CMYK SATURDAY www.thestatesman.com 30 APRIL 2022 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘FARMERS’ UNIONS SHOULD BE NEUTRAL’ GOVT RELEASES NCF MANDATE DOCUMENT P5 WEATHER Humid weather with high discomfort level. Temperature likely to be in the range of 36-28 degrees Celsius. SINDHU REACHES SEMIFINALS PRINCE ANDREW STRIPPED OF YORK ‘FREEDOM OF CITY’ P7 P10 Nation grapples with massive power crisis P12 China to allow Indian students, Indian Embassy to co-ordinate STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Centre asserted that there is no shortage of coal in the country Max. 85% NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL After initial reservations, China is now willing to facilitate the travel of Indian students studying in the Chinese universities. The Indian Embassy in China has said that China would allow Indian students back to China after assessing their cases individually. On 25 April, Indian external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar met the state councilor and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and raised the issue of stranded Indian stuadents who were unable to go back to China to take the classes. The meeting was fruitful and led to a change in the Chinese stance. The Indian students, especially the medical students, are facing problems going back to China. They had come to India after the outbreak of pandemic. Now that the campus is open and physical classrooms are functional the medical students want to attend  Indian students who are stranded in India following a strict visa ban in China owing to the repeated waves of Coronavirus Pandemic can now return to China to rejoin their studies, the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed.  The Embassy of India in China said that Indian students should provide information by filling up the form by 8 May which will then be collated with the Chinese side to facilitate the process NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL Min. 57% TEMPERATURE Max: 36.2 °C(+1) SUN RISES 05:06 hrs MOON RISES 04:09 hrs New moon on 01 Min: 28.6 °C(+3) SUN SETS 18:03 hrs MOON SETS 16:47 hrs May THUMBNAILS Devotees offer namaz at Teele Wali Masjid on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Lucknow on Friday.  ANI Lt Gen B S Raju named new Vice Chief of Army: Lt Gen Baggavalli Somashekar Raju, who has extensive experience in counter-terror operations, will take over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 May, it was officially announced in New Delhi on Friday. He succeeds Lt Gen Manoj Pande, who has been named the new Chief of the Army Staff. An alumnus of the Sainik School Bijapur and the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Raju was commissioned in the JAT Regiment on 15 December 1984. He is currently the Director-General of Military Operations at the Army Headquarters. Two groups clash in Patiala: A tense atmosphere prevailed in Patiala in Punjab after two groups clashed with each other during a protest march held against banned terrorist outfit Khalistan on Friday. The situation was brought under control after the police intervened and fired in the air to disperse the crowd.CM Bhagwant Mann called the incident unfortunate and vowed his government will not let anyone create disturbance in the Pg5 state. mid the heatwave conditions, several states in the country were today grappling with a power crisis due to the shortage of coal in thermal power stations, even as the Central government asserted that there is no shortage of coal in the country. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today termed power shortage as a national crisis and accused the Central government of failing to supply adequate coal to states to generate sufficient electricity. Raising the alarm over the ongoing coal crisis, Delhi power minister Satyendar Jain said there was a severe coal crisis across the country and many places have just one day of reserve left. Jain said, “No (power) backup (is there)... (the) coal backup should be for over 21 days, but at many power plants, less than a day's (stock) is left”.“If electricity is being produced, and we keep getting it, there's no issue. But if the power plant shuts down it will be problematic (in Delhi)... There's a coal shortage in the country," said Jain in a media briefing, a day after he held an emergency meeting over the issue. In a tweet in Hindi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “There is a huge shortage of power in the country. So far we have managed it somehow in Delhi. The situation is very grave in A RISING THREAT A child walks on a dried river bed of the Yamuna river on a hot summer day in New Delhi on Friday. ANI  Due to severe heat- wave across the country, power demand has gone up rapidly in recent days  There is less than a day’s coal left in many power plants, Delhi power minister Satyendar Jain said  The peak power demand in the country touched an alltime high of 207,111 MW on Friday, the Ministry of Power said There is a huge shortage of power in the country. So far we have managed it somehow in Delhi. The situation is very grave in the whole of India. Together we soon need to find its solution. Quick, concrete steps are required to tackle this problem ARVIND KEJRIWAL- DELHI CHIEF MINISTER the whole of India. Together we soon need to find its solution. Quick, concrete steps are required to tackle this problem.” The Delhi Power Minister held an emergency meeting on Thursday over the issue and wrote to the Centre requesting it to ensure adequate coal availability to power plants supplying electricity to Delhi. However, the government-owned NTPC Ltd said on Friday that all six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity. The NTPC, in a statement, said: "All six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies. Present stock is 140,000 MT and 95,000 MT respectively and import coal supplies are also in pipeline." Amid severe heatwave sweeping across India, the peak power demand in the country touched an all-time high of 207,111 MW on Friday, the Ministry of Power said. The maximum allIndia demand met on Thursday was 204,653 MW. On Thursday, Union coal minister Pralhad Joshi said the thermal power plants have 2122 million tonnes of coal which will last for 10 days. “The thermal power plants hold 21-22 million tonnes of coal which are enough for 10 days and replenishment is done daily,” Joshi said. Due to severe heatwave across the country, power demand has gone up rapidly in recent days. The Power Ministry said on 26 April: "The maximum all-India power demand met is 201.066 ‘Sikh community is synonymous with courage’ Congress to adopt ‘One Post One Man’ after ‘Chintan Shivir’ NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL Observing Sikh tradition as a living tradition of 'Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed the county's gratitude to the Sikh Community for its contribution during the freedom struggle and after Independence. "Sikh community is synonymous with the courage, prowess and hard work of the country," Modi said while hosting a Sikh delegation at the official residence of the Prime Minister. The group included people from different walks of life. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri was among those present on the occasion.He also recalled his visits to the places of Sikh heritage all over the world during his visits abroad.SNS After the resignation of Kamal Nath as Leader of the opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Congress is gearing up to implement 'One Man One Post' rule at the AICC and state level after the 'Chintan Shivir'. Several Congress leaders holding dual charge will face the heat in due course, sources said, adding that the party wants the state unit to be more vibrant in its performance and actively involve in political activities. The person with dual or more charges will be given one assignment at a time. Currently, Congress leaders like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik hold more Currently, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik hold more than one charge than one charge. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury holds the charge of Floor Leader in the Lok Sabha and Bengal party president, while Randeep Singh Surjewala is the party's Karnataka General Secretary and in charge who heads the party's communication department. Mukul Wasnik is Madhya Pradesh party general secretary and secretary of Central Election Committee(CEC). Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath, on Thursday resigned from the post of LoP in the state Assembly. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation and appointed Govind Singh in his place. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal wrote to Kamal Nath on Thursday, saying: "This is to inform you that the Congress President has accepted your resignation from the post of Leader, Congress Legislature Party, Madhya Pradesh, with immediate effect. The party wholeheartedly appreciates your contribution as the CLP Leader, Madhya Pradesh." Kamal Nath was holding the posts of leader of opposition and state Congress President. Now he is only the chief of the state unit of the party. GW at 14:51 hours. It has surpassed last year's maximum demand met of 200.539 GW which occurred on July 7. The rising power demand reflects the economic growth of the country." The government had said on Wednesday that there is appropriate amount of coal stock in the country and there is no need to panic. Joshi said: "The country has enough coal stock. The thermal power plants have more than nine days' coal stock, and the situation is reviewed each day." With severe heatwave conditions leading to upscaled demand for power in the country, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India informed that coal received from imports is being pushed to priority sectors at a fast pace. Talking to a news agency today, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Director (Operations and BD), N Srinivas spoke on the coal supply situation in India and said, "Whatever amount of coal is being imported and reaching Indian ports, we are moving it to priority sectors." The official added, "We are now also moving at such a fast pace, particularly ports near power plants of Dadri, Jhajjar other Rajasthan area. The transit time has been reduced. Wherever there is coal shortage, we will ensure that coal supply is available.We will be able to move it fast and ensure that no power plant is shut down." India registers 3377 new cases, recovery rate stands at 98.74% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL India logged 3377 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, stated the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. With this, India’s active caseload now stands at 17,801 with active cases now constituting 0.04per cent of the country's total positive cases. As per the data shared by the ministry, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.74per cent with 2496 patients having recovered in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative tally of recovered patients to 4,25,30,622.While the weekly positivity rate in the STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL The Chief Justice of India, Justice N V Ramana today said 126 vacancies have been filled in various high courts in less than a year and he expects 50 more appointments. The CJI, speaking at the 39th Conference of Chief Justices of High Courts (in pic), request- ed the Chief Justices of courts where there are vacancies to forward the names of judges to ensure filling up the required vacancies of judges at the earliest. The chief justices’ conference is being held after a gap of six years. The CJI also said that in the past one year, we have got nine new judges in the Supreme Court and 10 new Chief Jus- TOTAL CASES 4,30,72,176 ACTIVE CASES 17,801 NEW CASES 3,377 NEW RECOVERIES 2,496 TOTAL DEATHS 5,23,753 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2022 Bengal recorded 52 cases & zero deaths TN passes resolution to send essential items to Sri Lanka INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution urging the central government to permit the state to send essential items, medicines to Sri Lanka on humanitarian basis. The resolution was moved by chief minister M.K.Stalin signalling the government's changed stance. Earlier, the DMK government in the state had asked the cen- tral government's permission to send the essential items to only Sri Lankan Tamils. On Friday, moving the resolution, Stalin said the island nation is facing a severe economic crisis and the prices of essential items have gone up and are not affordable to the people.He said the state government has decided to ship 40,000 ton of rice (value Rs 80 crore), life saving drugs (Rs 28 crore) and 500 ton milk powder (Rs 15 crore) to Sri Lanka. (See Pg 4) interim government is to be done by the national Assembly consisting of the leaders of all political parties.At Friday's discussion, the President has also agreed to establish a National Council, which will decide on the appointment of a Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Inspector General of Police, Attorney General, and the Ministry Secretaries. CHENNAI, 29 APRIL Sri Lankans sit by the fence of the president's office demanding president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign, in Colombo on Friday.  AP INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE COLOMBO, 29 APRIL To end the current political deadlock, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to form an interim, allparty government with a fresh cabinet, dropping his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, former President Maithripala Sirisena announced on Friday. Sirisena, who met President Rajapaksa, along with representatives of 11 political par- PM to address Joint Conference of CMs & HC CJs today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the inaugural session of the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers of States and Chief Justices of High Courts atVigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, tomorrow at 10 AM. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. The Joint Conference is an occasion for the executive and the judiciary to come together to create frameworks for simple and convenient delivery of justice and to discuss steps required to overcome the challenges fac- ing the justice system. The previous such conference was held in 2016. Since then, the government has taken various initiatives for improving infrastructure and integration of digital technology in court processes under eCourts Mission Mode Project. tice for High Courts. The CJI said that 126 judges vacancies in various High Courts were filled in less than an year. We are expecting 50 more appointments, he said. In the past one year, we have got nine new judges to the Supreme Court and 10 new Chief Justices for High Courts, he said. "Due to our collective efforts, we could fill 126 vacancies in various High Courts in less than an year. We are expecting 50 more appointments. This remarkable feat could be achieved because of your (Chief Justices of various state High Courts) wholehearted co-operation and commitment to the institution," CJI Ramana said. He said that in addition to taking stock of the progress made in implementation of the resolutions adopted six years ago, the conference will also NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL country currently stands at 0.63 percent, the daily positivity rate is reported to be 0.71 percent, as per the data. Besides, the health ministry stated, the last 24 hours saw a total of 4,73,635 tests being conducted taking the cumulative tests to over 83.69 crore. Under the National vaccination drive, 188.65 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far.More than 2.82 crore adolescents have been administered with the first dose of vaccine.More than 19.58 crore balance and unutilised vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. FACT FILE SL Prez okays interim govt without brother as PM ties who supported Rajapaksa to come to power but decided to stand independent following the recent political crisis, informed the media of the development. The 11 parties which had insisted on removing PM and the cabinet as a solution to the ongoing political impasse, had also demanded that Friday's meeting could only be with President but not with anyone else.According to Sirsena, appointment of a new PM and the Cabinet of the 126 judge vacancies filled in HCs, 50 more appointments: CJI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE the classes there. Notably, medical students need a lab and practical training to complete their degree courses. Earlier when the Chinese government stopped students from attending classes the Indian government retaliated by canceling tourist visas of Chinese nationals. Now that China has agreed to take back the Indian students, the Indian Embassy would coordinate the return of the students. It would prepare the list of the Indian students who wish to return to China for studies. The Embassy would share that list with the Chinese officials. The Indian Embassy has already sprung into action and asked the Indian students to fill up a Google form by 8 May, 2022, and furnish the required information. The Embassy in its communiqué said, "once the collated information is shared with the Chinese side they would consult relevant Chinese departments to verify the list and indicate whether the identified students can travel to China to complete the course. This coordination process would be carried out in a time-bound manner. China however has laid strict Caovid-19 guidelines to which the students traveling to China would have to adhere and bear all expenses related to preventive measures. CMYK be taking up discussion on many issues, including those of strengthening of IT infrastructure and connectivity at all court complexes pan India on priority basis, Human Resources / Personnel Policy, Needs of district courts and many others. He identified the issues which are likely to be addressed in the two days programme as: Infrastructure and capacity building: Institutionalising the mechanism for augmenting and creating stateof-the-art judicial infrastructure, Institutional and legal reforms, Appointment of High Court Judges, Emoluments of High Court Judges and augmenting post retiral benefits of High Court Judges. ‘Increase in seizure of arms from Afghanistan in Kashmir’ INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 APRIL Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that there was an increase in seizure of arms and ammunition from Afghanistan in Kashmir.General Naravane, who is all set to hang his boots on Sunday, said in a video released on Thursday: "There is definitely an increase in the number of weapons and other equipment, especially night-vision devices that we are capturing or unearthing, which definitely have come from Afghanistan." He added that there were also apprehensions that after the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year, the mujahideens would be pushed into Kashmir by Pakistan. "When the previous Taliban regime was there in Afghanistan in the early 2000s, we did have a little spillover. We had captured or killed Afghan terrorists (in J&K) also,"Naravane had said the recently-concluded Raisina Dialogue.Last month, Naravane and other military commanders reviewed deployments of troops atWestern and Northern borders.