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  • Aviation may face up to ₹25,000 cr. loss: CRISIL

    ‘Will take 6-8 quarters to bounce back’

    The aviation industry will be one of the most adversely affected sectors of the economy this year, with a revenue loss of ₹24,000–25,000 crore this fiscal, CRISIL said.

    It said the huge revenue loss would spur structural changes in the industry, with mergers and acquisitions taking place.

    Even though the roads and highways sector would be impacted to a large extent, its rebound will be faster, the ratings agency said in a report.

    Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Director and Practice Leader, Transport & Logistics, CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory, said the airlines would be the worst-affected, contributing more than 70% of the losses, or ₹17,000 crore, followed by airport operators with ₹5,000-5,500 crore, and airport retailers (including retail, food and beverages and duty-free) with ₹1,700-1,800 crore. “This would reverse the trend growth of 11% per annum the industry has logged over the past 10 years, making it one of the most adversely affected sectors of the economy,” he added. The losses will climb if travel restrictions last longer in hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, he said.

    “We expect the aviation sector to take at least 6-8 quarters to reach pre-pandemic levels. These are preliminary estimates, and aggregate losses could increase if the lockdown is extended beyond the first quarter,” he added.

    “As and when operations resume, overall operational capacity will hover at 50-60% for the rest of the fiscal,” he said.

    As far as the roads and highways sector is concerned, it will see developers/ toll operators incurring toll revenue losses of ₹3,450-3,700 crore during March-June, the report said.

    The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will lose ₹2,100-2,200 crore in toll over this period, it said.

    In addition to the loss in toll revenue, stakeholders will suffer losses on account of accrued interest, increase in costs of under-construction projects, time overruns, and a rise in disputes between the private sector and government authorities, the report added.

    Moreover, the NHAI had planned to raise ₹80,000-85,000 crore through fiscal 2025 by monetising 6,000 km of operational public-funded toll roads. This asset monetisation programme through toll-operate-transfer and infrastructure investment trusts will likely take a hit, CRISIL said.

    Akshay Purkayastha, Director, Transport & Logistics, CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory said, “Tolling operations resumed on April 20 and construction on select projects has also restarted. Going forward, the ramp-up in traffic, availability of labour and raw materials for construction, and expeditious dispute resolution will be the key monitorables.”

    “In addition, road authorities such as the NHAI will have to step up initiatives beyond conventional avenues such as development of way-side amenities and formation of special purpose vehicles/ joint ventures for both, financing and revenues,” he added.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Coronavirus | AIIMS director says cases likely to hit peak in June-July

    Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan says India is doing better, launches two AYUSH-based studies.

    India registered 3,561 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 52,952. With 89 deaths, the tally mounted to 1,783 on Thursday.

    The country currently has 35,902 active cases, with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria stating that according to data released by experts and going by the current trend, the cases are likely to peak in June-July.

    “While predictions vary from May to August and keep changing depending on parameters used according to modelling data and the way our cases are increasing currently, it is likely that our case peak can come in June and July. There are many variables to this and an exact prediction isn’t possible,” said Dr. Guleria.

    According to data from the Union Health Ministry on Thursday, 15,266 persons have been cured so far with 1,084 patients cured in the past 24 hours. However, the State Health Departments put the total number of cases at 54,299, of which 36,761 are active. The number of deaths rose to 1,832.

    Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said that in comparison to other countries, India was in a better condition as the fatality rate was 3.3% and recovery rate was 28.83%.

    “Currently there are 4.8% patients in ICU, 1.1% on ventilators and 3.3% on oxygen support of the active cases. The testing capacity has increased in the country and it is now standing at 95,000 tests per day with 327 government laboratories and 118 private laboratories. Cumulatively 13,57,442 tests have been done so far for COVID-19,” he said.

    The Minister said that currently there were 180 districts with no new cases in the past week, 180 districts with no new cases in 7-13 days, 164 districts which had not had any new case in 14-20 days and 136 districts with no new cases since the last 21-28 days.

    “There are 13 States/Union Territories — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir UT, Kerala, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Odisha — which have not reported any case in the last 24 hours. While Daman and Diu, Sikkim, Nagaland and Lakshadweep have not reported a single case till date,” Dr. Vardhan said.

    The Union Minister said India now had 130 hotspot districts, 284 non-hotspot districts and 319 non-affected districts.

    As of now India had 821 dedicated COVID hospitals with 1,50,059 beds (1,32,219 isolation beds and 17,840 ICU beds) and 1,898 dedicated COVID Health Centres with 1,19,109 beds (1,09,286 isolation beds and 9,823 ICU beds) along with 7,569 quarantine centres.

    “States need to focus on more effective surveillance, contact tracing and early diagnosis to keep low fatality rate,” said the Minister. Surveillance for Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) / Influenza Like Illness (ILI) should be intensified in unaffected districts and districts which had not reported cases for the past 14 days.

    “Such measures will help to indicate the presence of any possible hidden infection at an early stage, helping in its timely containment,” he added.

    The Health Ministry had also alerted States to be vigilant now with the surge in number of migrant labourers expected to reach back home.

    “A robust strategy and mechanism needs to be drawn up for their testing, quarantine, and treatment of the positive cases. Some States shall also see immigrants from abroad too. An effective strategy also needs to be put in place for their testing, institutional quarantine and treatment, if needed,” said the Minister.

    Dr. Vardhan on Thursday launched the ‘Sanjivani’ App and two AYUSH-based studies related to COVID-19. The Minister said COVID-19 management had provided a potent platform for alliance between the Health Ministry, the AYUSH Ministry and other scientific bodies.

    Ayurveda research

    Announcing the commencing of the two collaborative clinical research studies on Ayurveda interventions as Prophylaxis and as an add-on to standard care to COVID-19, the Minister said these studies would re-establish the importance of AYUSH-pathies.

    “Ashwagandha for the Prophylaxis against SARS-COV-2 in high risk group and effectiveness of Ayurveda formulation as an adjunct to ‘Standard of Care’ for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 is being looked at,” noted Dr. Vardhan.

    The study would be carried out through four research councils under the Ministry of AYUSH and national institutes in 25 States and several State governments, covering approximately 5 lakh population.

    “The outcome of the study is expected to pave a new horizon in understanding the preventive potential of AYUSH interventions during pandemics like COVID-19 through scientific evidence,” added the Minister.

    The ‘Sanjivani’ mobile app is aimed at helping generate data on acceptance and usage of AYUSH advocacies and measures among the population and its impact in prevention of COVID-19, noted the Ministry. “It is developed by the Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with other agencies and shall reach out to a target of 50 lakh people,” it added.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Pakistan Army shells 3 sectors along LoC in Poonch

    This is the sixth consecutive day of firing and shelling.

    PTI

    The Pakistan Army on Thursday shelled forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in three sectors of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said.

    This is the sixth consecutive day of firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “At about 1100 hours today, Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Qasba, Shahpur and Kirni sectors of Poonch,” he said.

    He said the Indian Army retaliated befittingly and cross-border shelling between the two sides was going on when last reports came in.

    There was no immediate report of any casualty during the Pakistani shelling.

  • Covid-19 | Accused of facilitating return from Delhi to Srinagar; Junaid A. Mattu Issues a Statement

    “There have been multiple, concerted attempts in the last two days to connect SMC and my office with the case of an unauthorised arrival and subsequent alleged concealment of travel history by an individual in Srinagar.

    The brother of the said individual – who has been tested positive for COVID subsequently – happens to be an elected Corporator at the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

    The Police has registered a case under relevant statutes of law in this instance and I am sure the law will take its course and furnish the truth so that justice can be done.

    I want to hereby put it on record that at no time was I even aware of the fact that the said Corporator has a brother to begin with. I wasn’t – at any point of time – aware of his reported unauthorised travel or arrival in Srinagar. This is evidenced by the fact that the particular Corporator visited my office after the arrival of his brother. Had I been aware of his brother’s arrival on the 26th of April and subsequent administrative quarantine on the 28th of April, I wouldn’t have endangered my own safety and health by allowing any proximity with his primary contacts. That’s basic common sense and should be enough to discredit the baseless allegations against me.

    As soon as I was informed about this case, I passed instructions for immediate isolation and home quarantine of a number of SMC Corporators and officials – including myself. I have been in strict self-isolation and home-quarantine ever since and continue to supervise SMC operations and initiatives from my residence – while continuing to insist that all possible precautions should be taken within the SMC.

    I have left no stone unturned to do my best and be at the frontlines of the COVID battle in Srinagar along with my Deputy Mayor, SMC colleagues, ground teams and officials. I am proud of how SMC has gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve Srinagar in these trying circumstances. The evolution of SMC and its emergence as a scientific force in the face of adversity is something all of us are immensely proud of.

    However, politically motivated, disappointing and ulterior attempts to connect SMC or my office with this particular case are distasteful and unfortunate. Politics can wait and can be resumed after the Pandemic is over. Those who are trying so hard to engineer an elaborate conspiracy in this case – I wish them better mental health and hope they realise how their mischief mongering could possibly impede efforts required to fight against COVID.

    Four SMC Corporators – at the expected encouragement and incitement of a certain mischief monger – have uploaded videos on social media alleging that I “facilitated” the unauthorised entry of the particular positive case into Srinagar. Under my instructions, my lawyers are under the process of filing criminal defamation cases against all four individuals today. Their lies and attempted propaganda constitutes to be a criminal offence and they shall be made answerable to the court of law for their baseless and motivated allegations.

    Like a lot of fellow Srinagarites and people from surrounding districts – a number of my close relatives are stuck outside the State due to the lockdown. I have and continue to encourage them to stay put wherever they are and wait for the administration to allow their travel as per protocols and guidelines that have been established. I make the same fervent request to everyone.

    A lot of efforts have gone into preventing a catastrophic situation from emerging in Srinagar till now. Our district administration, doctors, paramedics, police personnel, sanitation workers – all our front-line warriors – have worked way too hard in the last two months. Such instances of illicit travel and alleged concealment of travel undermines all those efforts and sacrifices being made by hundreds of thousands of people.

    This is not a lockdown necessitated by a law-and-order situation but a lockdown that has been invoked for our collective survival. I request everyone to kindly adhere to it 100% as a mark of solidarity with our frontline workers and also as a mark of responsibility as conscious and conscientious citizens. Staying at home is by far the most powerful and potent preventive mechanism against this pandemic.

    I hope we will all continue to cooperate with the administration without any lapses as this is a battle that we will have to win together.

  • Won’t be able to pay full April salaries to workers, says traders’ body

    Traders are undergoing a tremendous financial crunch, it tells Minister.

    The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Thursday wrote to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, expressing their inability to pay full salaries for April to their employees amid pressure from trade unions.

    The letter, dated May 7, stated that “under the circumstances it is becoming more difficult…to pay full salary for April…since the traders are undergoing a tremendous financial crunch and full payment of salary for the April month is next to impossible.”

    If these payments are made, the traders’ body warned that the business of traders will “fall like anything” and in the absence of any inflow of money, this will be disastrous for the retail trade as well as badly affect the economy.

    “…receiving input from traders across the country we are constrained to inform that in the present situation when the business establishment of the traders are closed since March 25 across the country, they do not have any source of their income,” the letter added.

    Asking the Minister to look into the “ground realities”, CAIT requested the government to intervene.

    In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier, CAIT had suggested that traders be allowed to pay salaries as per mutual agreement between the employers and employees, or allow payment of 30% of the salary “which is quite sufficient for livelihood of the employees”. Alternatively, it added, 50% salary be borne by the government and 25% by traders.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • 27 operations were launched, 64 militants killed since January: IGP Kashmir

    The restrictions on movement and internet/phones were necessary to maintain law & order

    Srinagar: Talking to Media IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar told that Security forces launched 27 operations & eliminated 64 militants since January this year in Jammu & Kashmir. 25 active militants were arrested. Police were searching for slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo for the past 6 months.

    After the Riyaz Naikoo encounter there was law and order situation at the site. Few people have been injured some of them have bullet injuries, said IGP.

    IGP further said that the restrictions on movement and internet/phones were necessary to maintain law & order. Will be reviewed as the situation improves.

  • ‘Debauch’ Pir thrashed, paraded on a pony for ‘abusing’ a girl sexually

    Pulwama: Accused of sexually abusing a girl, a ‘faith-healer’ in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district faced the wrath of the people. He was thrashed and paraded in the village on a pony while his house was ransacked. Police took cognizance of the incident and arrested the accused. Popularly known as Pir Saab (Pir Arshid Hussain Hajam) in Rajpora and adjacent villages, hundreds of blind followers visit his house on daily basis. The visitors bring fruits, vegetables, chicken and other stuff to keep the ‘faith-healer’ in good mood while he treated them for different ailments.

    Local sources told KNT that like other people, a girl (name withheld) used to visit the ‘Pir’. “People didn’t know he is a fake faith-healer who has lust and hunger for mundane affairs. He ravaged the chastity of the young girl while whole populace is in shock. When the girl was found pregnant, people tried to investigate the matter and today when she delivered a baby, people got to know about the accused and tried to kill him,” they said.

    Sources added that locals cut the long hair of the ‘faith-healer’, paraded him on a pony and beat him up with chapels and shoes. The Pir was utterly humiliated and all his belongings in the house were ransacked.

    Police took cognizance of the incident and arrested the faith-healer.

    Pertinently, a couple of days ago an 18 year old deaf and dumb girl (name withheld) South Kashmir’s Nagras Kund Qazigund was found 6 months pregnant. Upon investigation, police identified the accused Yousuf Baniya son of Noor Baniya and registered an FIR vide number121/2020 under section 376 for this shameful act. (KNT)

  • Corporator and his brother booked for concealing travel history

    Police take cognizance

    Srinagar: Authorities have decided to act tough against those who have put the lives of others at risk by concealing travel history. Initiating action against the close aide of Srinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor and Corporator and his brother, police have registered a formal case against them in this regard.

    Pertinently, Corporator Kawadara, Majdi Shulu was accused of hiding the travel history of his brother after returning from New Delhi in a truck. It was alleged that Mayor, SMC facilitated his return from Delhi to Srinagar. The said person lived at home along with the Corporator. On the request of neighbours, the brother of the Corporator was tested positive for Covid-19 infection. The Coporator too was tested positive that sent shock waves among SMC employees. Over 50 Corporators and Mayor went into quarantine.

    District Development Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdary in a couple of tweets had expressed his displeasure over the incident and had advised everyone not to resort to illegal travel and reveal travel history.

    Sources told KNT that on the recommendations of district administration and the demand made by various Corporators, police station Safa Kadal booked the infected Corporator and his brother for hiding travel history.

    A police official confirmed the development said that many Corporators were demanding an FIR against the Corporator and his brother. “An FIR vide number 60/2018 under section 179, 188 stands registered against them,” he added. (KNT)

  • Visakhapatnam gas leak | Clamour for LG Polymers’ plant closure grows as 8 die after chemical leak

    According to initial reports, styrene gas from the plant spread over a radius of about five kilometres, affecting at least five villages.

    PTI

    Eight persons, including a six-year-old girl, died and scores of others were admitted to the government hospital at Gopalapatnam and the King George Hospital, following the leakage of poisonous gas from the Hindustan Polymers plant at RR Venkatapuram, Gopalapatnam, Visakhapatnam, on Thursday.

    A toll free number 1800 4250 0009 is available for any assistance with regard to this.

    The gas leak occurred at the LG Polymers Plant between 2.30 a.m. and 3 a.m. and reportedly spread over a radius of about three km, affecting at least five villages, including R.R. Venkatapuram, Padmapuram, B.C. Colony and Kamparapalem.

  • Restrictions on civil movement from 7 PM to 7 AM across Kashmir Division

    Srinagar: In view of the movement of Stranded persons from outside the valley, the busses carrying them are entering the valley mostly after 6.00 PM. These stranded passengers have to follow various SOPs with regard to COVID-19 management.

    These persons are being dispatched to their respective districts mostly after 7.00 PM which has necessitated that there shall be no civil movement from 7.00 PM to 7.00 AM.

    Accordingly the District Magistrates have imposed restrictions during these night hours. The people have accordingly been advised not to venture out of their homes during night hours so that the stranded passenger can reach their destination in a hassle free manner—(KNO)