MP and Sri Lanka government along with members of the Mahabodhi society, to oversee the construction of the Sita temple in a time-bound manner.

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced the construction of a grand Sita temple in Sri Lanka, apart from an international level Buddha Museum in Sanchi according to Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

The Chief Minister made the announcement on Monday in a meeting held with the delegation of Mahabodhi society, led by Banagla Uptisa, and Public Relations Minister in the MP Cabinet, PC Sharma.

According to a press release, the chief minister has asked for the formation of a committee, which will have representatives from MP and Sri Lanka government along with members of the Mahabodhi society, to oversee the construction of the Sita temple in a time-bound manner.

During the course of the meeting, Kamal Nath asked for expedited approval for land to construct the Buddha Museum-cum-training and education centre in Sanchi.

PC Sharma also informed the chief minister about his interactions regarding the temple with the Sri Lanka government during his recent visit to the island nation.

The airline’s management control would also be transferred to the successful bidder.

MUMBAI: Global aviation consultancy firm CAPA on Monday termed the government’s decision to sell 100 per cent stake in Air India a “bold reform” and said it expects “significant” response from the prospective bidders.

“The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) expects significant response (to Air India’s stake sale) as the offer structured by the government is attractive,” CAPA India chief Kapil Kaul told PTI.

He said the time given for due diligence and submitting bids is also reasonable.

The government on Monday announced sale of 100 per cent stake in debt-laden Air India as it issued the preliminary bid document for the strategic disinvestment and has set March 17, as the deadline for submitting expression of interest.

As part of the strategic disinvestment, Air India would also sell 100 per cent stake in low-cost airline Air India Express and 50 per cent shareholding in joint venture AISATS, according to a bid document issued on Monday.

The airline’s management control would also be transferred to the successful bidder.

This is the second time in less than two years that the government has come out with proposal for selling stake in Air India, which has been in the red for long.

The government has set March 17 as the deadline for submitting the expression of interest. AISATS is an equal joint venture between Air India and Singapore Airlines. It offers ground-handling services.

“Clean exit by the government and entire non-aircraft-related debts taken out of AI (Air India) balance sheet, particularly as entire debt excluding aircraft is taken out and this signals a determined effort to exit Air India to allow taxpayers funds be utilised for social agenda of the government,” he said.

Noting that this may be the single-biggest write-off by the government but for the right reasons, Kaul said, “CAPA see this as a very bold reform”.

While the majority of the students have apparently left Wuhan the city a few weeks ago to avail the Chinese New Year holidays, over 250 to 300 Indian students are reportedly stuck in the city.

BEIJING: Indian and Chinese officials on Monday discussed plans to evacuate over 250 Indians from coronavirus-hit Wuhan city and Hubei province.

The death toll in the coronavirus has climbed to 82 in China with 2,744 confirmed cases, mostly in Wuhan and other Chinese cities.

According to the Indian Embassy here, its diplomats held a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China on Monday.

“In the meeting, Chinese authorities briefed on the steps taken by them to contain the spread of coronavirus outbreak. Various options for evacuating foreign nationals from Wuhan/Hubei province were also discussed,” the embassy said in a note circulated on the social media.

“We continue to engage with the Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals in Hubei province. We will update you when we have more information from the Chinese authorities,” it said.

The embassy said for any issues regarding food, water and other essential supplies, the Hubei Foreign Affairs Office has provided two helplines (027-87122256 and 87811173) on which the provincial authorities can be contacted round the clock.

“You may approach them on issues that you may face there. However, please also let us know about your concern with specific details so that we are also able to take it up with the authorities in Hubei,” it said.

Wuhan has about 700 Indian students, majority of them studying medicine.

There are also a number of Indian students pursuing their doctorate degrees from several universities in Wuhan and its surrounding areas.

While the majority of the students have apparently left Wuhan the city a few weeks ago to avail the Chinese New Year holidays, over 250 to 300 Indian students are reportedly stuck in the city, triggering concerns over their well-being.

Wuhan and 12 other cities have been completely sealed by the Chinese authorities to stop the virus from spreading.

While India has earlier issued travel advisories to its citizens travelling to China in view of the coronavirus, the Indian Embassy here in the last few days has set up two hotlines for the students in Wuhan to extend assistance and took up it up with the local officials about proper supply of food and other necessities for them.

The embassy also tweeted on Monday that in addition to the three hotlines (+8618610952903, +8618612083629, +8618612083617), it has also opened a dedicated email ID, helpdesk. beijing@mea. gov. in, to deal with the ongoing emergency.

The embassy also requested some of the stranded Indians to furnish the details of their passports.

A decision about their evacuation is expected to be made shortly, though officials have not mentioned any timeline.

They made a special video and circulated on media networks, appealing for help.

Students from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and several African countries have also been making representations for evacuation.

Expectations for early evacuation increased after the Chinese government permitted the US to airlift its Wuhan-based diplomats and Americans citizens.

France, UK and South Korea are also trying to airlift their citizens stuck in Wuhan.

No foreigner in China has been infected with the virus so far.

Bengaluru may soon become like Delhi in terms of air pollution. Even though the city’s air quality index is not an alarming figure, the ground reality paints a different picture.

BENGALURU: Bengaluru may soon become like Delhi in terms of air pollution. Even though the city’s air quality index is not an alarming figure, the ground reality paints a different picture.Dust from construction debris (jelly stones and mud) to fill potholes on roads by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) engineers and contractors flies around whenever cars pass by. The dry weather has only made matters worse. Commuters do not just face the risk of falling from their two-wheelers due to the haphazardly filled potholes, they are unable to see or breathe due to the dust.

“Every time a vehicle moves over a mud or stone-filled pothole, dust flies. But government officials do not care as they move around in air conditioned cars,” said Aparna K, a citizen.The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board records show that the air quality index is not alarming, yet. This is because the board is recording real time data only from seven stationed air quality monitoring stations, and are not present across the city. Also, they record data only when vehicles are moving. Commuters say this is of no use as the data is not accurate.

According to KSPCB data, the air quality index at 4 pm on Monday afternoon was 146, which is moderate and can cause respiratory problems. A senior KSPCB official said, “Air pollution is high in some pockets because of the condition of the road. The BBMP has been told about it, but they seem incapable of multi-tasking. The PM10 levels are at 100, in most places in the city, against the annual average of 60. The NGT panel had raised an alarm for Bengaluru and had directed the government to take all measures to reduce the air pollution by 20-30%, but nothing seems to be happening on ground.”

BBMP Solid Water Management, Special Commissioner, D Randeep, said that there are 15 mechanical sweepers but they are not operating in all locations because they can only move on well tarred, pothole-free roads. Dust and stones in potholes means pourakarmikas and engineers are not doing their job.

Dusty hotspots

Cunningham Road
Vijayanagar
Magadi Road
Bannerghatta Road

Mysuru Road
Indiranagar
Whitefield Main Road
Bellandur Main Road
Basaveshwara Nagar Dairy Circle
Outer Ring Road

In a video message addressed to the ‘daughters of Delhi’, he listed out various steps taken by the Aam Aadmi Party government to ensure safety and security of women in the national capital.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that crime rate has reduced in areas where CCTV cameras have been installed.

In a video message addressed to the ‘daughters of Delhi’, he listed out various steps taken by the Aam Aadmi Party government to ensure safety and security of women in the national capital.

The steps listed by him included the installation of over two lakh CCTV cameras, free bus travel for women and deployment of bus marshalls among others.

“Crime rate has come down in areas where CCTV cameras have been installed. All the steps I took was because you voted for me last time. Elections are going to be held again on February 8 and I request you to vote again for AAP,” Kejriwal said.

Ekta Kumari had left Tianjin University just after the city got in the midst of coronavirus virus. 

PATNA:  A 29-year-old-woman from Bihar’s Chapra district was suspected to have some symptoms of coronavirus on Sunday and was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Monday morning.

Ekta Kumari had returned from China on January 22 at Kolkata airport and reached Chapra by train, where her parents live in Shanti Nagar colony.

She is completing her research project in China’s Tianjin University, which is in the northeastern part of China. She had left Tianjin University just after the city got in the midst of coronavirus virus. 

“She is reportedly speaking well and has not panicked over the situation but wanted to get proper medical care,” said a doctor from Chapra anonymously. 

According to the Principal Secretary of Health Sanjay Kumar, she has been suspected but not confirmed, upon mild fever reported by her to doctors. 

Meanwhile, official sources at Chapra said that she has complained of experiencing mild fever and some minor ailments due to her train journey from Kolkata to Chapra on January 22. She was admitted at Chapra’s Sadar hospital ICU.

She was brought to the isolation ward created for coronavirus cases on the first floor of PMCH with adequate deputation of doctors and pathological facilities.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar has asked the airport administration in Bihar, as many tourists from China come to visit many Buddhist circuit tourist places in Bihar, to take all preventive measures including thermal screening.

Kumar said that the health department has also sent a set of formats developed by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) to all district for proper reporting on any suspected cases.

The department has also deputed doctors in some seven districts, which share a border with Nepal as a precautionary measure and have been put on alert.

Sharjeel Imam is in the centre of controversy after a video of his speech went viral in which he is heard giving a call to split the northeast region from India.

PATNA: A team of officials from central intelligence agencies with local police conducted a massive search cum raid on the ancestral house of activist Sharjeel Imam at Kako village on Sunday till late evening Jehanabad district, Bihar.

Though Sharjeel Imam wasn’t found at his ancestral home, some of his close relatives were grilled and three of them were reportedly detained by police.

Sharejeel Imam is in the centre of controversy after a video of his speech went viral in which he is heard giving a call to split the northeast region from India.

Following this viral video, the Delhi police have booked him with charges of sedition and instigating the people for anti-national activities by giving an inflammatory speech against the CAA and the NRC.

Besides Delhi, cases against him have been lodged in UP and Assam.

Jehanabad SP Manish Kumar confirmed the raids on Imam’s ancestral house to the media but denied to speak over details as the case was being handled by Delhi police and intelligence wings.

Meanwhile, sources said three detained relatives of Imam were asked only about the last visit of Imam at his home and some other things related to his temperament, association with the types of people at native village and other relevant information.

The company expects to have a turnover of Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000 crore in the next financial year, said Yoga Guru Ramdev.

NEW DELHI: Unfazed by the prolonged economic slowdown, Haridwar-based Patanjali Ayurved aims to be the largest FMCG company in the country, beating market leader Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) turnover next financial year.

The company expects to have a turnover of Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000 crore in the next financial year, said Yoga Guru Ramdev here on Friday.

“This fiscal, Patanjali along with Ruchi Soya would have a turnover of around Rs 25,000 crore and expects to grow up to around Rs 35,000 crore-Rs 40,000 crore by the next fiscal year (FY21). Our turnover has not reduced — that’s a rumour. We have not lost any market share in any segment,” he added.

The company is expected to register a joint turnover of up to Rs 25,000 crore in the current financial year, in which around Rs 12,000 crore is likely to be contributed by Patanjali group firms and Rs 13,000 crore may come from Ruchi Soya, he noted.

After the acquisition of Ruchi Soya, Baba Ramdev-promoted Patanjali expects a three-fold growth, become a major player in the edible oil category and take a lead in the domestic production of soyabean oil, sunflower oil and palm oil.