Researchers discover new species of tree in Arunachal PradeshResearchers have discovered a new species of tree in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery of the new tree species in Arunachal Pradesh was published in the May 19 edition of the Edinburgh Journal of Botany. Meiogyne Arunachalensis was discovered by researchers during a biodiversity expedition to the “Adi hills of Arunachal Pradesh,” the report published in the journal said, adding that the expedition was supported by the Hem Chand Mahindra Foundation, the Wildlife Institute of India, and Forest department of Arunachal Pradesh.Researcher Navendu Page, one of the members of the group, mentioned in the report that this is the third species from India and the first from eastern Himalayan and Northeast India. “The genus Meiogyne is distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia and includes approximately 33 described taxa,” Page said. The species shows morphological similarity with Meiogyne maxiflora, a species distributed in Thailand, but it differs in a number of vegetative and reproductive characteristics, Page said in the report.


Nagaland sets up panel to improve policing in state

The has set up a high-level committee, headed by DGPRupin Sharma, to restructure and reorganise theNagalandPolice so as to make it more efficient on functional and operational lines.

Addressing media persons at the Police headquarters inKohima,deputyCM Y Patton, who is also in-charge of the Home department, said the committee will look into all aspects of policing and make recommendations based on its findings.

He said workable and genuine suggestions are welcome from the public to improve the department and law and order in the state and also to create an Environment for better development.

In furtherance of PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah’s ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan’, the state police has registered 101 cases and arrested 143 criminals, he said, adding that the arrested persons include six police personnel.

Sonepur to be on rail map soon

Construction of the Jhartarbha-Sonepur section ofKhurdaRoad-Balangir new line will be over by August-end. This 21.7 km section will bring this western Odisha town on the RAILWAY map. FromBalangir, the railway line has been completed tillJhartarbha.

The project sanctioned in 1994-95 has been delayed due to several reasons, including court cases and lack of forest clearance. So far, the railways has commissioned 115 km of railway line out of 301km. It has completed 90.4km from Khurda Road toNuagaonand 24.9km from Balangir to Jhartarabha.

Climate change, forest loss fuelling temp rise in state

A new study published in international journal, Environmental Science andPollutionResearch, has revealed that there has been a 0.54 degree celsius increase in Average temperature in the past 39 years. The study also pointed out thatKeralawitnesses an increase of 0.013 degree celsius in daily average temperature.

The study was conducted jointly by the department of atmospheric sciences at the University of Sao Paulo, the Federal University of Technology, and Federal University of Alagoas in Brazil, and the Kerala Disaster Management Authority. The study was done analyzing temperature patterns between 1980 and 2019 from 50 locations spread across the state.

The highest increase in average temperature was reported in Kannur and Kasaragod districts, while Palakkad and Thrissur experienced the lowest increase. The study was conducted after dividing the state into northern, central, and southern regions.

As per a study conducted by Venkiteswari M and others ofTamil NaduAgricultural University, while the annual minimum temperature in the state increased by 0.011 degree celsius in 36 years, the annual maximum temperature increased by 0.002 degree celsius during the same period (1981-2017). In Karnataka, the annual maximum temperature rose by 0.013 degree celsius in 37 years, while the annual mean temperature increased by 0.010 degree celsius per day per year, according to a study conducted by S Sridhara of the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga using temperature data from 1971-2007.

The study has warned that the temperature in the state would increase by 1.35 degree celsius in the next 100 years with some areas expected to experience a rise of as much as 2 degrees during the same period. As per the data collected from the upper catchment area of Kakki River in Pathanamthitta, the temperature in the area could increase by 2.09 degrees celsius in 100 years, while Thekkady in Idukki is likely to see the temperature rise by 2.03 degrees celsius during the same period.

Kerala cabinet clears stronger legal shield for health workers

The Kerala cabinet approved an ordinance amending the Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2012 for ensuring more protection to healthcare personnel.

The amendment has been brought in following the murder of house surgeon Dr Vandana Das at Kottarakara taluk hospital by a man brought there for treatment by Police on May 10.

Those attacking healthcare institutions, damaging properties or equipment and those who instigate such violence will invite imprisonment of six months to a maximum of five years and a fine from Rs 50,000 to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh under the new law.

It provides for a maximum punishment of up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh for attacks on healthcare workers. The cases registered under this Act will be probed by a police officer of circle inspector rank or above.

Govt to revive ‘Mana Nagaram’ to boost connect with citizens in Hyderabad

The BRS government plans to revive the ‘Mana Nagaram’ programme in the city to give people a platform for raising grievances and quick solutions. The lone event in 2018 ahead of polls was a huge success and this has prompted the government to hold it again.

Among the issues resolved through the lone ‘Mana Nagaram’ in 2018 is the long-pending demand to regularise plots in 44 colonies in LB Nagar which was first brought to the notice of municipal administration minister KT Rama Rao during the programme.

Water levels in reservoirs dip in AP

Water levels in several major and medium reservoirs showed a dip in the summer. The current water storage level was at 428.63tmc-ft (43.58 per cent) against last years storage of 462.03tmc-ft (46.98 per cent) and against the gross capacity of full reservoir level at 983.4 tmc-ft on Tuesday.

Srisailam has a current storage of 33.91tmc- ft (15.71 per cent) against the gross capacity of 215.81tmc-ft, with the current reservoir level being at 809.3 feet.

Nagarjuna Sagar has a current storage of 152.21tmc-ft (48.78 per cent) against gross capacity at 312.05tmc-ft, with the current reservoir level being at 521.6 feet.

Govts rural schools help kids of tribals, forest dwellers, daily wagers clear Class X

49 state-run schools in Goa to attain 100% results this year. Many of these schools are located in extremely interior regions with children of daily wagers, forest dwellers and tribals as their students, a majority of whom are first generation learners.

Many of these interior government schools managed the results though the school head held more than one charge. Damodar Gaonkar also doubled as head of Government High School, Gaondongrim, Canacona, where he ensured 100% results.

At Government High School, Morpirla, Quepem, the school attained 100% results for eighth year in a row, even though it is left to cater exclusively to children of tribals, who are mostly first-generation learners.

Over 1,700 hospitals aim to join state’s apex health scheme

Over 1,700 hospitals, ranging from small to mid-level, are seeking to join the state’s flagship Health scheme,Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana(MJPJAY). The state recently announced its intention to expand the quota of participating hospitals from 1,000 to 1,200, intensifying the competition.

While the state has portrayed the hospitals’ eagerness as a sign of the scheme’s success and widespread impact, insiders suggest a different motivation. Sources said several hospitals perceive the scheme as a lucrative revenue stream, with annual earnings ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 5 crore from treating patients under its coverage.

In this year’s budget, the state made an announcement stating that treatment limit for each family per year would be increased from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, government said 200 new hospitals will be included in the scheme to expand its reach. While the financial approvals for the expansion are yet to come, the online applications have been pouring in, said Vinod Bondre, acting CEO of MJPJAY.

Of the existing fixed quota of 1,000 hospitals, 272 are government and the remaining private. Bondre said hospitals frequently join and exit the scheme. However, ever since the state announced plans to expand the scheme, there has been a notable surge of interest from hospitals.

Haryana to open drug de-addiction centres across state: CM Khattar

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the Haryana government has decided to open drug de-addiction centres across the state.

The government is constantly working to root out the drug menace from the state, Khattar said.

The chief minister was interacting with the people during a Jan Samvad programme in Chormar Khera village in Sirsa, according to an official statement issued here.

Later, during a Jan Samvad programme in Dabwali village, he announced that Sirsas Dabwali sub-division will now be a new Police district, a step which will help combat drug smuggling.