TN opposes bids for hydrocarbon extraction in Cauvery basin

Uttar Pradesh received first spell of monsoon showers on Sunday as the South-West Monsoon entered through the eastern regions of the state. Most of the districts in Eastern Uttar Pradesh including Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ayodhya, Ghazipur, Balrampur, Sonabhadra and adjoining areas are witnessing intermittent rain since the early morning on Sunday. The IMD, in its latest forecast, has confirmed the advancement of monsoon into most parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Western Uttar Pradesh as well. In the next 48 hours, monsoon is likely to advance further in the remaining parts of the state.

-The Hyderabad based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) will conduct a sero-prevalence survey relating to COVID antibodies, among Children in Telangana soon. The NIN Director Dr. R Hemalatha informed that the survey is likely to be taken up next month. She said, the ICMR is going to conduct the survey among children across the country soon and various ICMR institutions will take part in it in different states. The NIN has conducted 4 phases of the survey in Telangana so far among adults, will take up the survey among children this time.

-Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas to cancel the bid process for Vadatheru in Cauvery Basin.In a letter to Prime Minister today, Stalin appealed to Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry to consult the State Government  before bringing any area in the State for any auctions in future for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction.Tamilnadu Government is of the view that no new hydro carbon projects should be taken up in the Cauvery basin and neighbouring districts in the interest of protecting the livelihoods of millions of farmers and fragile agro ecology of the Cauvery basin. The Chief Minister has emphasised the fact that the hydrocarbon project was in violation of the Tamilnadu Protected Agricultural Zone development Act, Chief MInister Stalin said that  calling of bids had already ignited public agitation in Pudukottai and neighbouring districts apprehending the adverse consequences of hydrocarbon extraction in this agrarian economy.

-NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has said in order to shape a post-COVID reality, there is no way out for India but growth. Kant emphasised that India has an opportunity to usher in change that will see the society transform within a generation. Speaking to a news agency, Kant said, a lot of FDI has come into India and it is an opportunity to attract best manufacturers. He said, now time has come to make India the simplest and easiest place to do business and use technology. He also emphasised that it is also opportunity to get into cutting edge areas of growth. Mr Kant said, this is also an opportunity to use technology to leapfrog so across a whole range of areas and advocated use of new technology to leapfrog into the world.

-Government has clarified that there is no cyber breach into NIC email system. The email system is totally safe and secure. A media story on impact of data breaches in organisations such as Air India, Big Basket and Domino’s has claimed that these breaches have exposed email accounts and passwords of NIC emails to the hackers. Electronics and IT Ministry has clarified that there has been no cyber breach into the email system of the Government of India maintained by the National Informatics Centre. It said, cyber security breach on external portals may not impact the users of Government Email Service, unless the Government users have registered on these portals using their Government Email Address and have used the same password as the one used in the Government Email Account.