மேலும் 1 மாதத்துக்கு மாநிலம் முழுதும் ஊரடங்கு!

மேலும் 1 மாதத்துக்கு மாநிலம் முழுதும் ஊரடங்கு!

Updated : ஜூன் 29, 2020 23:43 | Added : ஜூன் 29, 2020 22:59

சென்னை : தமிழகம் முழுவதும், மேலும், ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு, ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. நாளை முதல், 15 நாட்களுக்கு, பஸ் போக்குவரத்து கிடையாது. இம்மாதம் முழுவதும், ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமைகளில் மட்டும், அனைத்து கடைகளும் அடைக்கப்பட்டு, முழு முடக்கம் அமல்படுத்தப்படும். மற்ற நாட்களில், டீக்கடை, உணவகங்கள் செயல்படும். நோய் பரவல் அதிகம் உள்ள, ஐந்து மாவட்டங்களில், கூடுதல் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

முதல்வர் வெளியிட்டுள்ள அறிவிப்பு:

* கொரோனா வைரஸ் தொற்றை தடுக்க, ஏற்கனவே நடைமுறையில் உள்ள, பல்வேறு கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடனும், தளர்வுகளுடனும், இன்று இரவு முடிவடைய உள்ள ஊரடங்கு, அடுத்த மாதம், 31ம் தேதி நள்ளிரவு, 12:00 மணி வரை, தமிழகம் முழுவதும் நீட்டிக்கப்படுகிறது

* சென்னை முழுவதிலும் மட்டுமின்றி, திருவள்ளூர், செங்கல்பட்டு, காஞ்சிபுரம், மதுரை மாவட்டங்களில் குறிப்பிட்ட சில பகுதிகளில், தற்போது அமலில் உள்ள முழு ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு, வரும், 5ம் தேதி வரை தொடரும்.

* சென்னை மற்றும் அதை சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில், ஜூன், 19க்கு முன்பிருந்த நிலை; மதுரை மற்றும் சுற்றியுள்ள பகுதிகளில், ஜூன், 24க்கு முன்பிருந்த தளர்வுகள், ஜூலை, 6 முதல், 31ம் தேதி நள்ளிரவு, 12:00 மணி வரை தொடரும்.

* ஏற்கனவே அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட, காய்கறி, பழக்கடைகள், அனுமதி பெற்ற மீன் கடைகள், கோழி இறைச்சி கடைகள், முட்டை விற்பனை கடைகள், சமூக இடைவெளி நடைமுறைக்கு உட்பட்டு அனுமதிக்கப்படும்

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எதற்கெல்லாம் தடை.

* நகப்புற வழிபாட்டு தலங்களிலும், பெரிய வழிபாட்டு தலங்களிலும், பொது மக்கள் வழிபாடு மற்றும் அனைத்து மதம் சார்ந்த கூட்டங்களுக்கும் தடை தொடரும்.

* நீலகிரி மாவட்டத்திற்கும், கொடைக்கானல், ஏற்காடு போன்ற சுற்றுலா தலங்களுக்கும், வெளியூர் சுற்றுலாப் பயணியர் செல்ல தடை விதிக்கப்படுகிறது.

* தங்கும் வசதியுடன் கூடிய ஓட்டல்கள், ரிசார்ட்டுகள், பிற விருந்தோம்பல் சேவைகளுக்கு தடை நீடிக்கும் எனினும், தனிமைப்படுத்தப்படும் பணிகளுக்கு மட்டும் விலக்கு உண்டு.

* பள்ளிகள், கல்லுாரிகள், பயிற்சி நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் அனைத்து கல்வி நிறுவனங்களும் செயல்பட அனுமதியில்லை. அதேநேரத்தில், இணைய வழி கல்வி கற்றலை தொடர்வதுடன், அதை ஊக்கப்படுத்தலாம்.

* மத்திய உள்துறை அமைச்சகத்தால் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட பணிகளை தவிர, சர்வதேச விமான போக்குவரத்திற்கு தடை தொடரும்.

* சினிமா தியேட்டர்கள், உடற்பயிற்சி கூடங்கள், நீச்சல் குளங்கள், கேளிக்கை கூடங்கள், மதுக்கூடங்கள், கடற்கரை, சுற்றுலா தலங்கள், உயிரியல் பூங்காக்கள், அருங்காட்சியகங்கள் மூடப்படும்.

* மாநிலங்களுக்கு இடையிலான பொது போக்குவரத்து கிடையாது.

'இ- - பாஸ்' முறை

அந்தந்த மாவட்டத்திற்குள், ‛இ- - பாஸ்' இல்லாமல் செல்ல, அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படும். வெளி மாநிலங்களுக்கு சென்று வரவும், வெளி மாநிலங்களில் இருந்து வரவும், ஒரு மாவட்டத்தில் இருந்து மற்றொரு மாவட்டம் சென்று வரவும், இ- - பாஸ் அவசியம்.முழு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிக்கப்படும் இடங்களில், ஜூன், 30 வரை வழங்கப்பட்ட, ‛இ -- பாஸ்' ஜூலை, 5 வரை செல்லும். ஒரு மாவட்டத்திலிருந்து, மற்றொரு மாவட்டத்திற்கு, அரசு பணிகளுக்காக செல்லும் ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களும், இப்பணிகள் சம்பந்தமாக, அரசு அதிகாரிகளை சந்திக்க விரும்பும் ஒப்பந்ததாரர்களுக்கும், மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களால், ‛இ- - பாஸ்' வழங்கப்படும்.

சென்னையில் அனுமதி

சென்னை உட்பட சில மாவட்டங்களில், முழு ஊரடங்கு அறிவிக்கப்படுவதற்கு முன்பிருந்த நிலை, ஜூலை, 6 முதல் அனுமதிக்கப்படும்.

அதன் விபரம்:

கிராமப்புறங்களில் உள்ள, சிறிய கோவில்கள், சிறிய மசூதிகள், தர்காக்கள், தேவாலயங்களில், பொது மக்கள் தரிசனம் அனுமதிக்கப்படும். தொழில் நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள், தகவல் தொழில்நுட்ப நிறுவனங்கள், அனைத்து தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள், 100 சதவீத பணியாளர்களுடன், இயங்க அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது.

இயன்ற வரை, பணியாளர்கள், வீட்டிலிருந்து பணிபுரிவதை ஊக்குவிக்க வேண்டும். வணிக வளாகங்கள் தவிர்த்து, அனைத்து ஷோரூம்கள் மற்றும் பெரிய கடைகள், 50 சதவீத பணியாளர்களுடன் செயல்படலாம். ‛ஏசி' வசதி இயக்கப்பட கூடாது.தேநீர் கடைகள், உணவு விடுதிகள், காய்கறி கடைகள், மளிகை கடைகள் ஆகியவை, காலை, 6:00 மணி முதல், இரவு, 8:00 மணி வரை; மற்ற கடைகள், காலை, 10:00 முதல், இரவு, 8:00 மணி வரை இயங்கலாம்.

உணவகங்கள் மற்றும் தேநீர் கடைகளில், அமர்ந்து உண்ண அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால், 50 சதவீத இருக்கைகளில் மட்டும், வாடிக்கையாளர்களை அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். அனைத்து பொருட்களையும், மின் வணிக நிறுவனங்கள் வழங்க அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படுகிறது.டாக்சிகள், டிரைவர் தவிர்த்து, மூன்று பயணியருடன், ஆட்டோக்கள், சைக்கிள் ரிக்க்ஷாக்கள், இரண்டு பயணியருடன் இயங்கலாம்.

ஐந்து நபர்களுக்கு மேல், பொது இடங்களில் கூடக் கூடாது. நோய் கட்டுப்பாட்டு பகுதிகளில், எவ்வித தளர்வுகளுமின்றி, முழு ஊரடங்கு முழுமையாக கடைபிடிக்கப்படும்.

சென்னையில் பின்பற்றப்படும், நோய் தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள், காஞ்சிபுரம், செங்கல்பட்டு, திருவள்ளூர், மதுரை மாவட்டங்களில் தீவிரப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பஸ் போக்குவரத்து நிறுத்தம்

மாநிலத்தில், மாவட்டத்திற்குள் தற்போது அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள, தனியார் மற்றும் அரசு பஸ் போக்குவரத்து, ஜூலை, 1 முதல், 15 வரை, தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்படுகிறது. அதேபோல், திருமண நிகழ்ச்சி, இறுதி ஊர்வலங்கள் மற்றும் அதை சார்ந்த சடங்குகளில், 50 பேருக்கு மேல் பங்கேற்கக் கூடாது.இவ்வாறு, முதல்வர் அறிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஞாயிறு முழு ஊரடங்கு

ஜூலை, 5, 12, 19, 26ம் தேதிகளில் வரும் ஞாயிற்றுக் கிழமைகளில் மட்டும், எந்தவிதமான தளர்வுகளுமின்றி, தமிழகம் முழுவதும், முழு ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்படும்.

சிறப்பு கவனம் தேவை!

ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில், மருந்து பொருட்கள், காய்கறி உள்ளிட்ட உணவு பொருட்கள் தடையின்றி கிடைப்பது அவசியம். இவற்றை ஏற்றி வரும் வாகனங்கள், மாநில, மாவட்ட எல்லைகளில் உள்ள சோதனை சாவடிகளில் தடுத்து நிறுத்தப்பட்டு, நீண்ட நேரம் காக்க வைக்கும் நிகழ்வுகள் நடக்கின்றன.இதனால், மருந்து, உணவு பொருட்களை அனுப்புவோர் தயக்கம் காட்டுவதால், மாநிலத்தில் அவற்றுக்கு தட்டுப்பாடு ஏற்படும் அபாயம் உள்ளது. எனவே, மருந்து, உணவு பொருட்கள் எந்த தடையும் இன்றி, மாநிலத்திற்குள் வரும் வகையில், அரசு நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்க வேண்டும். அவற்றை தேக்கி வைக்கும் கிடங்குகளை தேவையான நேரத்தில் திறக்கவும், வெளியிடங்களுக்கு எளிதாக அனுப்பவும் வழிவகை செய்ய வேண்டும்.இது சார்ந்த தொழிலில் ஈடுபடும் வணிகர்கள், விவசாயிகள், எந்த நெருக்கடியும் இன்றி செல்ல ஏற்பாடு செய்ய வேண்டும். ஊரடங்கு ஒரு மாதம் நீட்டிப்பதால், இது தொடர்பாக, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு, அரசு சரியான வழிகாட்டுதல் வழங்குவது அவசியம்.

Covid in school syllabus from 2021-22

Covid in school syllabus from 2021-22

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata:30.06.2020

The schools in West Bengal affiliated with the state board will include topics on the novel coronavirus or Covid-19 from the 2021-22 academic session. A text regarding the pandemic and its effects will be a part of the syllabus for each class beginning from Class I to Class X. The initiative has been taken to make kids aware about the global threat and help them take adequate precautions.

“It is a pandemic and the whole world is under threat, thus a student must know the story of this disease and understand the crisis which is being faced by the world,” said chairman of the syllabus reform committee, Avik Mazumdar.

Sources said education minister Partha Chatterjee advised the committee to introduce a chapter on the topic since the disease has struck the masses, including children. “The state government wants students to be prepared and know how they will have to lead a life in the time of coronavirus,” said a source.

Initial discussions have taken place in the school education department on what should be the content of the curriculum.

“The syllabus committee will consult physicians and virologists, along with the teachers, who will assist to frame the chapters,” added the source.

Hyd co to start human trials for vaccine

Hyd co to start human trials for vaccine

New Delhi/Hyderabad: 30.06.2020

Hyderabad-based vaccine major Bharat Biotech on Monday announced that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved phase 1 and 2 of human clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin.

The company has been working on the vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, as reported by TOI earlier. The DCGI nod for human trials came after the company submitted results of preclinical studies, demonstrating safety and immune response. Human trials will start in July, a company statement said. TNN

Parents request NEET be held on July 26 as aspirants get antsy

Parents request NEET be held on July 26 as aspirants get antsy

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai: 30.06.2020

With growing uncertainty about lockdown and their future, NEET and JEE aspirants in the city are extremely anxious. Many have been preparing for the entrance exams for two years to get a seat in a good medical or engineering college, and are now apprehensive about the indefinite delay. A group of parents wrote to the National Testing Agency (NTA) requesting NEET be conducted per the revised schedule, on July 26.

“The speculation over the further postponement of NEET has created panic among the students causing damage to their mental health. Students need a break from the pressure. There is no social interaction during the lockdown, and the delay in holding the exam is only leading to additional stress among aspirants. Exams can be conducted by making masks, gloves, and shields compulsory in the exam centres,” wrote the parents in the letter.

NEET aspirant Tanvi Kulkarni said they are running like marathoners with no finish line in sight. “The preparation is tough and the exam is highly competitive. We cannot afford to slip at this stage. But for two months now, we have been repeating and revising the same topics. What if monotony sets in? What if we go blank on the day of the exam?” She added, “Cancelling the exam is not a solution, as there is no parity in the way different boards evaluate students. Most students would want the pressure to end soon. But if there is a need, the government should postpone the exam and not cancel it,” said Tanvi.

An online petition signed by close to 40,000 people seeks postponement of both the nationallevel exams. “Writing exams in masks and gloves, and with the fear of Covid, could add to the stress. How can the government hold entrance exams when the whole country is dealing with a pandemic,” said a student.

Ruiee Kapoor, a parent representative who also wrote to the NTA, said the MHRD should come up with a solution soon, as students will lose hope and morale if it is delayed further. “Those who have been consistent in their studies from the beginning are going through a rough phase as many prepare with a target. It will be a great loss if these students break down towards the end,” said Kapoor. The JEE (Main) exams are scheduled to be held from July 18 to

23. While there have been speculations over the postponement of the exam, the MHRD is yet to officially take any decision.

We are marathoners with no finish line in sight... For two months now, we have been revising the same topics... Most students would want the pressure to end soon

Tanvi Kulkarni | NEET ASPIRANT

Govt to take call on univ exams on July 2: Dy CM

Govt to take call on univ exams on July 2: Dy CM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow: 30.06.2020

The Uttar Pradesh government will take the final call on whether to hold university exams or not even as a four-member committee appointed by it is learnt to have “strongly” recommended against holding exams due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who also holds the education portfolio, said the final decision will be announced on July  2.

After a meeting with chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday evening, Sharma said, “The central government will issue guidelines by July 1. The UP government will follow these and announce its decision on July 2.”

However, sources said that the four-member committee headed by Meerut University vice-chancellor A K Taneja and comprising the vice-chancellors of three more state universities, has submitted its report recommending that exams should be cancelled as it is not possible to hold them amid the crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic.

If the government accepts the committee’s recommendation, then about 48 lakh students would be promoted as per an accepted formula.

Certain universities had started conducting exams before the nationwide lockdown was implemented on March 25 because of which all papers were postponed indefinitely.

After Unlock 1.0, some universities issued fresh date sheets, but the move was strongly opposed both by students and teachers. The government then set up the four-member committee on Saturday to recommend whether it would be possible to conduct exams or not.

SP students’ wing protests against LU exams on campus

SP students’ wing protests against LU exams on campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow  30.06.2020

: A day after the call to boycott Lucknow University examinations trended on Twitter, a group of LU students associated with Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha on Monday protested on the campus against the varsity’s decision to conduct examinations from July 7 despite the spike in Covid-19 cases. The protesters sat outside the administrative block and raised slogans. Led by PhD scholar Anil Singh Master, the protesters said that conducting exams when the infection rate was at its peak would put students’ health in peril.

“Our health and lives are more important than examinations. How can a university, which fails to provide basic facilities like clean toilets and drinking water to students, be able to conduct examinations for 1.60 lakh students with just sanitizers and thermal scanners?” asked Master.

LU proctor Dinesh Kumar tried to persuade the students to withdraw the agitation but they did not relent. Later, police and PAC jawans took them to Police Lines and released them on personal bonds.

LU spokesperson Durgesh Srivastava said, “The government has formed a committee to take a call on examinations in universities. Hence, students should be patient.”

LU students protest on Monday

KTU relents, postpones exams

KTU relents, postpones exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram: 30.06.2020

Following widespread protests and requests from students, parents and political leaders, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University has decided to postpone all examinations scheduled to begin on July1.

The university authorities said the decision was taken following the complaints submitted by students, parents and student unions against the varsity’s decision to conduct the examinations during the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic. The BTech Hons examinations of KTU started on June 26 and the final-semester engineering examinations were supposed to start on July1.

The university, till a couple of days ago, had refused to entertain the demand for changing the date of examinations. Instead, the authorities claimed to have put in place all precautionary arrangements for conducting the examinations by adhering to Covid norms, including social distancing.

Those students who find it impossible to take the examination would be given another chance to attend it in October, it said. According to varsity authorities, the efforts to conduct the final-semester examinations braving all odds was taken in view of the placement offers a large number of students had received from employers through campusrecruitment drives. MP Shashi Tharoor was among those who appealed to the state government and universities to scarp their decision to conduct examinations. KTU vicechancellor M S Rajasree said the academic committee of the varsity would take further decisions on when to conduct the examinations.

CBSE extends deadline for affiliation application

CBSE extends deadline for affiliation application

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:30.06.2020

In view of the increasing Covid-19 cases in the country, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has extended the deadline for schools to apply for affiliation from the board for the 2020-21 session.

The new deadline up to which the schools can apply for affiliation without late fee is July 31.

Earlier, the deadline was June 30 and it is the third time CBSE has extended the deadline after the lockdown started.

The decision will be a relief for CBSE schools in the state which are facing financial hurdles due to lockdown.

The Kerala CBSE school management association and council for CBSE schools Kerala have been pushing the board for an extension in the deadline as it was difficult for the educational institutions to complete the formalities and paperwork regarding the affiliation.

Earlier, CBSE had fixed the deadline for applying as March 30, but after the Covid-19 pandemic hit India, the date was extended to April 30.

But then the national lockdown was extended to May 3 and school offices were not allowed to function in most states. Considering this and the uncertainty of further extension of lockdown, CBSE rescheduled the date to June 30 in April.

The new deadline up to which the schools can apply for affiliation without late fee is July 31

Maha launches ‘world’s largest plasma therapy trial for Covid’

Maha launches ‘world’s largest plasma therapy trial for Covid’

Mumbai:30.06.2020

CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday launched Project Platina, which is being touted as the world’s largest convalescent plasma therapy trial, which will be used to treat critical Covid-19 patients across the state. The trial will be carried out in 21public medical colleges in the state and 13 plasma banks have been set up. A total of Rs 17 crore has been approved for this project from the CM’s relief fund, making it a government-sponsored trial without any private funding.

“Maharashtra is not lagging in trying any new medicine or treatment. We are not leaving any stone unturned. The first plasma therapy trial was conducted in the state in April and then we had sought permission from the Centre for the large-scale trial. I am proud that we could undertake such a large-scale trial,” said Thackeray. He requested people who successfully battled Covid to come forward and donate plasma to help others get better. TNN

Repatriation flight goes empty to China

Repatriation flight goes empty to China

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:30.06.2020

A Vande Bharat repatriation flight flew empty to Guangzhou after two Indians who had flown to China in an earlier flight tested positive for Covid-19. China was not keen to receive passengers from India as it looks to check the spread of what's effectively the second wave of the novel coronavirus spread in that country.

Official sources here said that it was mutually agreed that the aircraft will not take passengers from here. "This was predecided and the passengers were informed by the Indian authorities well in advance," a source here said.

The passengers included family members of some Indian diplomats. The flight later returned with about 80 Indians from Guangzhou.

An earlier repatriation flight to Shanghai from India had two passengers who tested positive for Covid-19 on their arrival.

HC paves the way to raze secretariat

HC paves the way to raze secretariat

SagarKumar.Mutha@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:30.06.2020

In a huge relief to the TRS government, the Telangana high court on Monday paved the way for raising a new secretariat complex.

Dismissing a batch of petitions questioning state cabinet’s decision to demolish existing secretariat and raise a new one in its place, a bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A Abhishek Reddy said the petitioners were not justified in terming cabinet decision as ‘arbitrary.’ HC also brushed aside contention of one of the advocates, Chikkudu Prabhakar, who argued that the present secretariat is a common secretariat for Telangana and AP and only the governor could take a decision.

The bench faulted the contention that government could ill afford spent huge amounts on construction of a new secretariat at a time when the state exchequer is overburdened with debts.

DEMOLITION AHEAD?

Cannot intervene in policy decision of state, high court tells petitioner

Expenditure and its source are the concern of a state and not of its taxpayer,” the judges reasoned said, while agreeing with advocate general BS Prasad, who cited an order of the Gujarat high court delivered in a similar case.

The bench made it clear that it cannot intervene in the policy decision of the state. “That too at a time when the decision has not been taken finally. We were asked to merely look at the process done so far leading to a possible final decision,” the judges said, declining to do so.

The judges said the petitioners were not justified in claiming that the present buildings are adequate for the government. They said the contention whether the present buildings are adequate or inadequate is an issue that the court cannot go into. “The words ‘adequate’ or ‘inadequate’ are relative terms. What may be sufficient and adequate for one party, need not necessarily be sufficient and adequate for another party. Therefore, it is for the government to decide whether the present buildings are adequate or inadequate for its needs and requirements.” The petitioners — Congress leader S Jeevan Reddy and others — along with Professor PL Vishweshwar Rao of Telangana Jana Samithi and a few others contended in their pleas that the cabinet took a final decision on June 18, 2019, to demolish the present secretariat and raise a new one in its place.

The juges ruled that though the state was sufficiently briefed about the need to demolish the present structure and raise a new secretariat — both by the technical committee and by its own cabinet sub-committee — a final decision by cabinet on whether to go for a new secretariat or to modify existing one has not yet been taken. “Obviously, the cabinet decision of June 18, 2019, cited by the petitioners was interim. Hence, they are not justified in terming the cabinet decision as arbitrary,” the HC said.

Dismissing Prabhakar’s argument, the bench said: “This is a highly misplaced contention because AP had long ago vacated this place. Hence, the question of it (secretariat) remaining a common property or warranting the intervention of the governor would not even arise.”

No flight from Saudi leaves T workers upset

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:30.06.2020

Many people from Telangana, eager to return home from Gulf, were left disappointed as no flight has been scheduled from Saudi Arabia to Hyderabad during the fourth phase of Vande Bharat mission.

In the fourth phase that has been announced from Jeddah, flights will be operated to Kerala and Delhi, but no flight has been scheduled to land in Hyderabad. The Indian embassy in Riyadh announced the flight schedule to repatriate Indians in the wake of prevailing Covid-19 situation and extended lockdown. Mohammed Abdul Sayeed tweeted: “Not a single flight for Hyderabad? When will the embassy consider us as humans? We are being neglected. It has been eight months and we have not got (any) help. I am stuck here with family, two kids and with no job.”

Fahad Maqsusi, who was waiting to travel to Hyderabad, tweeted, “Not a single flight to Hyderabad? What is going on?” He also addressed chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, wondering if the government had decided to not permit flights to Hyderabad from Saudi, at least permission should be given for chartered flights. “Please understand the need, people are going into depression and falling sick,” he said.

Law saves marriage of inter-faith couple

Law saves marriage of inter-faith couple

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:30.06.2020

The Telangana high court intervention helped save the matrimony of a Muslim man and a Christian woman. The couple had gotten married just days before the lockdown but the woman’s parents took their daughter away soon after. For three months, he has been helpless due to the lockdown. In the end, he filed a habeas corpus plea charging that the woman’s parents had been illegally detaining her.

The high court directed local police to produce the woman before a court. She appeared before a bench through video conference and was asked by the judge if she wanted to go with her parents or her husband. She chose her husband. The HC then directed police to provide security to the couple as they had been facing threats from the bride’s parents.

The next morning, the groom’s lawyer told the court that the police and the bride’s father had come to the police station and were ill-treating the bride. The court asked the police to produce the bride immediately. However, when she came online with the court, the groom’s lawyer was unable to. The court though sought the bride’s version and after ascertaining the facts from her, directed police to send the bride with the groom immediately and also provide them security.

1st in India: T HC takes court to lawyers’ doors

1st in India: T HC takes court to lawyers’ doors

SagarKumar.Mutha@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 30.06.2020

In a first such initiative in the country, the Telangana high court has launched a mobile videoconference district court facility, taking technology to the doorstep of lawyers who have no computers or the internet facility at their homes, in Warangal on Monday.

In this facility, a mobile van would go to a designated area and lawyers have to simply get into the van, equipped with videoconference system, and argue their case. This facility, introduced in Warangal for the first time in the country, was inaugurated by high court Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice P Naveen Rao on Monday through online mode. In Warangal, principal district judge K Jaya Kumar and district collector, who provided the van, were present when the facility was inaugurated.

The mobile court inaugurated in Warangal on Monday

Dist judiciary too goes digital

Known for its pioneering digital court initiative in the country, the Telangana high court had gone virtual and were holding courts through videoconferencing mode ever since the lockdown was announced three months ago. For lawyers not tech savvy, separate computer rooms were allotted at Judicial Academy in Secunderabad.

Now, district judiciary too is going digital. “If the experiment in Warangal is successful, then we will ask all district collectors to provide vans with computers to provide virtual argument space for lawyers at their doorstep if they are unable to equip themselves at their homes on their own,” high court registrar general A Venkateswar Reddy said.

No pay for 3 mths, nurses block highway

No pay for 3 mths, nurses block highway

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panipat:30.06.2020

The nursing staff of NC Medical College, a Covid-19 hospital here, blocked the Panipat -Rohtak highway in Israna on Monday in protest over not being paid salaries for three months.

The protesters said they were working round-the-clock in difficult circumstances, without caring for their own lives, but they have not been getting their salaries on time and it was getting difficult to make ends meet.

They asked the management to also increase their salaries, pay them a Covid allowance and provide adequate safety kits.

The road was blocked for around half hour. To pacify protesters, police and local tehsildar Jagdish Chander reached the spot and assured them resolution of their problems.

Court stays move to hold exam for science admissions

Court stays move to hold exam for science admissions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:30.06.2020

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday stayed the decision taken by Board of School Education Haryana to conduct science examination compulsorily for those students who opted for science stream in Class XI.

The science examination of Class X could not be conducted by the board on account of lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic. The court has also issued a notice to the state education board as well as the state government, seeking their response on the issue.

Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul of the HC passed these orders while hearing a petition filed by NISA Education through its president Kulbhushan Sharma and Haryana Private School and Children Welfare Trust. The petitioners challenged the move, citing press notes dated June 7 and June 12, issued by the state education board, directing the students willing to opt for the science stream in Class XI to take an examination. The authorities of schools were also directed to upload the consent of such students for the examination on the website of the board by June 17, failing which the report/result of the students would be treated as ‘zero’.

Pankaj Maini, counsel for the petitioners, submitted that they are primarily aggrieved from the decision taken by the board to hold the examination of science for those students who opted for the subject in Class XI and exempted students of other streams.

According to the counsel, such a decision of board is not only discrimination with students opting for science subject, but also in a situation like pandemic, it would be extremely difficult for the schools to arrange infrastructure to hold the examination.

The HC was also informed that the higher and technical education departments of the state of Haryana has already decided through a notification issued on June 23 to defer the examination to be conducted by the university and colleges of state of Haryana by promoting all the students.

The petitioners submitted that the Board of School Education Haryana can also adopt the same criteria vis-avis the students of secondary examination by declaring their results to protect the students and the schools from facing severe hardship.

The science exam of Class X could not be conducted by the board on account of Covid-19 lockdown

50% staff of govt schools can report for work: Admn

50% staff of govt schools can report for work: Admn

Kamini.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 30.06.2020

Confusion in government schools on Monday over the number of teachers to be allowed to report for work spurred the UT education department to let principals call 50% teaching and non-teaching staff till further orders.

Rubinderjit Singh Brar, director school education, said, “The schools will be asked to call 50% of staff to schools. The matter was discussed but a decision was awaited.” The discussion had taken place last week.

The orders said, “The department of school education, UT, has decided to allow principals/heads/ in-charges of all government and government-aided schools to call teaching and non-teaching staff to the extent of 50% till further orders by following social distancing and hygiene safety.”

On June 9, the department had first issued orders allowing school heads and principals to call 25% teaching and non-teaching staff for urgent administrative works from June 15.

Sources said the department had discussed calling 50% of staff to schools from June 29 in a meeting held on July 23. Other points like conducting of online admissions for pre-nursery to Class IX and suggestions for holding compartment exams for Class IX students were sought.

Teachers were told to maintain a daily record in a diary and make online videos and assignments for each week. “The department could any time ask the cluster head to provide videos and assignments for online teaching,” sources said. School heads of government schools were also asked to share details of vacancies. This because many teachers are expected to retire in September.

Back to work

The orders said, “The department of school education, UT, has decided to allow principals, heads, in-charges of all government and government-aided schools to call teaching and non-teaching staff to the extent of 50% till further orders by following social distancing and hygiene safety.” On June 9, the department had first issued orders allowing school heads and principals to call 25% teaching and non-teaching staff for urgent administrative works from June 15.

CJI didn’t drive bike, so no rules flouted: Officials

CJI didn’t drive bike, so no rules flouted: Officials

Vaibhav.Ganjapure@timesgroup.com

Nagpur: 30.06.2020

Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde’s photos on a high-end Harley Davidson bike — that appeared in several newspapers and went viral on social media — has attracted criticism for not wearing a helmet and a face mask, thus violating driving rules and Covid-control norms.

Justice Bobde couldn’t be contacted, but his office clarified that he only took a feel of the superbike and did not flout any rules as being projected on social media. “The CJI was on a morning walk on the Raj Bhavan premises when his close family friend, who deals in bikes, informed him about the arrival of the latest model of the popular Harley Davidson (Limited Edition CVO 2020) in the city. The bike was brought to Raj Bhavan for a demonstration by a representative of the company. The CJI inspected the bike and appreciated it. He didn’t even ride the motorcycle. He just sat on it,” officials, who didn’t want to be named, told TOI.

They said the CJI was wearing a mask when he started out for his walk, he removed it while inquiring about the bike. “There’s no question of wearing the helmet as the CJI wasn’t riding the bike. If one carefully sees the picture, the bike was stationary and on the side stand. The CJI was simply sitting on it. The company’s representative explained the functioning of the bike to the CJI. During video conferencing, no one wears a mask as it creates hurdles while speaking. Even in minister level conferences, many don’t wear masks while talking for the same reason,” they said.

Protests get louder as GTU readies for July 2 exams

Protests get louder as GTU readies for July 2 exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:30.06.2020

The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) has begun preparations for conducting theory exams from July 2 amid growing protests from students and political organizations demanding cancellation of the exams.

On Monday, protesters burnt an effigy of GTU vicechancellor Naveen Sheth. As many as fifteen members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) were detained for the protests held outside the VC’s residence, said sources.

In a separate incident, members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday threw bangles at the varsity’s registrar to protest the selection of members in the admission committee.

GTU officials clarified that they have allowed students to opt out of the exam. For such students, the university will hold exams after the Covid-19 crisis is over, they added.

GTU has received registration applications from 54,500 students who want to take the pen-and-paper exams from July 2.

The varsity has also given the option to students to opt for online descriptive type exams that are to be held from July 17.

While most of the universities in Gujarat have deferred the examinations after facing student protests, the GTU examination council recently reiterated its stance to hold the theory exams in July as announced earlier. Currently, exam hall tickets are being issued online to students.

The protests will continue in the coming days, said sources in NSUI. Although the exams are being conducted with the consent of students, many students are currently seen opposing it.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) panel had recently recommended to the Union HRD ministry to scrap the final-year examination for all colleges and universities. A final decision in this regard is expected this week, sources added.

Earlier, the UGC had recommended that the varsities cancel the intermediate exams, but the new proposal asks them to cancel the finalyear or terminal semester examinations as well. This decision was taken after many educational institutions expressed their inability to conduct final-year exams in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Protesters burnt an effigy of the GTU VC on Monday. In a separate incident, protesters also threw bangles at the varsity’s registrar office

Covid-19 suspect visited 7 hosps in 12 hrs to get treatment

Covid-19 suspect visited 7 hosps in 12 hrs to get treatment

Kiran.Parashar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 30.06.2020

A suspected Covid-19 patient, 45, from Gottigere, visited seven hospitals before he was admitted to Prakirya Hospital in north Bengaluru.

On Friday night, the man developed breathing problems and was taken to a private hospital in Jayanagar, where he was refused treatment because there were no beds. From there, he was taken to Victoria Hospital where he was not admitted because of non-availability of bed. Then a few of his friends started calling hospitals for help. At 11.30pm, they approached a hospital in Jayanagar which said it was full. The family then tried calling up a hospital on Bannerghatta Road where also there were no beds. Then, they reached out to a private hospital near Kengeri which said there were no ICU beds.

The family requested that let him be checked, but none of them responded. The patient was then taken to a hospital on Bannerghatta Road where his chest x-ray was taken and he was told that he needs admission immediately. So, the family went through the BBMP control room and reached out to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases but was told there were no beds available.

The family returned home at 3am. On Saturday, the family reached out to Prakriya Hospital which admitted him. The first report found him positive for Covid-19.

Two SSLC students to miss all exams as their dads test +ve

Two SSLC students to miss all exams as their dads test +ve

They Appeared From Different Places In Arsikere

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hassan:30.06.2020

Two SSLC students, who are primary contacts of Covid-19 positive cases from Arsikere in Hassan, were unable to write the science paper on Monday as they were sent to a quarantine centre on Sunday evening. Though these two students have tested negative, they will not be allowed to write the rest of the exams as their second Covid test needs to be done. The two students had written the Maths paper on Saturday.

The two had different exam centres in Arsikere. The father of one of them is a security guard at a government residential school, about 5km from the town, which has been made a quarantine centre. He tested positive on Sunday. The second student’s father is barber and he too tested positive on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 18 students, who were exposed to a positive SSLC student from Mallipatna in Arkalgud, attended the exam after their test came back negative. They were not even treated as primary or secondary contacts as proper physical distancing was maintained, all students had worn masks and the exam centre was sanitised, said DDPI Prakash.

Those students who have tested positive and primary contacts sent to quarantine will not be allowed to write the exam, he added.

INCHING CLOSER: SSLC examinations will get over on July 5

Cop on duty near centre gets infected

Mysuru:

A policeman who was on SSLC examination duty has tested positive for Covid-19, leading to concerns among government authorities and parents.

However, T Narasipura block education officer (BEO) N Swamy and police said there is no need to panic as the constable did not enter the examination hall at all.

According to sources, the constable was deputed for SSLC examination-related duty on Saturday. “Health department officials informed us that the constable tested positive. I visited the examination centre today and carried out an inquiry. He didn’t enter the examination centre at all,” said BEO Swamy.

According to police sources, the constable was deputed to divert vehicles near the examination centre. “He didn’t visit the examination centre,” said local police officers.

Meanwhile, the T Narasipura police station has been sealed down. TNN

Maha, TN extend lockdown till July 31

Maha, TN extend lockdown till July 31

K’taka Plans Strict Curbs From July 7

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  30.06.2020

Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu governments on Monday extended the lockdown till July 31 to stop the surge of Covid-19 cases — with stricter norms in the Mumbai and Chennai regions — while the Karnataka government indicated that it will bring back from July 7 harsher measures such as banning the entry and exit of people from high-risk districts like Bengaluru and shutting down parks and markets.

In a notification, the Maharashtra government restricted inter-district travel between municipal corporations within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) only for office purposes and essential activities like medical reasons. The order comes a day after Mumbai police announced restrictions on non-essential travel beyond 2 km of one’s residence. The notification also slashed the timings of non-essential shops by four hours, restricted their operations only between 9 am and 5 pm. However, there is no change in the timing of essential shops like groceries and pharmacies.

Officials said stricter norms were notified as there were too many people on the streets unnecessarily.

According to the new notification, the powers to implement a stricter lockdown have been delegated to the local administration in case they find that cases are on the rise in a particular area.

The Tamil Nadu government also extended curbs for a month across the state. In particular, Greater Chennai police limits, including parts of Chengalpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, will have an “intense lockdown” till July

5. Announcing this, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami said total lockdown will be enforced in the state on all Sundays.

The Karnataka government indicated that it will bring back harsher measures from July 7 to stop the spread of the pandemic. The curbs on the cards include restricted entry into districts where cases are on the rise, temporary closure of major public parks, wholesale markets and temples for at least two weeks to avoid congregation of people.

Meanwhile, with an eye on the rising Covid-19 graph in Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee announced that no international flight will operate in the state till July 15.

Full report on www.toi.in

A policeman tries to enforce lockdown curbs in Mumbai on Monday

PM to address nation at 4pm today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 pm on Tuesday at a time when tensions with China are high over the border standoff in Ladakh and the Centre has announced guidelines for Unlock 2.0 which do not offer much further relaxations, indicating that the spread of Covid-19 remains worrying. He has so far addressed the nation five times following the coronavirus outbreak.

There is a possibility that the PM will urge people to follow norms such as social distancing and personal hygiene and urge patience to minimise spread of the Covid-19 virus. He has asked people not to lower their guard when different sectors are being opened up, allowing more economic activity and restoration of normal working. Sources said the PM’s address is primarily about sharing his views on fighting the coronavirus crisis though it might have references to the border tension in eastern Ladakh too. TNN

Ex-MP assaults cops at Salem who ask him for his e-pass

Ex-MP assaults cops at Salem who ask him for his e-pass

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem:30.06.2020

Former Dharmapuri MP and AIADMK member K Arjunan assaulted policemen on duty at a toll plaza on the Salem-Bengaluru National Highway near Karuppur here on Sunday night. Following this, Karuppur police have registered a case under two sections of IPC on Monday.

The incident took place when Arjunan was returning to Salem city from his farm near Omalur. Police personnel deployed at the toll plaza asked him to produce e-pass as he was entering the city. Irked over this, Arjunan started arguing with the cops. “I was returning to Salem from Omalur when the cops demanded my identity card,” Arjunan told reporters.

He said he had told them that he did not have identity card and they refused to let him proceed further. “At that time, sub-inspector Ramesh suddenly directed the cops to pull me out from the car,” Arjunan said, adding that after this he started arguing with the cops.

Arjunan said the SI had first abused him following which he started abusing them too. The cops, however, said that the ex-MP used had abusive words first. “Arjunan called the cops ‘beggers’ and asked who gave them powers to kill Jeyaraj and Beniks at Sathankulam in Tuticorin district,” said Salem deputy commissioner of police (law and order) P Thangadurai. He said the cops had remained calm until Arjunan assaulted the SI.

People who were present at the spot pacified the ex-MP and the cops.

The DCP said they have booked Arjunan under section 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). “Further action will be initiated only after inquiry,” the DCP added.

Former Dharmapuri MP and AIADMK member K Arjunan argues with cops at a toll plaza on the Salem-Bengaluru National Highway on Sunday

It is duty of lab technicians to collect swabs for test: Govt

It is duty of lab technicians to collect swabs for test: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 30.06.2020

Medical lab technicians are qualified to collect samples for Covid-19 test and, in fact, sample collection is one of the very important competencies that such technicians must possess, the Tamil Nadu government told the Madras high court on Monday.

“It is untrue that such technicians are forced to collect Covid-19 samples. Sample collection is a part of their day-to-day duty and they were engaged in the work even before the Covid-19 pandemic,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayana Babu.

Responding to a plea moved by the state government medical laboratory technicians’ association seeking direction to the state to depute only qualified ENT doctors for Covid-19 sample collection, he said such trained technicians who were performing this duty all these years should not have initiated the litigation during a pandemic.

“It is fact that all the trained doctors and post-graduate trainees irrespective of their field of expertise are equally engaged in the care of Covid-19 patients, with all at the inherent risk of contracting the deadly disease. Whereas, the technicians are denying duty to collect samples from persons who are only suspected of having the disease,” the DME added.

Narayana Babu further added that the qualification of such technicians becomes questionable if they state that they lack knowledge of human anatomy. The syllabus and curriculum for diploma, BSc and MSc medical laboratory technology clearly states that they should be fluent with the knowledge of the anatomy of the respiratory tract and various other human organ systems, he said.

Recording the submission, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramasway adjourned the hearing to July 1for the association to file its reply.

Property registration tokens misused as e-passes to travel

Property registration tokens misused as e-passes to travel

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 30.06.2020

Tokens issued by the registration department for property registrations, which can be now be used to travel between districts, are being misused as e-pass alternative by many to travel to their native. This came to light after it was observed that sub-registrar offices outside Chennai and neighbouring districts saw many avail the tokens but not turn up for registrations.

To get a token, basic property details such as its location, survey number and the sub-registrar under whose purview it is have to be keyed in on the website. The token is generated in a few minutes. While e-pass applications can be rejected, the tokens are issued in all cases.

While about 10% of those availing tokens did not turn up for registrations before the Covid-19 outbreak, 20% to 35% no shows were observed in sub-registrar offices in districts south of Villupuram. The registration department began issuing online tokens specifying the date and time for property registration at the respective sub-registrar offices after the entire process was pushed to cyber space in 2018.

The state government announced that these tokens can be used as an alternate for epass for registrations that required travelling to other districts for land registrations during the lockdown period. This is being used by several to move to their native places.

Registration department sources said the number of noshows for property registration raised an eyebrow. “Subregistrar offices in districts that issued 50 tokens a day saw only 30 turn up for property registration,” a registration official in Coimbatore said.

A sub-registrar in Villupuram said the number of people present for property registrations was way lower than the tokens issued on any given day. The token gets cancelled if the buyers and sellers do not turn up on the particular day.

When contacted, inspector general of registration Jothi Nirmala said the issue would be looked into. “The token will have one of the buyers name. While travelling with the token, the draft document, which has other names, should also be shown to prevent any misuse. The misuse had not been brought to my notice. I will verify,” she told TOI.

The tokens can be used to travel between districts to register properties. While e-pass applications can be rejected, the tokens are auto generated, and are seen as a sure-shot way to travel

Madras univ gets a patent for finding anti-cancer compound in sapota leaves

ANTI-DIABETIC TOO

Madras univ gets a patent for finding anti-cancer compound in sapota leaves

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:  30.06.2020

The University of Madras has obtained a patent for discovering a new compound from the leaves of sapota (botanical name Manilkara zapota). The compound named Mazapotin has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic properties.

Former director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, N Raaman, along with his student C Sivaraj extracted the compound. The university filed a patent in 2012 through patent agent B Deepa. The Intellectual Property India, after due process and examination, granted the patent in June this year for discovering the compound.

The university was granted patent for its extraction process, evolved by Raaman and Sivaraj, last year.

“Mazapotin has anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-angiogenic properties and is more powerful than Quercetin (a flavonoid used for the prevention and treatment of cancer). After studying its mechanism of action and clinical trials, the compound can be developed as a medicine to treat cancer patients who are diabetics,” said Raaman, who is also the director of Centre for Herbal Sciences at the university.

Raaman claimed that Mazapotin prevents the binding of carcinogens to DNA and strengthens connective tissues, which may prevent cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body. “Mazapotin has the ability to cause normal and controlled death of cancer cells,” said Raaman.

He said 1-7 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin has antioxidant activity in the range of 35.29% to 98.34%, higher than the antioxidant activity of Quercetin. The new compound at 0.5mg per pellet has 57.25% of angiogenic inhibition activity. Similarly, a 25 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin can account for the death of 85.42% of MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line). A 5-35 microgram per ml concentration of Mazapotin has anti-diabetic activity in the range of 18.18% to 66.66%, Raaman said.

Tamil Nadu refusing clearance for evacuation flights, Centre tells HC

Tamil Nadu refusing clearance for evacuation flights, Centre tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.06.2020

Due to the Tamil Nadu government’s refusal to give clearance for Vande Bharath Mission flights, Non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the state are forced to land in neighbouring states and then proceed to their destination in Tamil Nadu, the central government has informed the Madras high court.

“The state government has requested that the number of flights to Chennai may be restricted to two per day and to Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Madurai not more than 1, to facilitate smooth reception and observance of Covid-19 protocol,”the ministry of external affairs said through a memo filed in the court on Monday.

The submissions were made in response to a PIL moved by DMK alleging that the state is not permitting landing of international flights. When the plea came up for hearing before a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy, senior counsel P Wilson pointed out the memo filed by the Centre and said the state was not permitting such flights. This apart, the state has also conveyed that in addition to the VBM flights, it had also been getting requests for chartered flights. Passengers arriving by charter flights have to pay for quarantine accommodation and Covid-19 testing twice, once on arrival and a second time on day 7/8 of the quarantine and have started demanding confirmation of online bookings of the same as pre-conditions to clear charter flight passengers,” the memo said.

However, in a separate status report filed by the Tamil Nadu government, it was submitted that the state has not prohibited international air travel services.“The return journey of Tamil people stranded in various countries continues in all four international airports in the state and through the sea ports of Tuticorin and Chennai,” P Senthilkumar, principal secretary to the public department of the state said in the report.

As on June 15, 61 flights from 17 different countries have brought 9,625 Indian nationals from abroad through the four international airports in the state. This apart, 1,369 have been brought back to Tamil Nadu through 2 ships from Colombo and Maldives, the report added. Besides, 33 more flights from various countries are scheduled to arrive in the state in the next two weeks alone, the state said. To this, additional advocate general SR Rajagopalan submitted that he would get further instructions on the issue. Recording the same, the court adjourned the plea to June 30.

The Centre says due to the move NRIs from the state are forced to land in neighbouring states and then proceed to their destinations in TN

Intense lockdown in Chennai, Madurai to continue till July 5

Intense lockdown in Chennai, Madurai to continue till July 5

General Curbs To Remain In TN Till July 31

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 30.06.2020

The TN government on Monday announced extension of the general lockdown until July 31with an aim to contain the Covid-19 surge. The government also extended the ongoing intense lockdown in Greater Chennai, including parts of Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, besides Madurai corporation until July 5.

The government, however, decided to allow all industries, export units and private offices to function with 100% strength in the rest of the state from July 1. In the rural areas of Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Madurai districts it will open up from July 6. Tasmac outlets would be allowed to be kept open between 10am and 8pm in the rural areas of these three districts besides the rest of the state.

Total lockdown on all Sundays in July

It has also announced total lockdown in the state on all Sundays in July to break the chain of infection, while movement of public and private bus transport within the districts will remain suspended between July 1 and 15. Authorised fish, poultry and egg shops will be allowed in corporations, town and village panchayats. The government announced that e-pass would not be required for movement within the districts, while it is required for inter-state movement and inter-district movement. In the intense lockdown areas, the passes issued upto June 30couldbeuseduptoJuly 5.

In areas under intense lockdown, workers shall be accommodated inside the industry premises or nearby places.

On Monday, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami held discussions with public health experts on the way forward. “Lockdown is not the solution, whereas containment management is. Lockdown is requiredby balancing relaxation and restriction,” chief secretary K Shanmugam told TOI.

The governmentdecidedto go ahead with the extension of intense lockdown even as aggressive testing continued acrossthestate.AsCovidcases spiralled in Chennai and Madurai, the plan is to continue the intense lockdown which would help the administrative machinery get a breather to cope with the rising demand for services.

The spike in cases could be seen from the sharp rise in Tamil Nadu’s containment zones -- from 303 to 703 within a week ending June 26. Chennai, Salem, Madurai, Cuddalore, Tirupattur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvannamalai districts have seen an increase in containment zones as well. Only seven of the 37 districts have reported completion of containment, including The Nilgiris, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Trichy, Vellore, Perambalur, Karur and Ariyalur.