12.05.21

New species of African violet found in Mizoram

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Researchers of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, have discovered a new endangeredspeciesof plant belonging to the African Violets family inMizoramand its adjacent areas inMyanmar.

The newly-described species Didymocarpus vickifunkiae (Gesneriaceae) is currently known to grow in three locations in the frontier state Mizoram. It is an epiphyte, Plants that grow on trees, and produce Light pink flowers during monsoon. The species is named in honour of Dr Vicki Ann Funk, a renowned botanist, who worked at the Smithsonian Institute, USA.

Along with other discoveries, this recent find shows that the rich of the northeastern states remains unexplored and there are many species of plants waiting to be discovered. Researches have always been allured by the complex geology and climatic conditions ofnortheast India, which is Home to a diverse range of Flora and Fauna. However, much of it remains poorly documented, even as theIISER Bhopalteam was studying the evolution and biogeography of Didymocarpus plants.

Assam: 95% private schools keep fees within govt-set limit for new session

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Of the 1,700 schools that had applied to the fee regulatory committee of the since October last year seeking a certificate of exemption from fee-cuts by the panel for the session 2021-2022, about 95% schools gave affidavits saying their fee structure was well within the maximum limit notified by the state government, said a member of the FRC.

The rest 5% moved the panel to review their plea for allowing them to charge as per their proposed fee structure, higher than the limit fixed by the government. The regulated fees from Classes I to XII were declared by the state government on FRCs recommendation.

Government fixes ambulance rates in Odisha

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The on Monday fixed the rate for availing of different types of ambulance Services in the wake of reports of exorbitant tariff charged by many such vehicle operators during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has warned of stringent action if the ambulance operators defy the order.

In a notification, the commerce and transport department has finalized the maximum hiring charges for patient transport ambulance (PTA), basic life-support (BLS) ambulance and advanced life-support (ALS) ambulance for the first 10km and beyond for different Classification of vehicles.

Puducherry launches integrated temple management system

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TheUnion territoryofPuducherryhas become the second state afterTamil Naduin the country to launch an online integrated temple management system (ITMS), connecting all the 243 temples and mutts in the territory.

The system will enable devotees, who are presently not permitted to visit any temples due to lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection, to register for pujas and have darshans online.

The system will help in identifying and preserving the architectural values of the temples and religious institutions. People can view the renovation and repair works in the temples using the system and those interested can also participate in the works.

Horticorp to procure vegetables in Palakkad

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The Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture Department and the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation will start procuring vegetables from the district as the farmers are unable to sell them due to lockdown.

The Horticorp had already started the procurement of vegetables from the ‘vegetable hub’ of Vadakarapathy, Eruthiampathy, and Kozhinjampara in Chittur taluk. They have also started procuring Mango from Muthalamada ‘mango city’.

The farmers were distributing the vegetables free of cost in some areas as there were no buyers. In some cases, the vegetables were destroyed and cattle were allowed to graze the vegetable farms.

The agriculture department officials said that the procurement of vegetables in Elappully Grama Panchayat will soon begin to help the farmers in dire straits.

Karnataka: Committee to form new education road map

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The department of primary and secondary Education will form an expert committee to draft guidelines on how formal TEACHING can take place in the upcoming academic year starting in June. On-campus classes are unlikely to resume in the initial months of the school calendar as Covid-19 cases are still high.

The panel will comprise eminent educationists, experts from the Indian Institute of Science and Nimhans, members of the state technical advisory committee on Covid-19 and representatives of parents, private schools.

Telangana has received lowest supply of doses among southern states

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While there is a shortage of supply ofCovid-19vaccines ahead of the launch of vaccination drive for 18-44-year-olds, data on supply ofvaccine dosesshow that has received the lowest number of doses among southern states. While the state has performed better than several states in terms ofvaccine wastage.

Maharashtra leads the charts for Vaccines supplied to states with 1.63 crorevaccinedoses received, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1.37 crore doses. Apart from Maharashtra and UP, Rajasthan (1.36 crore); Gujarat (1.29 crore); and West Bengal (1.13 crore) are the only states to have received over one crore doses so far. Karnataka is close with 98.47 lakh doses received so far.Andhra Pradeshhas received over 65 lakh doses while Tamil Nadu too has received a similar amount.

Telangana is far behind compared to its southern counterparts. Delhi one of theepicentres for Covid-19 has only received 38 lakh doses so far, has a vaccine wastage of around 3.5 per cent. Except 10 states, of which one is Telangana, other states are not likely to receive supplies in coming days.

Andhra Pradesh: Rayalaseemas oxygen infrastructure set for a boost

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TheAndhra Pradeshgovernment has decided to ramp upoxygeninfrastructure in theRayalaseemaregion. The government will set up 15 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants in the region on war-footing. The government has allotted 50 per cent of the PAS plants to Rayalaseema as most major oxygen plants in the state are far away from the region.

The government has planned two units, one each in zone-II and zone-III for producing medical oxygen based on Liquid Oxygen Technology (LOx) with an augmented capacity of at least 100MT. He said that one plant with a capacity of at least 50 MT in the state for manufacturing Helium mixed oxygen (Heliox) for medical uses has also been planned.
The government has also decided to grant incentives to reopen and operate some of the closed PSA plants due to non-viability.

Goa: Prepare action plan for new academic year, urged Digambar Kamat

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While welcoming thestate governments decision to cancelSSCexaminations, opposition leaderDigambar Kamaturged chief ministerPramod Sawantto prepare an action plan for the coming academic year.

Kamat has also asked the government to ensure that Goas Internet connectivity is improved so thatstudentscan appear for online entrance and Aptitude tests.

The former chief minister has also urged the government to ensure that proper Network connectivity is established in the state, especially at the centres where online entrance exams and other aptitude tests will be conducted.

Mucormycosis cases now notifiable, Maharashtra govt may cap private hospital cost

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Days after the Centres prod, the Maharashtra government has classified mucormycosis, or the deadly black fungus, as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
The state is also mulling capping the prohibitive treatment cost in private hospitals. It has already announced that its Health Insurance scheme would cover the cost in empanelled hospitals.

Once a disease is declared notifiable, the law requires that every patient is reported to the authorities. This allows proper monitoring and provides the authorities early warning of possible outbreaks. Several states like Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan have already declared mucormycosis a notifiable disease.