20.10.21

Nagaland to host SAAF Cross Country on January 15

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Nagaland will host the South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) Cross Country Championship in the state capital Kohima on January 15 next year.

Making the announcement during a press conference, Nagaland Athletic Association (NAA) President Abu Metha said the biggest international event ever hosted by the state will be held along with the 56th National Cross Country Race on January 15.

Metha informed that the bid to host the SAAF Cross Country Championship was made by NAA with the committed support of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Assam Cabinet approves measures to improve power connectivity

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The Assam Cabinet gave its nod to various measures for improving power connectivity in the state, including expansion of the electrification Network.

The Cabinet approved the electrification of 4,80,249 households, mainly under on-grid mode, and sanctioned Rs 1718.18 crore for the purpose. Electrification of 48,231 Anganwadi Centres and 13,120 primary schools at Rs 161.42 crore was also approved by the Cabinet. It decided to instal 9,000 distribution transformers, 70 prefabricated compact substations and 11 power transformers, besides repairing 4,200 damaged transformers for Rs 250.08 crore for improving voltage stability and reducing power distribution losses.

Approval was also given for installing 6,20,100 smart meters to improve billing process and energy accounting, thereby reducing commercial losses. Administrative approval was given to estimate for project preparation and implementation of an Asian Bank-aided project to improve secondary roads of the state.

Odisha: NHAI starts land acquisition for coastal highway

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Land acquisition for the ambitious coastal highway project will start soon as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated the required formalities with the for the exercise.

Official sources in the NHAI said it has written to the district collectors of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada to form a competent authority for land acquisition (CALA) for the major Infrastructure project.

Though the Rs 7,500-crore coastal highway was initially proposed to connect Gopalpur in Ganjam to Digha in West Bengal, the alignment (proposed path) has now been changed in view of environmental concerns. The project, proposed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Union Government, will now start from NH-16 near Tangi in Khurda district and developed in two stretches – Tangi-Ratanpur and Ratanpur-Digha.

Storage in major Tamil Nadu reservoirs now at 78%

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Major reservoirs in the state have got a combined storage of 78% of their total capacity. This raises the possibility of water going waste into the sea when the northeast monsoon commences in full swing. The retreating southwest monsoon has proved bountiful over the last few days.

The storage at Mettur reservoir in Salem district stood at 54tmcft on Monday as against a total capacity of 93tmcft. The water level stood at 91ft against the full reservoir level of 120ft. There was inflow of 16,197cusecs (cubic feet per second) into the reservoir. The level may cross 100ft in a week if the same inflow continues, said a PWD official. The discharge is maintained at 100 cusecs into the river for drinking water purpose and 550cusecs into the east and west bank canals.

The Karnataka government is discharging around 4,000 cusecs into the Cauvery from Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dams.

Five Kerala districts set to get malaria-free status

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Five districts in the state are set to secure malaria elimination certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). Ernakulam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the five districts which are set to achieve the target. As part of this, the state health department has started training health workers in documentation of cases reported earlier in these districts.

According to health officials, the five districts have reported no malaria cases in the past three years.

These districts, except Idukki, have reported no indigenous malaria cases since 2008. Idukki reported the last malaria case in 2016. Rest of the districts, except Thiruvananthapuram, continue to report indigenous cases till recently.

Rs 1,000 crore dues: Centre withholds 1000MW power to Karnataka

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Karnataka might be headed towards a power crisis with the central government withholding 1,000MW of power over non-payment of dues, reports Sandeep Moudgal. The Centres decision follows a clean-up aimed at making states accountable for energy consumed.

The state is now raising funds to pay Central Generating Stations (CGS) of the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC). Karnataka, which has five electricity supply companies (escoms), owes CGS over Rs 1,000 crore.

According to senior government officials, non-payment of dues means 1,000 MW will not be available ahead of the post-monsoon season beginning October-end.

Experts emphasise on need for AMR action plan in state

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Experts from various fields called for setting up of an action plan in the state for anti-microbial resistance (AMR). At a meeting organised by ReAct Asia Pacific a city-based AMR advocacy group on Monday, over 50 experts from Health, health, veterinary, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, pollution control and Environment sectors discussed the possible impact of AMR in health systems.

Antibiotic misuse, lack of clean water and sanitation, and inadequate infection prevention & control are major drivers of AMR in . There needs to be a multi-sectoral plan to contain AMR in the state, said Dr T Gangadhar, technical adviser to the Telangana government and professor at Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences.

It is also very important that different people working on ground both in human and animal health sectors routinely share data on AMR to address the issue at large, said Dr Anuj Sharma, Technical Office (AMR, Infection Prevention Control & Labs) at WHO country office for India.

Andhra Pradesh: 10,000 YSR health clinics by next Republic Day

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The is setting up about 10,000 YSR rural and urban Health clinics. While the existing primary healthcare centres are primarily functioning from the mandal headquarters, the health clinics are expected to take care of the health needs of the entire Population.

The village clinics have been attached to village secretariats, and each clinic covers a population of 2,000. Besides establishing these health clinics, the state government is spending Rs 16,203 crore to revamp government hospitals and medical colleges to strengthen public healthcare and Infrastructure. All the YSR village health clinics will be operational by the next Republic Day.

The village clinics will be linked with the PHCs through video conferencing. According to the health officials, the village clinics will also be tied up with the laboratories. Health records of the villagers will be available in the respective village clinics through Aarogyasri cards. These details can be accessed by the nearby PHC doctors visiting the village under family doctor concept, which in turn will be useful in diagnosing and treating the cardholder.

Govt brings bill to amend tree act

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The House has introduced a Bill seeking to make changes to the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, including the definition of tree.

As per the Bill, a tree means any woody plant whose branches spring from and are supported upon a truck or body and whose trunk or body is not less than ten centimetres in diameter at a breast height (DBT 1.37ms) from the ground level and includes coconut palm.

The Bill also seeks to amend Section 3 of the said act so as to ensure a holistic approach with a single apex authority at the state level for effective guidance and supervision for protection and conservation of trees in Goa.

Damaged kidney among death causes in black fungus: Study

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Chronic kidney disease and sudden (acute) kidney impairment can increase the chances of deaths in patients with Covid associated mucormycosis, a collaborative study of Pune doctors has revealed.

The most commonly known factor for contracting mucormycosis in recovering Covid patients is the combination of uncontrolled diabetes and the use of Steroids. Though diabetes is the predisposing factor to contracting mucormycosis in Covid patients, the doctors have not found its association with mortality. The impact of diabetes on mortality in patients with Covid associated mucormycosis (CAM) an invasive fungal infection needs further evaluation in a more extensive study, the doctors have underlined.