News Analysis India

Tag: Kerala

  • Amid rising disquiet over Mullaiperiyar water level, SC directs Supervisory Committee to take immediate decision

    By Online Desk

    Amid rising disquiet in the wake of Mullaiperiyar dam level touching 136 ft on Saturday night following copious rainfall in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Supervisory Committee to take an immediate and firm decision on the maximum water level that can be maintained in the dam, opened in 1895. The dam is located in Kerala’s Idukki district but is operated by the Tamil Nadu government.

    A bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar reportedly ordered, “We direct all authorities concerned to interact urgently and Committee to take a decision as to water level to be maintained.”

    Instead of debating here, do something constructive there. Everyone has to work seriously and sincerely. This isn’t a political arena where you’ll debate, it’s about people’s lives. It’s due to the inaction of one party or other that we have to interfere, Justice Khanwilkar orally observed, according to Live Law.

    The bench then posted the matter for Wednesday.

    It may be noted that the Supreme Court had in May 2014 allowed Tamil Nadu to maintain the water level up to 142 ft twice a year despite Kerala asking the water level to be maintained at 136 ft.

    The supervisory committee’s powers and functions include supervising the restoration of FRL (Full Reservoir Level) in the Mullaiperiyar Dam to the elevation of 142 ft.

    Amid safety concerns in Kerala, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M.K.Stalin seeking to draw water from the dam.

    “At present there is a net inflow of around 2,109 cusecs accumulating in the reservoir even after the diversion from Tamil Nadu side. With the current inflow it is feared that the reservoir level may reach 142 ft once the torrential rain intensifies. Hence, there would arise an urgent need for the gradual release of water from Mullaperiyar dam through the tunnel to Tamil Nadu,” Vijayan said in his letter.

    Vijayan sought Stalin’s timely intervention in the matter and requested him to give immediate directions to the authorities concerned to ensure that maximum quantity of water is drawn from Mullaperiyar Dam through the tunnel to Vaigai Dam and to gradually release the water downstream.

    He also requested to intimate the Kerala government about the opening of the shutters at least 24 hours in advance in order to take precautionary measures for ensuring the safety of the people living downstream of the dam.

    In the letter, Vijayan also pointed out that when the water level reached 133.45 ft on October 18, the Kerala state Chief Secretary and other officials held meetings to ensure safety and security of the people.

    Meanwhile, Keralites flooded Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin’s Facebook page with demands to withdraw water from the dam. Moreover, social media has been abuzz with campaigns terming the Mullaperiyar dam as unsafe and demanding construction of a new dam at the earliest. The social media campaigns began after the water level in the reservoir rose in the wake of heavy rain in the dam’s catchment areas.  

    On Monday morning Pinarayi Vijayan warned of legal action against those who create panic over the Mullaperiyar dam through social media. Responding to a calling attention motion by MM Mani in the Assembly, Vijayan said there was no cause for concern over Mullaperiyar dam at present. 

    “A section of people in social media are giving the impression that the dam is in danger and that lakhs of people are going to die. Strict legal action will be taken against such false propaganda,” he said. 

    Vijayan noted that the state government has a clear stance on the Mullaperiyar issue. The state wants a new dam. However, the Centre does not support this stance. Despite this, the state will persist with its demand for a new dam, he said. 

    “The Tamil Nadu government is cooperating with us on various issues. However, there are some areas where we have differences of opinion. We will hold discussions with Tamil Nadu and resolve all issues,” he added. 

  • Rains batter Uttarakhand as 42 more die, Uttar Pradesh sees four fatalities; Kerala dams open gates

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand reported at least 42 rain-related deaths on Tuesday with many people still trapped under the rubble after landslides, while Uttar Pradesh witnessed four fatalities, even as heavy downpour in Kerala filled several dams to the brim and multiple districts were on alert.

    In view of the incessant rains, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated his appeal to Chardham yatris to stay where they are and not to resume their journeys before the weather improved.

    “The number of casualties in Kumaon region alone has crossed 40,” DIG Nilesh Anand Bharne told PTI.

    With 42 new fatalities in the Kumaon region, the death toll in the disaster has risen to 47 as five deaths were reported on Monday.

    Of the 42 fresh deaths, 28 people were killed in Nainital district, six each in Almora and Champawat and one each in Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts, the official said.

    ALSO READ: Experts explain what is causing heavy rains that killed dozens in Uttarakhand, Kerala over few days

    The connectivity to Nainital was restored in the evening after hours of struggle amid inclement weather, officials said.

    Chief Minister Dhami undertook an aerial survey of the rain-hit areas and later interacted with the affected people on ground zero to make an assessment of the damages caused.

    He announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in rain-related incidents across the state over the last two days.

    Director General of Uttarakhand Police Ashok Kumar, who accompanied Chief Minister Dhami on a visit to the rain-hit areas of the Kumaon region, said roads, bridges and railway tracks have been damaged in Kathgodam and Lalkuan in Nainital and Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar.

    ALSO READ: Uttarakhand government to give Rs 4 lakh to kin of those killed in rain-related incidents

    It will take at least four-five days to repair the damaged tracks, Kumar told PTI.

    Three Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters have arrived in the state and are assisting in relief and rescue operations.

    Two of them have been deployed in Nainital district, which has suffered extensive damage due to cloudbursts and landslides, Dhami said.

    According to a rough estimate, around 100 pilgrims from different parts of Gujarat who had gone to Uttarakhand for the Chardham Yatra were stranded following heavy rains and landslides, Gujarat Revenue Minister Rajendra Trivedi said.

    The National Disaster Response Force has rescued over 300 people from flood-affected areas of Uttarakhand, the federal force said on Tuesday.

    ALSO READ: Over 300 people rescued from flood-affected Uttarakhand – NDRF

    The NDRF has deployed 15 teams in the state.

    Rainfall was reported from other parts of the country as well including Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, according to the IMD, which forecast an intense spell of rain over east and northeast till Wednesday, and south peninsular region during the next four-five days.

    Authorities in the national capital said Prof Joginder Singh Marg in the western part of the city had been closed after the road caved in.

    A 35-year-old woman and her mother-in-law died in Uttar Pradesh’s Fathepur after a wall of their house collapsed following heavy rains.

    In Bareilly, also in UP, two labourers died of electrocution in Bisalpur road after coming in contact with a solar panel following heavy rains, police said.

    WATCH VIDEO: River washes away under-construction bridge as rains cause havoc in Uttarakhand

    In West Bengal, the Met department said heavy rainfall is very likely to continue till Thursday morning even as the low-pressure system that developed over the Gangetic Basin in the southern part of the state moved to Bihar, parts of which received heavy rains during the day.

    The weatherman warned of extremely heavy rainfall over Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Alipurduar till Wednesday morning and downpour till Thursday over all sub-Himalayan districts.

    The IMD forecast more rain on Wednesday in Odisha, which has already been battered by low-pressure area-induced downpour for the last three days.

    Fishermen were advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal for the next 48 hours.

    Down south in Kerala, after a relative respite of two days, the IMD Tuesday issued an Orange Alert for 11 districts of Kerala indicating heavy rainfall.

    The weatherman has put 12 districts in the state on Orange alert on Thursday also.

    The IMD sounded an Orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts on October 20.

    An Orange alert has been issued for all districts other than Kannur and Kasaragod on October 21.

    Idukki, Idamalayar, Pamba and Kakki, four major dams among the total 78 dams in the state have been opened to release the excess water.

    Shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir in Kerala, were opened on Tuesday to create more storage capacity in anticipation of the heavy rainfall predicted in its catchment area over the next two days.

    Various district administrations have issued alerts to the people living downstream and shifted them to relief camps set up in the state.

    The IMD said a low-pressure area lies over Bihar and neighbourhood.

    Also due to strong southerly/southeasterly winds from Bay of Bengal, a heavy spell of rainfall activity is very likely to continue over east and northeast India till October 20.

  • Experts explain what is causing heavy rains that killed dozens in Uttarakhand, Kerala over few days

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A confluence of cyclonic storms forming in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea is among the biggest reasons behind heavy rains in different parts of the country over the past few days that have claimed dozens of lives in Uttarakhand, Kerala and other states, experts said on Tuesday.

    Climate experts also warn the intensity of rains in Kerala and Uttarakhand is “alarming” and must draw immediate attention towards “climate emergency”.

    “The latest rains in Kerala are a result of a normal climatic event called retreating monsoon that happens every year. However, the intensity of rains there and in Uttarakhand is alarming and must draw our attention to the severity of climate emergency.

    “We have seen a steady rise in the number of adverse climatic events over the past few years and as a tropical country, I believe it is time India takes solid steps to help meet the climate targets as events since the past few years and this trend seems to be getting worsened,” said Kamal Narayan Omer, CEO, Integrated Health and Wellbeing Council (IHW Council).

    Ishteyaque Ahmed, Senior Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace India, said these rains were a consequence of the cyclonic storms from the east and the west and can lead to huge environmental losses and derail food security of the country.

    “Rising oceanic temperatures can strengthen otherwise weak cyclones and make them deadlier than expected. India is facing this crisis from three sides. In the last few days cyclonic storms are continuously forming in the Bay of Bengal as well as in the Arabian Sea.

    “The confluence of such eastern and western storms is among the biggest causes of such disastrous rains in different parts of the country. These untimely erratic rains, responsible for big human and environmental losses can derail the food and nutritional security initiatives of the country, which is already at the brink of a major food and nutrition crisis,” Ahmed said.

    He also said that more such extreme weather events can occur in the future.

    “In a transitional phase, it is next to impossible to predict for the future, but seemingly rising oceanic temperatures and destruction of floral and faunal aquatic lives, more frequent and frightening extreme weather events cannot be ruled out,” he said.

    According to V Vinoj, Assistant Professor, IIT Bhubaneswar, states and the country as whole need to be “climate smart”.

    He suggested specific warning system to be installed to tackle the climate situation better.

    “It is now well-known that anthropogenic climate change will lead to extreme weather patterns. Therefore, it is now imperative that their impacts on life and property are minimised by following locally relevant adaptation measures. In parallel, efforts on mitigation efforts should be hastened so as to slow climate change.

    “A specific warming system taking in to consideration the local vulnerabilities will go a long way in saving lives. In addition, adaptation measures, again taking climate resilience as the central issue will be beneficial in the long run. In summary, our country, states and cities should be climate smart,” he said.

    Incessant rains have claimed at least 28 lives in Uttarakhand in the last two days, razing houses to the ground and leaving many trapped in the debris.

    Nainital was cut off from the rest of the state with three roads leading to the popular tourist spot blocked due to a series of landslides.

    Landslides have blocked the exits in the town and electricity, telecom and internet connectivity in Nainital district was also hit badly.

    The death toll in incidents related to heavy rains, including landslides and flash floods in Kerala rose to 27 on Monday.

    Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued for 11 dams across Kerala as water levels have breached the danger mark in several areas.

    Heavy rains are again expected in the state between October 20 and 24.

  • Heavy rains lash several parts of India, five killed in Uttarakhand; red alert for 10 dams in Kerala

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Heavy rains on Monday lashed several parts of north India, including Uttarakhand, where five people were killed in rain-related incidents, while a red alert for 10 dams was issued in Kerala due to incessant downpour in the southern state.

    In Delhi, the month of October this year has been the wettest since 1960, when the city had recorded 93.4 mm of rainfall, according to data shared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

    Heavy rainfall also lashed several parts of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

    Due to heavy downpour, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan postponed his campaign tour to Khandwa for the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll there, while in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s rally had to be cancelled in Budhana town as the venue was submerged in rainwater.

    Authorities in Uttarakhand advised Chardham pilgrims, who arrived in Haridwar and Rishikesh by Sunday, not to proceed to the Himalayan temples till the weather improves.

    Five people, including three labourers from Nepal, were killed and two others injured in rain-related incidents in the state.

    The labourers were staying in a tent at Samkhal near Lansdowne in Pauri district when rubble flowing down from a field above due to the rains buried them alive, District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, adding that the injured were admitted to the Kotdwar base hospital.

    In Selkhola in Champawat district, two people were killed when their house collapsed, following a landslide, the State Emergency Operation Centre said.

    Passenger vehicles are not being allowed to cross the Chandrabhaga bridge, Tapovan, Lakshman Jhoola and Muni-ki-Reti Bhadrakali barriers in Rishikesh.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the state disaster control room at the secretariat in Dehradun to take weather updates and know the conditions of roads and highways.

    In Kerala, where heavy rains have claimed 22 lives till Sunday, water levels are rising in the catchment areas.

    A red alert was issued in respect of 10 dams in Kerala, two shutters of Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta were opened and pilgrimage to Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala has been put on hold for now, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said.

    After a review meeting held at the Pathanamthitta district collectorate to assess the situation, Rajan and state Health Minister Veena George said that it has been decided to open the Kakki dam to release around 100-200 cumex water, which would increase the water level of Pampa river by around 15 centimetres.

    They said the decision was taken in view of the water level in the dam increasing beyond the danger levels and also taking into consideration the heavy rains expected from October 20, which might worsen the situation if some water is not released now.

    In view of the expected worsening of the weather from October 20 till 24, according to IMD information, they said it would not be possible to permit pilgrimage to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala for the Thula Masam poojas for which the shrine had been opened from October 16.

    Heavy rains lashed Delhi, leading to traffic snarls and waterlogging at several places in the city.

    The minimum temperature settled at 23.9 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average.

    Delhi recorded 87.9 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am on Sunday and 8.30 am on Monday.

    In the city this year, 94.6 mm of rainfall has already been recorded in October.

    On Sunday, Delhi recorded 87.9 mm of rainfall, the fourth highest in a day, according to data.

    A link road from National Highway-05 to Moorang was blocked due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh Kinnaur district at Khogpa Nullah in Moorang Tehsil, a disaster management official said.

    In Madhya Pradesh, almost the entire state received post-monsoon showers in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am.

    More rains are likely over the next couple of days in the state, P K Saha, senior meteorologist at the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Bhopal office, told PTI.

    Chief Minister Chouhan postponed his Monday visit to Khandwa due to the inclement weather, an official from Chief Minister’s Office said, adding that the overnight rains caused slush at the venue where Chouhan was supposed to address public meetings.

    Incessant rains with one or two spells of heavy downpour caused by a low pressure system affected normal life in several parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata.

    The Meteorological (MeT) Department has forecast heavy rainfall in all the districts of south Bengal, where inclement weather prevailed on Monday and Tuesday.

    In Uttar Pradesh, districts like Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Meerut have received heavy rainfall since Sunday morning, which has led to waterlogging and electricity supply disruption in several parts of these districts.

    Rajasthan also witnessed light to moderate rainfall at many places, while isolated areas received heavy rain during the last 24 hours, the MeT Department said.

    Odisha braced for heavy rain as a low-pressure area (Lopar) formed over the Gangetic West Bengal.

    Fisherfolk have been advised not to venture into deep sea off the Odisha coast till Tuesday as squally weather with wind speed of 40-50 kmph and gusting up to 60 kmph is likely over north Bay of Bengal.

    It issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts till 8.30 am of Tuesday.

  • 6,000 houses under central scheme cancelled in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Ladakh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Nearly 6,000 houses under Prime Minister Aawas Yojana (Urban) have been cancelled in three states — Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Ladakh.

    Lack of proper verification, death, migration or duplicate entry of beneficiaries and non-compliance with the criteria are some of the reasons behind cancellation of houses under the ambitious scheme of the Centre.

    MP also proposed cancellation of 1,740 houses in two AHP (affordable housing in partnership) projects, 960 houses in 1 slum redevelopment project and 1,711 in 45 BLC (beneficiary led construction) projects. In a recently held meeting of the central monitoring committee, the state proposed cancellation of the above houses and the reasons given included death, migration or duplicate entry of beneficiaries and also, some of them were not having their own land.

    While approving the proposal, the committee observed that the state authority should have followed due diligence in identifying eligible beneficiaries. Kerala proposed cancellation or curtailment of 1,047 houses in 129 BLC projects due to non-availability of valid documents of beneficiaries, land falling in coastal regulation zones and not meeting criteria.

    The central committee in the case of Kerala observed that the state was required to examine the list to avoid any future dispute and resentment of the beneficiaries and approved cancellation of 1047 houses.In Ladakh, 404 houses were proposed for cancellation after a door-to-door survey by the monitoring committee in Kargil and Leh found that many beneficiaries already had pucca or semi-pucca houses.

  • Supreme Court dismisses plea challenging Kerala government’s decision to hold physical exam for Class 11

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging Kerala government’s decision to hold physical exam for Class 11.

    A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and C T Ravikumar said a detailed affidavit has been filed and they are taking all measures related to the coronavirus protocol.

    The top court said holistic approach has to be taken in the matter and the authorities are conscious of their duties.

    “We are convinced by the explanation offered by the state and trust authorities will take all precautions and necessary steps so that no untoward situation is faced by students who are of tender age and appearing for the proposed examination. Dismissed,” the bench said.

    The apex court said it had intervened on the earlier occasion as there was a possibility of third wave of corona by September.

    “Third wave is not in offing immediately,” the bench said.

    The Kerala government in an affidavit had told the top court that online examinations will be a disadvantage for students with no access to laptops and mobile phones.

    “The conduct of examination through online mode will prejudice a large number of students who have no access to laptops, desktops or even mobile phones. The students belonging to the lower strata of society are depending on mobile phones or tablets for attending online classes.

    “In many areas, internet connection or mobile data are not available. These students will never be able to write online examinations,” the state government had told the court.

    The apex court had on September 3 stayed for a week Kerala government’s decision to conduct offline exams for Class XI commencing from September 6 amid the rising cases of COVID saying “there is an alarming situation in the state”.

    The top court had observed that “cases in Kerala are about 70 per cent cases of the country and children of this age cannot be exposed to this risk”.

  • Worry of IQ, expenditure, genuinity of test reports starts as Covid cases rise in Karnataka

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: As the number people coming from Kerala to Karnataka and testing positive is rising, the worries of management and health officials also climb up.

    While the management of the educational and professional institutions are worried about institutional quarantine, health checks, payments and responsibilities associated with it, health officials are worried of the laxity and attitude, which is leading to rising in Covid19 cases and the formation of clusters in the state,

    “Cases are not just rising in Dakshin Kannada and Kolar, but now have started to rise in Bengaluru also and the first in line is the Christian College of Nursing in Mahadevapura. This we got to know because of students started showing symptoms and some of their contacts were staying in other places who told neighbours and the word spread. But there are many other colleges and institutions of which data has not yet been shared, despite government orders,” said a senior BBMP official not wanting to be named. 

    Health department officials have also expressed their worry and have said that those who come from Kerala, do not want to go in for institutional quarantine and assert that they have a negative report. “The management tell us that they believe the reports their students and employees are carrying, but if the government does not believe it and are insisting on IQ, then the government should make all arrangements for it and not put the onus on the management. They are wanting to shun this task under the guise of additional and additional expenditure for them,” said a health department official.

    The BBMP and the health department has identified and listed hotel rooms for those coming in from Kerala to undergo IQ. If need be, some are also being sent to Covid care centres. 

    Another BBMP official said the management does not understand that even if they carry negative test reports, the virus can start acting after 5-7 days. So IQ and an additional test is no harm. This exercise also ensures that the virus does not spread and cases do not rise. They must look at it as a social exercise and not as an obligation. “We also do not know if they have got a genuine test report or a fake report as the cases are rising in Kerala and the same should not happen in Bengaluru or Karnataka,” the official added.

  • ‘No sign of abatement: Centre says 58% of daily Covid cases in India are from Kerala

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: On a day India reported 46,164 fresh daily Covid cases, the highest since early July, the Union health ministry highlighted that 58% of these cases were from Kerala where the pandemic is showing no sign of abetment. 

    The government also warned against dropping the guards as the festive season approaches, bringing the threat of pushing the cases northwards. 

    In a press briefing on the Covid status in the country, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that except for Kerala, the rest of the states are still exhibiting a declining trend vis-à-vis daily coronavirus case count. 

    Kerala reported 31,445 Covid cases and 215 deaths in the past 24 hours and the test positivity rate has now reached over 20% in the state, signalling at the explosive rate of disease progression. 

    The last time the Covid cases in Kerala crossed the 30,000-mark was on May 20 when it logged 30,491 cases, pointed out Bhushan adding that the state currently has more than 1 lakh active cases — over 51% of the total active cases in India. 

    ALSO READ | COVID-19 most transmissible 2 days before, 3 days after symptoms appear: Study

    “58.4% of total Covid cases last week were reported from Kerala. It is the only state reporting over 1 lakh active cases, while four states have 10,000 to 1 lakh active cases,” Bhushan said.

    Issuing a strong warning ahead of the upcoming festive season, the health secretary also cautioned that the second wave of the pandemic is not over as 41 districts in India still report more than 10% positivity while 41 are also recording over 100 daily cases every day. 

    “September and October are crucial in pandemic management because of several festivals,” he said. 

    On a positive note, the health ministry highlighted that the Covid vaccination has now reached the 60.39 crore mark, claiming that India is at a comfortable place in terms of vaccine supply.

    “There is no shortage (of vaccines), in fact, we have asked states to improve the vaccination rate,” said Bhushan.

  • Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan announces doorstep assistance scheme for aged, disabled and destitute persons

    By PTI

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday announced a ‘doorstep assistance’ scheme under which senior citizens unable to go out due to their age, those bedridden as well as destitute and disabled persons would be provided various services like social security pension and emergency medicines at their place of residence.

    To start with, a lifetime certificate, preparation of an application for assistance from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, social security pension, delivery of emergency medicines and palliative care, would be the services provided under the scheme, the CM said and added that other services would be added subsequently.

    The first phase of the scheme, which would commence from September, will be implemented in areas under 50 local bodies and based on the government’s experience it would be extended to the entire state in December, he said in a release.

    Explaining how the scheme would be implemented, the release said that in all Local Self Government Institutions, a committee consisting of an accredited social health activist (ASHA), a Kudumbasree representative and volunteers under the chairmanship of the Ward member will carry out the work of providing the services.

    The Asha workers will have the primary responsibility of contacting those in need of service, the release said, adding that those in need of the service can contact the committee members by phone.

    “For this, a card containing the phone numbers of the committee members will be issued,” it said.

    Akshaya centres and volunteers will be available to assist the Asha workers.

    The LSGIs would be responsible for locating the volunteers by using a transparent methodology, the CM said and he directed the Health department to ensure that the medicines required by each person are available locally.

    He also said that the progress of the door-to-door service activities should be regularly reviewed at the district-level and at the level of the LSGIs and added that the District Collector and the District Planning Committee will have a crucial role to play in the implementation and monitoring of the scheme.

  • COVID-19: R-value climbing steadily in country, Kerala and northeastern states top list

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The R-factor, which indicates the speed at which COVID-19 infection is spreading in the country, is climbing steadily with Kerala and the northeastern states occupying top spots fuelling worries about the pandemic rearing its head again.

    Among the metro cities, the R-values of Pune and Delhi are close to one, suggests an analysis by researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai.

    When the second wave of the COVID-19 infection was at its peak, the overall R-value in the country was estimated to be 1.37 between March 9 to April 21.

    ALSO READ| Easing of COVID restrictions likely in 25 Maharashtra districts including Mumbai: State minister

    It declined to 1.18 between April 24 and May 1 and then to 1.1 between April 29 and May 7, according to the analysis. Between May 9 and 11, the R-value was estimated to be around 0.98. It dropped to 0.82 between May 14 and May 30 and further to 0.78 from May 15 to June 26.

    The R-value however rose to 0.88 from June 20 to July 7 and then to 0.95 from July 3-22. “India’s overall active cases are fluctuating too much to get a reliable estimate, but data is pointing at a value close to 1. It may tip over either way in the coming few days,” said Sitabhra Sinha of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, who is leading the team.

    An R-value of 0.95 means, every 100 infected people on an average pass on the infection to 95 other individuals. If the R-value is lesser than 1, it means the number of newly infected people is lower than the number of infected people in the preceding period which means the disease incidence is going down.

    The smaller the value of R is, the faster the disease is on the decline. Conversely, if R is greater than 1, the number of infected people is increasing in each round — technically, this is what is called the epidemic phase.

    The bigger the number is than one, the faster the rate of spreading of the disease in the population. Kerala has the highest number of active cases and continues to have an R-value around 1.11. “So looks like it will remain in the top spot for the next couple of weeks. The Northeast continues to have a very bad situation with most states having R-value more than 1,” Sinha said.

    ALSO READ| 51 fresh cases of COVID-19 reported in Delhi, city sees zero deaths

    The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said it will depute a six-member team to Kerala for effective COVID-19 management as the state reports a spike in daily cases. The team headed by National Centre for Disease Control Director SK Singh will reach Kerala on Friday and visit some districts reporting a high case positivity rate.

    The high case positivity has remained a cause of concern at a time when the overall coronavirus numbers are on a decline in the country.

    Kerala on Wednesday recorded 22,056 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the infection caseload to 33,27,301, with the number of people who succumbed to the virus rising to 16,457 with 131 more deaths.

    In the northeast, only Tripura has an R-value substantially lower than one while Manipur has gone only marginally below one. Among other states in India, Uttarakhand has an R-value very close to one at the moment.

    Among the major cities, Pune appears to have an R-value greater than one while Delhi has a value close to one.

    The R-value of Pune was 0.85 between July 11-13 and 0.89 between July 15-20. For the national capital, the R-value between June 21- 26 was 0.80. It dropped to 0.66 from June 28-July 6, but it rose to 0.84 between July 4-20.

    For Bengaluru, the R-value from July 7-13 was 0.92. It increased marginally to 0.95 from July 13-17. It dropped to 0.72 from July 17-23. In the case of Mumbai, the R-value was 0.96 between July 2-4. It dropped to 0.89 between July 6-9.

    It further dropped to 0.74 between July 22-24. For Chennai, the R-value between June 29 to July 7 was 0.63. It shot up to 1.05 between July 16-19. It was 0.94 between 21-24, showing signs of decline. In the case of Kolkata, the R-value was 0.80 between July 1-13, followed by 0.91 between July 12-17. It dropped to 0.86 between July 17-24.