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Sports entities advised to suspend all events till April 15

Ayush Minister Kiren Rijiju (file pic)

New Delhi (NVI): All sports organisations and their affiliate units in the country have been advised to suspend all sports events till April 15, as a precautionary measure to contain coronavirus spread.

Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry today advised sports authorities against holding any sports events, including competitions or selection trials till 15th April 2020.

However, the athletes who are preparing for the Olympics, which is scheduled to be held in Tokyo this year, are allowed to get trained within the campus following some preventive measures outlined by the Ministry.

”Training of athletes preparing for Olympics 2020 may outline subject to following restrictions such as no exposure to athlete be allowed from outside in the campus where training is underway,” the statement said.

”No coach, technical/support staff, athlete etc presently not in the training camp and not staying in the training campus be allowed to interact or mingle with trainee athletes without following the quarantine protocols, ” it added.

It further requested to communicate the above for compliance to all affiliate entities.

West Pakistan Refugees can now claim relief in easier way

Jammu (NVI):  The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced simplification of procedures to enable West Pakistan Refugees avail benefit of one-time compensation of Rs. 5.5 lakh per family under the Rehabilitation Package.
The Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu, decided to do away with the requirement of submission of Succession Certificate for all West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) to claim the benefit under the Rehabilitation Package, in case the original WPR entitled for relief under the package has died.
Instead, an applicant now has to produce a Legal Heir Certificate issued by the concerned Tehsildar, an official spokesman said.
Besides, a copy of any one of the Parliamentary voter lists of J&K from 1951 to 1984 may also be accepted as an alternate in case a family did not figure in the 1971/75 voter lists,
The AC has also stressed the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu who is also the Nodal Officer for speedy implementation of the said scheme under these simplified procedures, to ensure that the disbursement of financial assistance under the one-time relief package is completed by or before May 30, 2020.

Govt directs metro, buses to decrease frequency of services

New Delhi (NVI): The government today directed all the public transport to consider a decrease in the frequency of their services and alternate seating to ensure social distancing, in its latest set of measures to prevent coronavirus from spreading further in the country.

Addressing the media, Ministry of Health, Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal said, “With respect to public transport, it is directed that metros, railways, buses and airplanes shall consider a decrease in the frequency of their services, alternate seating to ensure social distancing.”

“Effective disinfection and crowd management be ensured in places like railway stations, metro stations, bus stands, and airports,” he said.

In a briefing, the government also requested Indian nationals to ensure hand and respiratory hygiene, environmental sanitation measures like routine cleaning of frequently used surfaces, minimizing the sharing of objects; and ensuring appropriate ventilation besides social distancing.

“There shouldn’t be any kind of panic among the community, We all have to put the collective effort,” said Lav Agarwal.

In continuation of already issued advisories, Department of Personnel and Training has issued orders to reduce the contact and congestion in government offices, the Ministry informed in a briefing.

“These include allowing Group C & D employees to attend offices on alternate weeks and staggered timings for Group A & B employees,” it said adding that states shall issue instructions for regulating hours in all services except for essential services.

Industrial establishments to consider staggered timings and regulation of crowd in the market should also be resorted, the ministry said.

“In order to protect the most vulnerable of our population, all states shall issue appropriate instructions wherein all citizens above 65 years except for public representatives/government servants/medical professionals should be advised to remain at home,” said Lav Aggarwal.

“Avoid gatherings except for medical reasons and need for essential services. Similarly, all children below 10 years of age should be advised to remain at home and avoid going to public parks, picnics and other games requiring large number of participants,” he added.

In consultation with medical professionals, detailed advisory shall be issued for all health establishments to avoid non-urgent hospitalization and minimize elective surgeries. This is being done to avoid hospital-related infections to the vulnerable and prepare hospitals for meeting challenges posed by Coronavirus.

Youth and citizens are urged to become volunteers to support the government’s ongoing efforts in the management of COVID-19, he added.

Union Home Secretary reviews security for Amarnath Yatra

Jammu (NVI):  Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla today convened a high-level meeting here to review the security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra 2020.

The meeting was attended by Advisors to JK Lt Governor- Baseer Ahmad Khan and R R Bhatnagar.

The meeting was also attended by Director General of Police, J&K; Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education; Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department; Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; ADGP, CID, J&K; IGP Jammu; IGP Kashmir and other senior officers of CRPF and Army.

The meeting was convened through video conferencing.

Threadbare discussion on security arrangements, Telecom Connectivity, Disaster Management, Heath Care Plan, Fire Safety Measures, electricity, water supply, accurate weather forecasting services, and other issues were held during the meeting.

The Union Home Secretary, stressed on effective coordination among all the concerned departments for ensuring fool-proof and smooth conduct of the Yatra.

The Home Secretary discussed various matters with police and civil administration and also sought suggestions from them to ensure timely and fool-proof arrangements for the smooth conduct of annual pilgrimage. He assured of full support from the Union Home Ministry.

Advisor Baseer Ahmad Khan gave a detailed presentation of the arrangements being made for the smooth conduct of the Yatra. He informed that more amenities would be provided this year to Yatris on all routes.

The Advisor also informed the Home Secretary that advance placement of medical staff is being done on Yatra duty for better healthcare facility to the Yatris.

He said that the routes leading to Yatra would be cleared of snow and the matter has already been taken with the concerned department.

The Advisor also said that night helicopter service for the Yatris would be taken up with the concerned. The discussion was also held on various issues to strategise appropriate communication tools to help the pilgrims seeking registration for the Yatra, including need for compulsory health certificate for registration during the annual pilgrimage.

The Advisor also discussed the need for effective traffic regulation to ensure smooth movement of the pilgrim to the respective Base Camps.

Advisor Bhatnagar, on the occasion, said that LG’s Administration is making all necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Yatra.

He expressed hope that all the arrangements would complete before commencement of the Yatra.

Entry of Int’l commercial flights banned in India from Mar 22

New Delhi (NVI): The Central government today announced that all commercial passenger flights will not be allowed to land in India from March 22 for one week, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

The advisory further states that railways and aviation suspend all concessional travel except for students, patients and divyang category people.

“States are being requested to enforce work for home for Private Sector employees except those working in emergency/essential services,” the release stated.

All the state Governments are advised to issue appropriate directions so that all citizens above 65 (other than for medical assistance) except for public representatives/govt. servants/medical professionals are advised to remain at home. Further, all children below 10 should be advised to stay at home.

States are requested to enforce work for home for Private Sector employees except those working in emergency/essential services, the advisory stated.

To reduce crowding, all Group B and C Central Government employees are asked to attend offices on alternate week and staggered timings for all employees.

The Railway Ministry also issued a statement announcing that 155 pairs of low occupancy trains stands cancelled till March 31, 2020.

Revival of khadi and village industries in the country

New Delhi (NVI): In order to revive and increase the production of Khadi, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has been implementing Khadi Reform and Development Programme (KRDP) scheme not only in Bihar, but throughout the country.

Union Minister for MSME, Nitin Gadkari informed about the scheme in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

KVIC also provides Market Development Assistance to the registered Khadi Institutions and 40% of total MMDA to the Khadi artisans engaged in production activity.

Moreover, a total of 22 Khadi Institutions were given assistance under KRDP with a financial outlay of Rs 1,484.93 lakhs for refurbishment of Khadi programme in Bihar.

The ministry of MSME also provides financial assistance in the form of grant and subsidy to KVIC for promotion and development of Khadi Programme.

According to scheme, the khadi artisans are also provided with worksheds for better work atmosphere and storing the materials, under which financial assistance up to Rs 60,000is provided per workshed.

As of now, 2326 number of Khadi Institutions are working under Khadi Programme, out of which 85 such units are working in Bihar.

Fake news alert: India didn’t issue any movement restriction, says PIB

New Delhi (NVI): A fake news is circulating across India through Whatsapp messenger app regarding movement restriction being imposed in the country, said Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Taking to twitter, a government news agency said that the government of India has not issued any such press release which stated that the movement restriction has been imposed on all the citizens post March 18 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

“This press release has not been issued by the National Security Council of Government of #India. It is being circulated with mischievous intentions, to create panic. Pl do not fall prey to such attempts,” PIB tweeted.

However, the press release from National Security Council that all Whatsapp groups are circulating claiming it to be from India, is actually a press release issued by Malaysian government not the Indian government.

Fourth COVID-19 death in India; total cases over 170

(Updating earlier story)

New Delhi (NVI): Total coronavirus cases in India soared past 170 today, with another death reported due to the pandemic. With this, total four people have died due to COVID-19 in the country so far.

While Chhattisgarh reported its first positive case today, fresh cases were also reported in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Yesterday, a Saudi returned woman was tested positive for coronavirus in Srinagar, making her the first positive case in the Kashmir division.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today address the nation at around 8 PM and will talk about issues related to coronavirus and efforts to combat it.

COVID-19 has killed more than 8,700 people while more than 2 lakh people have been tested positive.

Meanwhile, China– the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak– reported no new local infections today, for the first time. Officials said 34 new coronavirus cases had been confirmed, all involving people who had come to China from elsewhere.

An end to China’s epidemic might be in sight, the announcement could pave the way for officials to focus more on reviving the country’s economy, which nearly ground to a halt after the government imposed travel restrictions and quarantine measures.

Tourist places in Meghalaya closed till Mar 31

New Delhi (NVI): All tourist places in Meghalaya have been closed till March 31 as a preventive measure against coronavirus spread, the state government said today.

It also said there is a possibility that the order may be extended up to April 15, depending on the situation.

“All tourists intending to visit Shillong and other places in Meghalaya are requested to reschedule their travel plans accordingly,” a statement by the government of Meghalaya said.

Meghalaya is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, known for its high rainfall, subtropical forests and biodiversity.

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in India climbed to 169 today with 3 deaths.

Greenland, Antarctica melting six times faster than in the 1990s

New Delhi (NVI): Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are currently melting six times faster than they were in the 1990s, according to a new study.

If this continues, the melting will be on track to match the worst-case scenario set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and cause flooding that has the potential to affect hundreds of millions of people by 2100.

The recent research, which involved an international team of 89 polar scientists from 50 organizations and was published in the journal Nature, provides the most comprehensive assessment of the changing ice sheets, ever. NASA and the European Space Agency, through satellite observations and laboratories, have supported these assessments.

The team’s findings indicate that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have collectively lost 475 billion tons of ice per year in 2010—six times more than the collective loss in the 1990s, which stood at 81 billion tons.

The resulting meltwater also boosted global sea levels by 0.7 inches (17.8 millimeters). Together, the melting polar ice sheets are responsible for a third of all sea-level rise. Of this total sea-level rise, 60 percent resulted from Greenland’s ice loss and 40 percent resulted from Antarctica’s.

However, the satellite observations of polar ice are essential for monitoring and predicting how climate change could affect ice losses and sea-level rise.

The IPCC in its Fifth Assessment Report issued predicted that global sea levels would rise 28 inches (71 centimeters) by 2100. The Ice Sheet Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise team’s studies show that ice loss from Antarctica and Greenland tracks with the IPCC’s worst-case scenario.

The combined losses from both ice sheets peaked at 552 billion tons per year in 2010 and averaged 475 billion tons per year for the remainder of the decade.

IPCC projections indicate the resulting sea-level rise could put 400 million people at risk of annual coastal flooding by the end of the century. Every centimeter of sea-level rise leads to coastal flooding and coastal erosion, disrupting people’s lives around the planet.

Antarctica’s outlet glaciers are being melted by the ocean, which causes them to rise. Whereas this accounts for the majority of Antarctica’s ice loss and also for half of Greenland’s ice loss; the rest is caused by rising air temperature melting the surface.

Meanwhile, these past few months have also registered record temperatures across Antarctica, Europe, and several other regions around the globe.

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