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Covid effect: Govt to give income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh immediately

Union Cabinet
Representational/file photo

New Delhi (NVI): The Government today decided to issue all pending income-tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh with immediate effect in an effort to provide relief to the taxpayers amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus.

This will also include the GST and Custom refunds.

“In the context of the COVID-19 situation and with a view to provide immediate relief to the business entities and individuals, it has been decided to issue all the pending income-tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh, immediately,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement today.


The Revenue Department further added that the move would benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers.

“It has also been decided to issue all pending GST and Custom refunds which would provide benefit to around 1 lakh business entities, including MSME. Thus the total refund granted will be approximately Rs 18,000 crore,” read the ministry statement.

33 test positive in J&K, highest single-day rise so far

Representational image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir continued to witness a spurt in the number of Covid-19 cases as 33 more persons tested positive for the deadly virus today, highest single-day rise so far, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 158.

Earlier in the day, J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted: “14 news cases today, 11 in Kashmir, 3 in Jammu. 139 cases in all now. 130 active cases, 27 in Jammu division, 103 in Kashmir. Good news too: 2 patients discharges from SKIMS (hospital).”

In another tweet this evening, Kansal wrote: “19 more cases tested positive in Kashmir division, details follow.”

In total, 33 positive cases were tested in J&K in a single day today, which is highest since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UT.

(More details awaited)

JeM commander killed in ongoing Sopore encounter: J&K Police

(Updating earlier copy)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A Jaish-e-Muhammad commander was killed in the ongoing encounter at Arampora village of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said today.

“JeM commander Sajad Nawab Dar got neutralised in ongoing encounter at Sopore. Further details to follow,” read a tweet by Kashmir Zone police. The encounter started early this morning in which a house also got damaged. Joint teams of security forces had laid siege in Arampora after a specific lead about the presence of militants in the area.

In its earlier tweet, police had stated that two to four militants were believed to be trapped in a house. As per the locals of Arampora, the house in which the militants were hiding, was blown up amid intense exchange of firing from both sides. A local resident from Arampora said that the house where militants were hiding went up in flames early in the morning barely a few hours after the encounter started.

A source in the police said that the encounter was in the last stage and massive mopping operation was going on to rule the presence of any more militants. “Firing has stopped and we are searching whether any other militant is present near the encounter spot,” he said. The operation is being carried out jointly by police, army and the paramilitary CRPF. The security forces had laid a siege in Arampora village late last night after acting on a tip-off about the presence of militants in a residential house. After hectic searches, the security forces zeroed in on a particular house in the wee hours after which a contact with the hiding militants was established.

J&K: Wearing of masks made mandatory at Civil Secretariat

(File)

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir government today made wearing face masks mandatory for the officers, staff and visitors at the Civil Secretariat here.

An order issued here by the General Administrative Department (GAD) of J&K Government reads that as a preventive measure to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the Union Territory (UT), wearing of masks has been made mandatory for all officers, staff and visitors in the civil secretariat.

“Accordingly all the administrative secretaries are authorized to effect the purchase of masks so as to provide three reusable masks for each employee of his/her department in the civil secretariat. The expenditure on this account shall be defrayed from the office expenses (OE) head,” reads the order.

“In the event of non-availability of masks in the open market, the administrative secretaries shall submit their requirements to the department of civil supplies, consumer affairs and public distribution for supply of same,” the order signed by Rohit Sharma, Additional Secretary to the J&K government, reads.

COVID-19: Railways to make 1,000 PPEs for its doctors, paramedics

New Delhi (NVI): Taking up the in-house production of Personal Productive Equipment (PPE) on a mission mode, Indian Railways will now produce 1000 PPE-type overalls that offers much needed protection of its doctors and paramedics.

An overall is a loose-fitting coat or one-piece garment worn over ordinary clothes for protection against dirt or heavy wear. It is essential for doctors and paramedics now amid the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.


An overall produced by Jagadhari workshop was recently cleared by a DRDO lab, authorised for the purpose, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

Railways strives to make up to 1000 such protective overall for its doctors & paramedics every day, the ministry said.

Around 17 workshops would be striving to contribute to this exercise.

However, as a need of the hour gesture, Railways is considering to supply 50% of the overalls to other medical professionals on the front line.

Material for all the overalls is being procured centrally at Jagadhari which is located near many big textile industries in Punjab.

The Rail ministry has said that in the coming days, the production facilities can be further ramped up.

J&K: Land transferred for establishment of KV, Kupwara

Jammu (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government today accorded sanction to the transfer of Shamilat (Kahcharai) land measuring 40 kanals situated in village Drugmulla in District Kupwara to the School Education Department for establishing Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kupwara.

The J&K Administrative Council (AC), which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu here today, took a decision in this regard.

“The Administrative Council also accorded sanction to the transfer of 40 kanals of land to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction for establishing transit accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant Government Employees under PM Package in village Deegam in District Shopian,” an official spokesman said.

Coronavirus cases surge past 4,000 in Pakistan; death toll at 58

(Image source: Dawn.com)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to 4,072 after more than 500 positive cases were reported while the death toll reached 58, according to the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, as many as 467 people have been recovered and cured from the virus.

The authorities conducted 42,159 test so far, including 3,076 in the last 24 hours, according to media reports.

Punjab province has registered the maximum number of 2,004 positive cases, followed by Sindh province at 986, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 500, Gilgit-Baltistan at 211, Balochistan at 202 and Islamabad at 83 according to Ministry of National Health Services.

In addition to this, at least 50 prisoners in worst-hit Punjab province have also tested positive for novel coronavirus.

WATCH | Indian Air Force continues its support in fight against COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): Amid the ongoing coronavirus situation and the subsequent lockdown in the country, the Indian Air Force is playing a crucial role.

Medical supplies are being transported to equip the state governments and supporting agencies to combat the contagion effectively and efficiently, the IAF said in a statement.

During the last few days, IAF airlifted essential medical supplies and commodities from nodal points to Manipur, Nagaland and Gangtok in North Eastern region; and the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, it said.

In addition, An-32 aircraft, on 06 Apr 2020, airlifted personnel and 3500 kg of medical equipment of ICMR from Chennai to Bhubaneshwar for setting up of testing labs and facilities in Odisha.

IAF has earmarked aircraft at nodal points to airlift medical supplies and equipment at short notice to proactively support operations against COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths reach 20 in Bangladesh; total cases at 218

(Image source: United News of Bangladesh)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of COVID-19 fatalities have reached 20 in Bangladesh as 3 more deaths were confirmed today, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Besides, the total number of positive cases has reached 218 with 54 new infections being reported in the last 24 hours.

No new patient made recovery keeping the total number of recovered patients at 33, according to United News of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Tangail has recorded its first patient who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail on Tuesday night, according to media reports.

Around 30 families have been put under lockdown around the patient’s neighbours.

Civil administration has also enforced a district-wide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus in Tangail.

WATCH | Interfaith response to COVID-19

In this webinar on “INTERFAITH RESPONSE TO COVID-19”, faith leaders are responding on how social distancing has led to a change in the ways one practices his/her religion. The leaders also discuss how people can reconnect to their faith amid the lockdown. The webinar, hosted by the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) in collaboration with Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and with the technical support of UNICEF India, also discusses how Faith Leaders and Faith-Based Organisations are responding, serving and working together in light of the Corona Virus pandemic.

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