inthe table below.

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Chennai, Dec 30: The BJPWednesday said it may seek thesupport of superstar Rajinikanthfor the 2021 assembly elections inTamil Nadu, a day after the star saidhe has abandoned his plan to makea political foray.

Asserting that its alliance withthe AIADMK was strong, BJP na-tional general secretary C T Ravi,however, said the NDA was led byhis party and 'Prime MinisterNarendra Modi' in the state as well,apparently indicating that it was notsteered by the ruling party, the sen-ior partner.

In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK wasthe largest partner in the NationalDemocratic Alliance (NDA) andnaturally, the Chief Minister willbe from that party, Ravi, BJP's stateincharge, told reporters here, an-swering a volley of questions on tiesbetween the two parties.

A formal decision would be madeon the Chief Ministerial candidateof the NDA once the ElectionCommission issues the notifica-tion for the assembly elections, ex-pected in April- May, he said, addingthe strategy was part of the ongo-ing exercise to strengthen the BJPin the state. The AIADMK has al-ready announced incumbent K

Palaniswami as its Chief Ministerialcandidate in the election.

Earlier, former Indian team legspinner and cricket commentator,Laxman Sivaramakrishnan andseveral elected representatives atthe level of local bodies joined theBJP. On Rajinikanth's an-nouncement that he would notlaunch a political party, Ravi praisedthe actor, saying he had alwaysprotected the national and TamilNadu's interests. "He is a greatleader." Asked if his party wouldseek his support, he said, "I hope,we will ask him." To a similar ques-tion, Ravi said everyone knows,"how close Modi Ji and Rajinikanthare." AIADMK has also expressedthe view that Rajinikanth wouldsupport the party-led alliance inview of his decision not to floathis outfit. Opposition parties havesaid Rajinikanth's decision not tojoin politics would hurt the BJP,maintaining that it was hoping tojoin hands with him and become aforce in the state. Rajinikanth, whoearlier said he would launch hisparty next month, had on Tuesdayannounced he would not foray intopolitics in view of his health sta-tus, having undergone a kidneytransplant four years ago, and con-sidering the coronavirus pandemicsituation.

BJP plays hardball with AIADMK

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE

Chandigarh, Dec 30: In anotherhumiliating defeat to Haryana'sruling BJP-JJP combine, it lostmayoral polls in two municipalcorporations but won in one civicbody Wednesday.

The opposition Congress wonthe post of Mayor for the SonepatMunicipal Corporation, while theBJP won the post in PanchkulaMunicipal Corporation.

In the Ambala MunicipalCorporation, Congress rebel VenodSharma's Haryana Jan ChetnaParty won. BJP's Kulbhushan Goyalwon the Panchkula mayor election

by defeating Congress' UpinderKaur Ahluwalia by a margin of2,057 votes. Goyal got 49,860 votes,while Ahluwalia polled 47,803 votes.

In Ambala, Haryana Jan ChetnaParty's Shakti Rani Sharma de-feated BJP's Vandana Sharma by amargin of over 7,000 votes.

Congress' Nikhil Madaan de-feated BJP's candidate Lalit Batraby a margin of 13,818 votes inSonepat for the mayor seat.

However in the Rewari MunicipalCouncil, the BJP won the post ofChairperson. BJP's Poonam Yadavdefeated Independent Upma Yadavby 2,087 votes. The Congress wasthird on this seat.

In the Uklana municipal com-mittee election, independent can-didate Sushil Sahu defeated BJP'sally Jannayak Janata Party (JJP)candidate Mahender Soni for thePresident's post.

In Sampla, independent candidatePooja, who was backed by formerChief Minister and Congress leaderBhupinder Singh Hooda, defeatedthe BJP nominee for the President'spost.

In the Dharuhera MunicipalCommittee election in Rewari dis-trict, independent nominee KanwarSingh became the President by de-feating nearest rival and BJP can-didate Sandeep Bohra by 632 votes.

Haryana civic polls: Setback for BJP-JJP

FILE PHOTO

P10THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

internationalThistransformative

hospital price transparencyrule has been fought atevery step by the swampand defenders of the status quoKAYLEIGH MCENANY | PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE

New York City hasrecorded 447 killings, a41 per cent increase overlast year and the largestnumber since 2011

KILLINGS SPIKE IN NYC AMID PANDEMIC

cmyk

cmyk

Baloch leadersare beingassassinated

by Pakistani militarydeath squads. Wecan’t rule out atargetedassassination as the cause of hersudden death

NABI BAKSH BALOCH | BALOCH ACTIVIST

of theday uote

It looks likePutin is inhysterics.

They are trying toput me behind barsfor failing to die andcontinuing to huntfor my killers and for proving thatPutin was behind it

ALEXEI NAVALNY | OPPOSITION

LEADER, RUSSIA

What wesought wasn’ta rupture but

a resolution, aresolution of the oldand vexed questionof Britain’s politicalrelations with Europe, whichbedevilled our post-War history

BORIS JOHNSON | PRIME MINISTER, UK

Landslide inNorway, 10 hurt Helsinki: A landslide smashedinto a residential area nearthe Norwegian capitalWednesday, injuring at least10 people, leaving 21unaccounted for anddestroying several homes,authorities said. Some 700people were evacuated amidfears of further landslides.Norwegian police werealerted at 4 AM. The landslidecut across a road through Ask,leaving a deep ravine thatcars could not pass. Videofootage showed dramaticscenes including one housefalling into the ravine.

Sharif’s passportwill be cancelled Islamabad: The Pakistangovernment Wednesday saidit will cancel the passport offormer prime minister NawazSharif February 16. Sharif, 70,the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) supremo, hasbeen living in London sinceNovember last year after theLahore High Court grantedhim permission to go abroadfor four weeks for treatment.The three-time former primeminister has been convictedin two corruption cases.

Oli is ‘tired ofmaking deals’ Kathmandu: Embattled PrimeMinister KP Sharma Oli saidWednesday that he is "tiredof making deals" with therival faction leader PushpaKamal Dahal 'Prachanda' andaccused him of breachingvarious agreements reached between them onseveral occasions to keep theruling Nepal CommunistParty's unity intact. Oli'sremarks came hours after afour-member Chinesedelegation led by ViceMinister of the InternationalDepartment of the rulingCommunist Party of China(CPC) Guo Yezhou returnedhome without much successin its mission to patch updifferences between Nepal'sfeuding leaders.

Hindu templevandalised Peshawar: A Hindu templewas vandalised by an angrymob in northwest PakistanWednesday, police said. Theincident took place in Terrivillage in KhyberPakhtunkhwa's Karakdistrict, District Police OfficerIrfan Marwat told reporters.According to Marwat,protesting the expansionwork of the temple, the mobdemolished the newlyconstructed work alongsidethe old structure. No casehas been registered andneither any arrest made sofar in the incident.

SHORT TAKES

ARGENTINA PASSES LANDMARK BILL TO LEGALISE ABORTION

AGENCIES

Buenos Aires, Dec 30:Argentina’sSenate has passed a law legalisingabortion in Pope Francis’ home-land after a marathon 12-hour ses-sion, a victory for the women’smovement that has been fighting forthe right for decades.

The vote means that abortionwill be legalised up to the 14th weekof pregnancy, and also will be legalafter that time in cases of rape ordanger to the mother’s life. It willhave repercussions across a conti-nent where the procedure is largelyillegal.

The measure was passed with38 votes in favour, 29 against and oneabstention, after a session that

began late Tuesday.It was already approved by

Argentina’s Chamber of Deputiesand has the support of PresidentAlberto Fernández, meaning theSenate vote was its final hurdle.

"This has been a struggle formany years, many women died.Never again will there be a womankilled in a clandestine abortion," saidVilma Ibarra, the author of the lawand legal and technical secretary forthe presidency, who wept as shespoke to reporters after the result.

"We did it sisters. We made his-tory. We did it together. There areno words for this moment, it passesthrough the body and the soul,"tweeted Monica Macha, a lawmakerwith President Alberto Fernandez'

center-left ruling coalition.“Safe, legal and free abortion is

now the law,” Fernández himselftweeted after the vote, noting that

it had been an election pledge.“Today, we are a better society

that expands women's rights andguarantees public health,” he added.

Protests outside parliamentArgentina is the largest Latin

American country to legalise abor-tion and the vote was being closelywatched.

Abortion is extremely rare in aregion where the

Church has heldcultural and

political swayfor cen-turies. Withthe excep-tions ofUruguay,

Cuba, MexicoCity, Mexico's

Oaxacastate, the Antilles and

French Guiana, abortion remains

largely illegal across the region.Outside the Senate, pro- and anti-

abortion rights activists gathered,with the bill’s supporters wearingthe color green that represents theirabortion rights movement. Backerswaved green flags as Vice PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner,who presided over the debate, an-nounced the result, shouting “legalabortion in the hospital” as themeasure was passed.

Argentina until now has penalisedwomen and those who help themabort. The only exceptions werecases involving rape or a risk tothe health of the mother, and ac-tivists complain even these excep-tions are not respected in someprovinces.

THE BILL WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY ARGENTINA’S CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, MEANINGTHE SENATE VOTE WAS ITS FINAL HURDLE

Thishas been a

struggle for manyyears, many women

died. Never again willthere be a woman killedin a clandestine abortion

VILMA IBARRA | TECHNICALSECRETARY FOR THE

PRESIDENCY

AGENCIES

London, Dec 30:Britain Wednesdaybecame the first country in theworld to approve a coronavirus vac-cine developed by Oxford Universityand AstraZeneca, hoping that rapidaction would help it stem a surge ofinfections driven by a highly con-tagious variant of the virus.

Boris Johnson’s government,which has already ordered 100 mil-lion doses of the vaccine, has jumpedahead of other Western countrieswith its vaccination programme.

It was the first to approve a shotdeveloped by Pfizer of the UnitedStates and Germany’s BioNTech,with the result that hundreds ofthousands of people were vacci-nated in Britain before EuropeanUnion countries and the UnitedStates even began administeringit this month.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford shot,unlikely to be approved for sometime by EU or U.S. regulators, willstart being administered Monday,

beginning with those most at riskfrom COVID-19.

While the approval by the UKMedicines and Healthcare prod-ucts Regulatory Agency (MHRA) isa vindication for a shot seen as es-sential for mass immunisations inthe developing world as well as inBritain, it does not eliminate ques-tions about trial data that make itunlikely to be approved so rapidlyin the European Union or the UnitedStates.

Uncertainty has swirled over themost effective dosing pattern for theAstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine sinceit released data last month showinga 90% success rate for a half-dosefollowed by a full dose, but only 62%- still usually more than enough forregulators - for two full doses.

The MHRA said that the resultsfor the half-dose regimen had notbeen borne out by analysis. Instead,it approved the regimen of two fulldoses. An official involved in the

MHRA decision, said that the vac-cine’s effectiveness had risen whenthe doses were given three monthsapart.

“Effectiveness was high, up to80%, when there was a three- monthinterval between first and seconddoses, which is the reason for ourrecommendation,” MunirPir mohamed, Chair of theCommission on Human medicinesexpert Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines, told reporters.

Hancock said hundreds of thou-sands of doses would be availableto administer next week in Britain.

“The NHS (National HealthService) will be able to deliver theseshots into people’s arms at the speedat which it can be manufactured,”Health Secretary Matt Hancocktold Sky News.

“I am also now, with this ap-proval this morning, highly confi-dent that we can get enough vul-nerable people vaccinated by thespring that we can now see ourroute out of this pandemic.”

UK nod to Astra/Oxford vaxThe

AstraZeneca/Oxford shot

will startbeing

administeredMonday,

beginningwith those

most at risk

A govt official saidthat thevaccine’seffectivenesshad risenwhen thedoses weregiven threemonths apart

Effectiveness was high, up to 80 pc, when there was a three- month interval

between first and second doses

AGENCIES

Washington, Dec 30: The USSenate was due Wednesday to holda procedural vote that could pavethe way for Congress to overridePresident Donald Trump’s veto ofa key defense bill, as tension be-tween the outgoing Republicanpresident and party leaders grows.

Trump Tuesday ramped-up pres-sure on his fellow Republicans tosupport his decision to veto thebill because it does not repeal cer-tain legal protections for tech giants,and to back $2,000 one-time stimuluschecks for struggling Americans.

The president attackedRepublican leaders on Twitter as“pathetic,” and warned that theparty had a “death wish” if it didnot back the bigger payments. Healso called again for scrapping so-cial media company legal protec-tions.

Senate Majority Leader MitchMcConnell, however, blocked aquick vote on the checks, and urgedlawmakers to override Trump’sveto. If successful, the veto over-ride would be the first such con-

gressional rebuke of Trump.The House of Representatives

overturned his veto on Monday,and the Senate is expected to holda procedural vote on Wednesdayevening. Final passage of the over-ride could come later in the weekor over the weekend.

Late on Tuesday, McConnell in-troduced a bill that combined the$2,000 checks with a provision scrap-ping the social media company pro-tections and another to study elec-tion security, a major issue forTrump who has claimed without ev-idence that fraud robbed him ofvictory in the November election.

Since most Democrats do notsupport the second two measures,the maneuver looks set to kill offall three.

AGENCIES

Kathmandu, Dec 30: Nepal hassought India's help to procureCOVID-19 vaccines for around 20 percent of i ts population. TheHimalayan nation is ramping up itsefforts to contain the deadly virusthat has killed more than 1,800 peo-ple and infected over 260,000 others,a media report said Wednesday.

The Nepal government has writ-ten to the Indian government, re-questing for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate around 20per cent of the Nepali population,the Kathmandu Post reported.

Nepal will pay for the vaccinesit sources through India, the paperadded. At least two vaccine candi-dates including Oxford 'sAstraZeneca and domestically de-veloped candidate Bharat Biotech'svaccine are in the final stages of athird phase trial in India.

"To get the vaccines at the ear-liest, the government has requestedthe Indian government to buy vac-cines for 20 per cent Nepalis,” thepaper said, quoting a Health

Ministry official.Nepal is also pursuing vaccines

made in other countries.“Around 15 vaccine candidates of

different countries and companiesare in third phase trials. The gov-ernment has written letters to mostof the countries for help and to theindividual companies to procurethe vaccines,” said Dr Shyam RajUpreti, coordinator of Nepal'sCOVID-19 Vaccine AdvisoryCommittee.

Last month, the government sentdiplomatic notes to India, China,Russia, the UK and the US, countrieswhose vaccines against the coron-avirus have either completed thethird phase trials or are near theircompletion, for early availability inNepal, the report said.

Last month, India assured thepeople of Nepal that once it rolls outa vaccine against COVID-19, meet-ing their requirement will be a pri-ority for New Delhi.

NEPAL IS SEEKING INDIA’S‘HELP’ TO PROCURE COVAX

A PAW-FECT WINTER

A pack of huskies pulls a rig during a training session in Chelford, Britain REUTERS

16 killed in Yemen blast

AGENCIES

Aden, Dec 30: At least 16 peoplewere killed and dozens morewounded in an attack on Aden air-port, shortly after a plane carryinga newly formed government forYemen arrived from Saudi ArabiaWednesday, a local security sourcetold Reuters.

Loud blasts and gunfire wereheard at the airport shortly afterthe plane arrived, witnesses said.

The cabinet members includingPrime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik,as well as Saudi Ambassador toYemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber,were transferred safely to the city'spresidential palace, the witnessesand Saudi media said.

A local security source said threemortar shells landed on the air-port's hall.

Yemeni Prime Minister MaeenAbdulmalik Saeed and the otherswere quickly whisked away fromthe airport to the Mashiq Palace inthe city.

“It would have been a disaster ifthe plane was bombed,” he said, in-sisting the plane was the target ofthe attack as it was supposed toland earlier.

Mohammed al-Roubid, deputyhead of Adens health office, told theAP that at least 16 people werekilled in the explosion. He saiddozens were wounded but did notelaborate.

Images shared on social mediafrom the scene showed rubble andbroken glass strewn about nearthe airport building and at leasttwo lifeless bodies, one of themcharred, lying on the ground.

In another image, a man wastrying to help another man whoseclothes were torn to get up from theground.

The ministers were returningto Aden after being sworn in lastweek as part of a reshuffle follow-ing a deal with rival southern sep-aratists. Yemens internationallyrecognized government has workedmostly from self-imposed exile inthe Saudi capital of Riyadh duringthe country's years-long civil war.

Yemens embattled PresidentAbed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in exilein Saudi Arabia, announced aCabinet reshuffle earlier this month.

The reshuffle was seen as a majorstep toward closing a dangerousrift between Hadi's governmentand southern separatists backed bythe United Arab Emirates.

The Saudi-backed government isat war with with Iran-allied Houthirebels, who control most of north-ern Yemen as well as the country'scapital, Sanaa.

Blast, gunfire in Yemenafter plane carrying newgovernment lands

UK MPs approveBrexit trade dealAGENCIES

London, Dec 30: Members of theUK Parliament Wednesday votedin favour of the Brexit trade deal521 votes to 73.

UK Prime Minister BorisJohnson had recalled Parliamentfrom its Christmas break to get theBrexit free trade agreement (FTA)struck with the European Union(EU) cleared through all parlia-mentary stages for the EU (FutureRelationship) Bill to become lawin time for January 1, 2021.

The 80-page Bill, which followsa last-minute deal agreed with theEU last week, just days before theDecember 31 deadline of the endof the Brexit transition period,was debated by MPs in the Houseof Commons followed by the Houseof Lords.

Johnson had urged MPs to backthe "historic" Bill, which he saysis not "a rupture but a resolution"of the UK's relationship with itsEuropean neighbours.

Once both Houses pass the Bill,it will go to the Queen for herRoyal Assent to make it law.

"What we sought was not a rup-ture but a resolution, a resolutionof the old and vexed question ofBritain's political relations withEurope, which bedevilled our post-War history," says Johnson, aspart of his opening speech in theCommons.

"First we stood aloof, then we be-came a half-hearted, sometimesobstructive member of the EU.Now, with this bill, we shall be afriendly neighbour -- the best friendand ally the EU could have -- work-ing hand-in-glove whenever our val-ues and interests coincide whilefulfilling the sovereign wish ofthe British people to live undertheir own laws, made by their ownelected Parliament. That is thehistoric resolution delivered bythis Bill," he said.

Congress inching closerto Trump veto override

P11THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

After witnessingsignificant

participation from banking andfinancial services players, GIFT(Gujarat International FinanceTec) City will also become akey platform for the bulliontrading ecosystemTAPAN RAY | MD AND GROUP CEO, GIFT CITY

All-India power demand Wednesday morning toucheda record high of 182.89 GW, said Power Secretary SNSahai. “The all-India demand for power touched1,82,888 MW, which is an all-time high crossingprevious high of 1,82,610 at 1458 hours on May 30,2019. The entire demand was met," Sahai tweeted

POWER DEMAND TOUCHES ALL-TIME HIGH

cm

yk

cm

yk

UK’s approvalof Oxford-AstraZeneca

Covid-19 vaccine isgreat andencouraging news.We will wait for thefinal approval from Indianregulators

ADAR POONAWALLA | CEO, SERUM INSTITUTE

OF INDIA

of theday uote

It is theimmensepassion of our

bankers and thecustomerconfidence investedin us that hasallowed us to open new brancheseven during the pandemic. All ournew branches across Maharashtrahave digitised environment withbest in class offerings

AJAY KANWAL | MD & CEO, JANA SMALL

FINANCE BANK

Thecoronaviruspandemic has

changed the waybusiness is done,necessitating achange in the entireskilling landscape, and the presentworkforce in the auto industryneeds upskilling

NIKUNJ SANGHI | CHAIRMAN, AUTOMOTIVE

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

100-MW projectcommissionedNew Delhi: Adani GreenEnergy Ltd (AGEL)Wednesday said it hascommissioned a 100megawatt (MW) solar powerproject at Khirsara in Gujarat.“Adani Solar Energy KutchhTwo Private Limited, awholly-owned subsidiary ofAdani Green Energy Limited(AGEL), has commissioned a100 MW solar power projectat Khirsara, Gujarat, ahead ofits scheduled commercialoperation date (COD) as perits 25-year power purchaseagreement (PPA) with theGujarat Urja Vikas NigamIndia (GUVNL)," AGEL said ina statement.

Colgate extendsnaturals portfolioNew Delhi: Leading oral careproducts maker Colgate-Palmolive (India) Wednesdayannounced the launch ofayurveda-based oil pulling,extending its portfolio in thenaturals segment. Oil pullingis a simple method ofswishing oil in the mouth fora few minutes after wakingup. Colgate Vedshakti OilPulling is based on centuries-old practice in ayurvedacombined with thecompany's oral careexpertise, it said in astatement.

Union Bank getsshareholders nodNew Delhi: Shareholders ofUnion Bank of IndiaWednesday approved thebank’s proposal for raising upto Rs 6,800 crore equitycapital to fund businessgrowth. During theExtraordinary GeneralMeeting (EGM), theshareholders passed thespecial resolution with therequisite majority for raisingcapital through FPO (Follow-on Public Offering) /Rights orQIP (Qualified InstitutionalPlacement) or preferentialallotment, the bank said in aregulatory filing.

Housing salesrecover in Q3New Delhi: India's residentialreal estate market seems tohave bottomed out in 2020and sales momentum thatpicked up during October-December is likely tocontinue through the nextyear to reach pre-COVID levelor even surpass it providedthere are no furtherunforeseen negative events,according to top propertydevelopers and consultants.

SHORT TAKES

Current accountsurplus moderatesto $15.5bn in Q2: RBI

AGENCIES

Mumbai, Dec 30: India’s currentaccount surplus moderated to$15.5 billion or 2.4 per cent of theGDP in the July-September quar-ter of the current fiscal. The samewas at $19.2 billion or 3.8 per centof the GDP in the preceding threemonths on account of a rise inthe merchandise trade deficit, theRBI said Wednesday.

A current account deficit of $7.6billion or 1.1 per cent of the GDPwas recorded in the second quar-ter of 2019-20.

India recorded a current ac-count surplus of 3.1 per cent of theGDP in the first half of the fiscalas against a deficit of 1.6 per centin the corresponding period of2019-20. This was mainly on ac-count of a sharp contraction in thetrade deficit.

The narrowing of the currentaccount surplus in the secondquarter of 2020-21 was due to arise in the merchandise tradedeficit to $14.8 billion from $10.8 bil-lion in the preceding quarter, thecentral bank said.

Digital India deliveredoutcomes effectivelyamid pandemic: PrasadPRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Dec 30: The efficacyand strength of `Digital India'were proven during the pandemicas the programme delivered theoutcomes "effectively and sub-stantially", IT Minister RaviShankar Prasad said Wednesday.

Prasad said the programme'srole in bridging the digital divideand bringing in inclusion was "soevidently" in play during the chal-lenging times of pandemic.

"Digital India is a transforma-tive programme, launched in2015...Five-and-a-half years downthe line, the pandemic was a bigopportunity to test the efficacy ofDigital India.

"I would never say that every-thing was completely extraordi-nary but the Digital India ecosys-tem delivered very effectively andsubstantially," Prasad said speak-ing at Digital India Awards' virtualceremony.

He said it is a mark of accom-plishment that Digital IndiaAwards 2020 are being conferreddigitally this time.

Lauding the communicationsand IT sector for its role in en-abling business continuity dur-ing the pandemic, Prasad said theCentre, states, various govern-ment agencies, and district ad-ministration all ensured digitaldelivery of services.

Total 22 digital governance ini-tiatives/ products by governmententities under six categories re-ceived Digital India Awards 2020for designing and implementinginnovative citizen-centric solu-tions and improving the ease of liv-ing for citizens.

President Ram Nath Kovindconferred the Digital India Awardsvia video conferencing. Awardsunder Jury Choice were given toArogya Setu and eOffice.

AGENCIES

New Delhi, Dec 30: Ahmedabad hasbecome the most affordable hous-ing market in the country whileMumbai remains the costliest, ac-cording to property consultantKnight Frank India.

The consultant released itsAffordability Index 2020, whichshowed that Ahmedabad was themost affordable housing market inIndia with an affordability ratio of24 per cent, followed by Pune andChennai at 26 per cent each in 2020.

A ratio over 50 per cent makes itdifficult to secure home loans frombanks and housing finance com-panies, making it unaffordable topurchase a house, Knight FrankIndia said.

The affordability index, whichtracks the EMI (Equated MonthlyInstallment) to income ratio for anaverage household, has shown mean-ingful improvement in affordabil-ity over the last decade.

The consultant said that declinein housing prices and multi-decadelow home loan interest rates havehelped improve housing afford-ability in 2020.

"While Mumbai is the most ex-pensive market, with affordabilityratio of (61 per cent), other cities like

Ahmedabad, Chennai and Puneare relatively more affordable,"Knight Frank said.

Even for Mumbai, the afford-ability ratio has improved from ahigh of 93 per cent in 2010 to 61 percent in 2020.

The index captures movement

in key constituents like propertyprices, home loan interest rate andhousehold income that determinethe buyer's ability to purchase ahouse.

City-wide average affordabilitystatistics cannot highlight dispar-ities in housing costs within sub-

markets or across the income spec-trum, it added.

In NCR, the affordability ratiohas improved to 38 per cent from 53per cent in 2010, while in Bangalore,the ratio has become better at 48 percent from 28 per cent a decade ago.

As per the report, the ratio im-proved to 26 per cent in Pune andChennai both from 39 per cent and51 per cent in 2010.

In Hyderabad, the ratio has be-come better at 31 per cent from 47per cent, while in Kolkata it im-proved to 30 per cent from 45 per cent.

The consultant said that afford-ability ratio improved inAhmedabad to 24 per cent from 46per cent.

Shishir Baijal, chairman andmanaging director, Knight FrankIndia said, "The affordability ratioacross top eight cities has improvedtremendously over this decade dueto an increase in income level, lowerinterest rate and subsequently lowerproperty prices."

‘Ahmedabad most affordable housing market, Mumbai costliest’Ahmedabad was the most affordablehousing market in India with anaffordability ratio of 24%, followed byPune and Chennai at 26% each in 2020

The affordability index, which tracksthe EMI (Equated Monthly Installment)to income ratio for an averagehousehold, has shown meaningfulimprovement in affordability over thelast decade

In NCR, the affordability ratio hasimproved to 38% from 53% in 2010,while in Bangalore, the ratio hasbecome better at 48% from 28% adecade ago

AFFORDABILITY INDEX 2020

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Dec 30: Debt-riddentelecom fir m RelianceCommunications Wednesday saidthe group owes around Rs 26,000crore to Indian banks and financialinstitutions.

The Indians banks, vendors andother creditors have made claimsof around Rs 86,000 crore on thecompany which is currently goingthrough insolvency proceedings.

"As per figures certified by theResolution Professional appointedby the lenders, the RCOM groupowed around Rs 26,000 crore toIndian banks and financial insti-tutions as on the date of filing be-fore the NCLT," RelianceCommunications (RCom) said in astatement.

The creditors have submittedclaims of around Rs 49,000 crore onRCom, Rs 24,000 crore on RelianceTelecom and Rs 12,600 crore onReliance Infratel before the NationalCompany Law Tribunal (NCLT).

"The alleged 'fraud' classifica-tion by certain banks is entirely un-justified and unwarranted, andthe Hon'ble Delhi High Court by aninterim order has directed the sameto be kept in abeyance for the timebeing, and the matter is now sub ju-dice," RCom said.

It further said that the ResolutionPlans unanimously agreed by the

lenders are at various stages of ap-proval before the NCLT, and uponimplementation thereof, the lendersare likely to recover at least 70 percent of their dues, with potentialsubsequent upside.

"The financial stress in the tele-com sector, owing inter alia to theentry of a new player in 2016 withunlimited free offerings, was notunique to Rcom, but decimated theentire industry, and led to the shut-down of services by Aircel, Sistema,Videocon, Tata Docomo and severalother players, and also severelyimpacted the financials of globalgiants like Vodafone in its Indianoperations," RCom said.

The company said that VodafoneIdea has reported losses aggre-gating Rs 1 lakh crore in the last 15months.

‘RCom group owes`26,000cr to banks,financial institutions’

The Indians banks, vendors and other

creditors have madeclaims of around

`86,000 crore on thecompany which is

currently going through insolvency

proceedings

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Beatingthe pandemic in different sectorsof economy, Odisha has maintainedan upward trend in revenue gen-eration because of the govern-ment’s dynamic financial man-agement strategies. By the end ofNovember during the current fis-cal, the total revenue collection hasgrown by 4% over the correspondingperiod of 2020. Chief SecretaryAsit Tripathy briefed about thistoday at the all secretaries meetingheld under his chairmanship atthe Convention center located atthe Lokseva Bhawan.

The total revenue generationfrom both the sources by end ofNovember, 2019 was Rs 28,402 crorewhich increased to Rs 29,411.29crore during the current financialyear. The total non-tax revenue dur-ing the period grew by 23.29 percent during the current fiscal ascompared to the last fiscal. Thetotal revenue generated from non-tax sources up to November, 2019 wasRs 8,485 crore which increased toRs 10,462 crore during the corre-sponding period of the currentyear.

On face of shutdowns and lock-downs, the total budget utilisationby end of November, 2020 reachedaround Rs.60,000 crore in differentinfrastructure, social, agricultureand allied sectors.

Reviewing fiscal performancesof various departments up toNovember 2020 presented byPrincipal Secretary (Finance) AshokKumar Meena, Chief SecretaryTripathy directed the departments

to focus on faster implementationof the projects by utilising the bud-geted money without parking thefunds anywhere. He also directedthe departments to ensure expedi-tious execution of the infrastruc-ture laying and livelihood generatingprojects.

Development CommissionerSuresh Chandra Mohapatra di-rected the departments to take reg-ular review and monitoring of theOMBADC (Odisha Mineral BearingAreas Development Corporation)and DMF (District MineralFoundation) projects. Mohapatraadded, “The projects of Rs 20,000crore are being implemented inmajor mineral bearing districts ofAngul, Jajpur, Jharsuguda,

Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj,Rayagada, and Sundargarh. Theseprojects would cater to many basicneeds of the people.”

Further, Tripathy asked the de-partments of water resources, ruraldevelopment, works, housing andurban development to “prioritiseidentified strategic projects andcomplete those within the scheduledtime”. On the other hand, Meena as-sured the departments that therewould be “no dearth of funds proj-ect implementation”.

Development CommissionerMohapatra, Additional ChiefSecretary and Ag ricultureProduction Commissioner RajKumar Sharma, Additional ChiefSecretary (Rural Development andSRC) Pradee p Kumar Jena,Additional Chief Secretary (Healthand Family Welfare) PradiptaKumar Mohapatra, Additional ChiefSecretary (Forest & Environment)Mona Sharma, along with PrincipalSecretaries, Secretaries and SpecialSecretaries of all departments par-ticipated in the discussion.

BEATING COVID BLUES

Revenue collectionup 4% by Nov end

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Dec 30: The CBIWednesday carried out searchesat the premises of infrastructurefirm IVRCL, its Managing DirectorE Sudhir Reddy and Joint ManagingDirector R Balarami Reddy whohave been booked by the agencyfor an alleged fraud worth over Rs4,800 crore against a consortiumof banks, officials said.

The agency has booked theHyderabad-based company and itsdirectors on a complaint from theState Bank of India, CBISpokesperson RC Joshi said. 'It wasalleged that the accused in con-nivance with unknown public ser-vants and others defrauded theconsortium of public sector banks,consisting of State Bank of India,IDBI Bank, Canara Bank, AndhraBank, Corporation Bank, EXIMBank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UnionBank of India and caused a loss of

Rs 4,837 crore to the banks,' he said.The CBI has alleged that the com-

pany had availed credit facilitiesfrom consortium members andcheated them by not repaying theloan amount. 'It was also alleged thatas per the forensic audit report,the company made payments to re-lated parties through letters ofcredit (LCs), without recording any

purchase transactions in the booksand routed the funds to the accountof the company and thereby mis-appropriated the bank funds,' Joshisaid.

He said searches were conductedWednesday at the residential andofficial premises of the accused atHyderabad which led to recovery ofseveral incriminating documents.

Chief Secretary AsitTripathy has directed to expedite expenditurewithout parking the funds

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Dec 30: The coron-avirus-induced suspension ofscheduled international passen-ger flights has been extended tillJanuary 31, aviation regulatorDGCA said Wednesday.

"However, international sched-uled flights may be allowed onselected routes by the competentauthority on a case-to-case basis,"the Directorate General of CivilAviation added.

Scheduled international pas-senger services have been sus-pended in India since March 23 dueto the coronavirus pandemic. Butspecial international flights have

been operating under the VandeBharat Mission since May andunder bilateral "air bubble"arrangements with selected coun-tries since July.

India has formed air bubblepacts with 24 countries includ-ing the US, the UK, the UAE,Kenya, Bhutan and France.Under an air bubble pact be-tween two countries, special in-ternational flights can be oper-ated by their airlines betweentheir territories.

The DGCA circular also saidthat the suspension does not affectthe operation of internationalall-cargo operations and flightsspecifically approved by it.

International flight banextended till January end

Hy’bad-based co bookedfor `4,837cr bank fraud

CBI has booked IVRCL and its directors on a complaint from the State Bank of India, a spokesperson from CBI said

India recorded a currentaccount surplus of 3.1%of the GDP in the firsthalf of the fiscal asagainst a deficit of 1.6%in the correspondingperiod of 2019-20

business

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

Teenager IGA SWIATEK became the first Polish playerto win a Grand Slam singles title when she beat Keninin the French Open final. The unseeded 19-year-old is

the youngest winner since Monica Seles lifted theSuzanne Lenglen Cup

in 1992.

NAOMI OSAKA won her secondUS Open title and third overallincluding 2019 Australian Opentitle, rallying to beat VictoriaAzarenka. Osaka is the firstplayer since 1994 (ArantxaSanchez Vicario) to come froma set down to win the women’sfinal at the US Open.

RAFA’S 20th IN 2020 World No.2 Rafa Nadal equalled Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles recordat his favourite venue. The Spaniard overwhelmed World No.1 Novak

Djokovic in the French Open final to reach themilestone. The title at Roland Garros was

Nadal’s 13th in the clay-court Grand Slam event.

EVES’ SUCCESS AT A GLANCE

END OFAN ERAMS Dhoni hung up his gloves announcing

his international retirement, August15. He last played for India in the 2019World Cup semifinal against NewZealand. Since then, he was out of theteam showing personal reasons formore than a year. Interestingly, hehad begun his international careerin an ODI, being dismissed via run-out and he ended his career alsoin an ODI via run-out. However,he played in the IPL later in theyear, captaining CSK. Dhoni isthe only skipper in the worldto have won all three majorICC trophies – 2007 World T20,2011 World Cup and 2013Champions Trophy. He has alsoheld the ICC Test mace for leadingIndia to the top of ICC Test rankings.

D espite being hit hard, F1 man-aged to complete the cur-

tailed season. And the star of therun was Lewis Hamilton. The Britbroke a couple of records of thegreat Michael Schumacher. Firsthe broke the record of 91 GrandPrix wins sealing Portuguese GPfor his 92nd Grand Prix title. Then he equalledSchumacher’s sevenWorld Championshipcrowns after winningthe Turkish GP.

cmyk

cmyk

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | BHUBANESWAR

P12

JOY OF THREEATK FC became thefirst team in IndianSuper League (ISL)

history to win thetitle thrice after

overcomingChennaiyin FC 3-1 in

the final of the2019-20 season

Before heading to ISL, MohunBagan won the I-League titlewith 39 points, 16 ahead of thesecond-placed and their archrivals East Bengal (23 points).

MADRID A

REAL DEAL

Real M

adrid, who were two

points down from top-placed

Barcelona, won all the 10 matches

post pandemic break to claim their

34th Spanish League (La Liga) title.

Their arch riv

als, Barcelona, were

never looked in shape and dropped

points dramatically.

MORE AGONYTHAN ECSTASY

The world witnessed one of the most wicked years since the end of World War II. The novel coronavirus pandemic, which put the world in a

tragic state, stole more than half-a-year from everyone’s life. The impact washeartbreaking. As far as sports are concerned, it’s like a sportsperson grewby age, but not by on-field experience. However, the final third of the yearsaw some magical moments in various fields, adding the glorious scenes

at the beginning of the year. It was like ecstasy in a year of agony.

After claiming the Champions League in 2019, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpoolwere on a rampage before the pandemic halted their progress. At

some point, it was rumoured that the Premier League would becancelled. Had it happened, it would have raised many questionsconsidering the Mersyside giants were 25 points ahead of second-placedManchester City. However, the play resumed post pandemic and theReds finished their campaign one shy of 100-point mark and 18 ahead ofMan City. With seven matches still to play, Liverpool beat the record forwinning a title with five matches to spare, which was jointly held byManchester United (2000-01) and Man City (2017-18). Liverpool, whoended a 30-year wait to be England’s top-flight champions for the 19thtime, became the seventh club to lift the EPL trophy, after Man Utd,Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester City.

REDS INTHE ZONE

DOMINATIN

G BAYERN

It w

as a

complet

ely new

and probab

ly a

one-tim

e vers

ion of the t

ournam

ent w

hen

all th

e knock

out round m

atches

played

with

single

leg at

one ven

ue (Lis

bon). Bay

ern

Munich, w

ho by then

alrea

dy clai

med th

e

German

Leag

ue (Bundes

liga)

title,

defeate

d first-

time f

inalists

and

French

Leag

ue (Lig

ue 1)

cham

pions PSG in

the f

inal.

The

year also saw the

merge of ATK FC and

Mohun Bagan for the ISL

as the Kolkata franchise is

now known as ATK Mohun

Bagan. East Bengal too

entered the ISL.

LEAVING A MARK

OLYMPICSTokyo Summer Games (postponed to 2021)

CRICKETICC Men’s World T20 (postponed to 2022)

FOOTBALLUEFA Euro 2020 (postponed to 2021)

TENNISWimbledon, Indian Wells

Masters (cancelled)

BADMINTONSwiss Open, India Open, Orleans

Masters, Malaysia Open,Singapore Open, German Open

and the China Masters (cancelled);Thomas & Uber Cup (postponed)

FORMULA 1Australian GP, Monaco GP,

French GP (cancelled)

ATHLETICSWorld Athletics Indoor

Championships (postponed)

INDIAN DESERT STORM: The Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted from India to UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah)due to pandemic and lockdowns. However, it didn’t bother the organisers considering the rise in digital viewership.Mumbai Indians secured their fifth title beating Delhi Capitals in the final. KL Rahul (670 runs) and Kagiso Rabada (30wickets) won the Orange and Purple caps respectively. It was also a heartbreaking season for Chennai Super Kingsfans as the MS Dhoni-led side couldn’t make it into the play-offs for the first time in IPL history.

ICC WOMEN’S WORLD T20: Australian eves decimat-ed India to claim their fifth world title. They enteredthe semifinals, losing first game and narrowly sur-viving the second. They were lucky enough to enterthe final, courtesy rain. However, they brought outtheir ‘A’ game in the summit clash to overwhelm anunbeaten Indian side to clinch the title.

FIRST INT’L CRICKET POST PANDEMIC: West Indiesvisited England for a three-Test series in July. TheCaribbean side drew the first blood winning the firstmatch in Southampton. However they lost the serieslosing the next two Tests in Manchester.

WOMEN’S T20 CHALLENGE: Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers won the tournament beating Supernovas in thefinal and denying the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side their third successive title in the tournament history.

HOUR OF EMBARRASSMENT

The historic low came in the first Test – aDay/Night affair at Adelaide. Virat Kohli’s

men were in complete control of the match,before an embarrassing hour of play in theirsecond innings pulled them into the historybooks. They were bundled out for 36, lowestthan their previous worst of 42. They lost thematch comprehensively. However, they won theBoxing Day Test to level the series at 1-1. TheMen in Blue made a sloppy start to the tour losing the ODI series 1-2, before making acomeback in T20Is, winning it 2-1.

RE

ST

IN

PE

AC

E DIEGO MARADONASport: Football

Age: 60

Death: November 25

Cause: Heart attack

KOBE BRYANTSport: Basketball

Age: 41

Death: January 26

Cause: Helicopter crash

BALBIR SINGH SRSport: Hockey

Age: 96

Death: May 25

Cause: Multiple healthissues

CHUNI GOSWAMISport: Football

Age: 81

Death: April 30

Cause: Prolonged illness

PK BANERJEESport: Football

Age: 83

Death: March 20

Cause: Prolonged illness

SOMEOTHER NOTABLE

MENTIONSFormer India cricketer Chetan

Chauhan, Australian cricket great DeanJones, One of the founders of

Duckworth-Lewis method Tony Lewis

ODISHA SPORTS Arjuna Award for DUTEECHAND, who won gold

medals in 100m &200m at KheloIndia UniversityGames

OCA Men’s Inter-District T20League becamethe first state levelsporting eventpost pandemic.

NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDSF or the first time, there were five Khel Ratna award winners – Rohit Sharma

(Cricket), T Mariyappan (Para-Olympian), Manika Batra (Table Tennis), VineshPhogat (Wrestling) and Rani Rampal (Hockey).

A total of 27 athletes won Arjuna awards. The Dronacharya Awards were won byeight coaches in lifetime achievement category while five won in the regular

category. A total of 15 sportspersons won Dhyan Chand Award. Punjab University,Chandigarh won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy.

LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDSSportsman of the Year: Lewis Hamilton (F1) & Lionel Messi(Football)

Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Team of the Year: South Africa Rugby Union team

Breakthrough of the Year: Eagan Bernal (Cycling)

Comeback of the Year: Sophia Florsch (Motor Racing)

Sportsperson with Disability: Oksana Masters(Cross Country Skiing)

Action Sportsperson of the Year: Chloe Kim(Snowboarding)

Sporting Moment (2000-20): Sachin Tendulkar(Cricket)

Sports for Good: South Bronx United (Football)

FIFA ‘THE BEST’ AWARDS MEN’S PLAYER: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (POLAND; BAYERN MUNICH)Women’s player: Lucy Bronze (England; Manchester City) Men’s coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)Women’s coach: Sarina Wiegman (The Netherlands’ women’s team)Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Sarah Bouhaddi (France)Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Germany)Fair Play Award: Mattia Agnese FIFA Puskas Award: Son Heung-min (Spurs)

OTHER MEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS WORLD NO.1 NOVAK DJOKOVIC won ATP Cuptitle with Serbia before claiming AustralianOpen and Cincinnati Masters titles.

DOMINIC THIEM pulled off his biggest achieve-ment of his playing career when he claimed hismaiden Grand Slam title beating his closefriend Alexander Zverev in the US Open final.

SOFIA KENIN soared to her firstGrand Slam title, rallying from aset down to defeat formerWorld No.1 Garbine Muguruzato win the Australian Open. Shealso became the youngestAmerican since SerenaWilliams in 2002 to capture amajor crown.

ON 7th HEAVENSir Garfield Sobers Award for Male

Cricketer of the Decade: VIRAT KOHLI

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for FemaleCricketer of the Decade: ELLYSE PERRY

Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade:STEVE SMITH

Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade:VIRAT KOHLI

Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade:ELLYSE PERRY

Men’s T20I Cricketer of theDecade: RASHID KHAN

Women’s T20I Cricketer of theDecade: ELLYSE PERRY

Men’s Associate Cricketer of theDecade: KYLE COETZER

Women's Associate Cricketer ofthe Decade: KATHRYN BRYCE

Spirit of Cricket Award of theDecade: MS DHONI

ICC

AW

AR

DS

Major Sports eventscancelled/postponed

Footballturns

silent! The pandemic

showed the world anew normal whenfootball returned

to the field without fans

Indian women’shockey star

Namita Toppowas honouredwith Eklabya

Puraskar