SARS kept health community on toes in 2003

NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Onslaught of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a new pneumonia-like illness which transcended geographical boundaries, kept the world’s health community on toes for major part of the year 2003 even as the AIDS bomb kept ticking, Cola controversy gave sleepless nights to the Government and dengue made a come back.

SARS generated an unprecedented unified response from the health authorities in various countries. The disease originated in China’s Guangdong province and rapidly invaded the distant countries like Singapore, the Philippines, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Kuwait, South Africa, Russia, Romania, the US and even India. About 8100 cases were reported worldwide with over 750 deaths.

India, which witnessed its share of panic, was saved from the brunt of SARS thanks to prompt action by authorities or may be a stroke of luck! There was no death but the bewildered medical authorities at one point of time "over reported cases" due to confusion over what actually a SARS case is. There were, however, only three SARS cases.

To avert its spread, India just as many other countries, introduced screening of passengers at airports for symptoms. The epidemic was brought under control but experts say the story is not yet over - the disease can strike again. It is not just SARS, US’ CDC’s Director Julie Louise gerberding warns that the diseases that are under control can strike again.

The Government was shaken when an NGO alleged that most of the aerated soft drinks being sold in the country had higher levels of pesticides like lindane, DDT and chlorpyrifos than permissible under the European union norms. The controversy highlighted lack of standards for pesticide residues for soft drinks in the country. Cold drinks sale plummeted due to the controversy.

Health Minister Sushma Swaraj’s statement in Parliament that soft drinks tested were well within the safety limits prescribed for drinking water at present invited criticism.

Government has now issued a notification prescribing limits for pesticides in packaged drinking water as per the EU norms which are to be implemented from 1st January 2004. Meanwhile, a Parliamentary Committee is looking into the question of pesticides levels in cold drinks.

The country grappled with dengue outbreak that affected 5735 people and caused 78 deaths from August to October. Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, UP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka were the main states affected. Delhi alone witnessed about 2800 cases with 33 deaths.

Investigations revealed that the outbreak was by two virus strains- 2 and 3. Scientists warn that disease may become more dangerous in the future as a new more virulent subtype strain 3 has emerged in this part of the world even as global warming and shifting weather patterns cause frequent dengue outbreaks. (PTI)

Indian tourism back on healthy track: Jagmohan

NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Tourism Minister Jagmohan has said the Indian Tourism and Hospitality Industry was back on a healthy track, noting that there had been a significant increase in the number of foreign arrivals as well as the foreign exchange earnings on account of tourism.

"Foreign tourist arrivals in the country have risen by 15-16 per cent this year while the foreign exchange earned on account of tourism has also gone up by 24 per cent," Mr Jagmohan said here last night at the galileo-express travel and tourism awards.

The minister, however, said that there was a need to tap more domestic travellers, make the growth even and strong and insulate it from heavy dependence on foreign tourists.

Players in the tourism as well as its allied industries have to ensure that domestic travellers, which are a big source of revenue, are also catered to.

"There is a big market within India and all efforts should be made to tap it in the right earnest," Mr Jagmohan said.

Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, also echoed similar views and said his ministry was making efforts to make Indian airports at par with the best in the world apart from making flying affordable for domestic travellers.

"We are making efforts to improve airports as well as make flying easy for even the common man.

"However, I admit that many reforms are required in the civil aviation sector to improve India’s image globally. These include using bilaterals not being used for so many years apart from other necessary steps," Mr Rudy said.

The awards were divided into five broad categories: airlines, hotels, international tourism boards, state tourism boards and tour operators. The criteria for selection was both objective and subjective such as revenue generated, operational efficiency, reach of service, perceived service levels and the ability to retain and increase market share.

While Jet airways received the best domestic airline award, Taj Hotels and Resorts received the award for best luxury hotel chain.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce was the winner in the best international tourist board segment while Kerala received came out tops in the domestic segment.

The tourism personality of year award, which was adjudged by express group editor Shekhar Gupta, was given to Mr Jagmohan.

The framework for the awards was put together by an expert panel from the tourism and hospitality industry and express travel tourism’s editorial advisory board. Deloitte Touche Tomahtsu India Pvt Ltd were the consultants and research partners. (UNI)

Opposition attack HRD minister for trying to evade reply

NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today came under opposition attack in Lok Sabha for trying to "evade" a direct reply to a question whether the allocation for Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan Scheme had been reduced by Rs 17,000 crore.

The issue, raised during question hour by Jyotiraditya Scindia (Congres), gained support of former premier Chandra Shekhar and members of other opposition parties, when Joshi said the financial allocations were made for a five year period and no complaint had been received from State Governments regarding any of their projects under the scheme.

"We simply want to know whether Rs 17,000 crore worth of allocation was reduced or not," Scindia, backed by his party leader P R Dasmunsi, asked, alleging that the minister was hedging a direct reply.

Chandra Shekhar said "the minister is expected to know the allocation of his department. He should give a reply in `yes’ or `no’. .... He should say whether he received any communication from the Finance Ministry reducing the allocation. He should say whether the allocation has been reduced".

Members from other opposition parties also joined in to demand a clear reply from Joshi.

At this point, Speaker Manohar Joshi asked the minister whether provisions were made every year.

To this, the minister replied "there has been no reduction this year".

As he said this, Rupchand Pal (CPI-M) showed the supplementary budget document and said the allocation has been listed in the demand for grants and the minister was "wrong". (PTI)

Telgi sees no purpose in undergoing lie-detector test

BANGALORE, Dec 17: Prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, Abdul Karim Telgi, saw no purpose being served by his undergoing lie-detector test, his counsel M T Nanaiah indicated today.

"Lie-detector test is another lie. It is an attempt to hoodwink the whole people", Nanaiah told reporters outside a Bangalore Court where Telgi was produced, when asked about the Maharashtra’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking such a test.

"Can a person be convicted based on this test ?", he asked.

Nanaiah said Telgi was earlier ready to face the lie-detector test with an intention to prove his "innocence" anywhere.

But the health condition of Telgi, an HIV-positive and diabetic, is deteriorating by the day with blood and sugar counts reaching alarming levels, he said. "In this health condition, it is not desirable for him to undergo lie-detector test".

He noted that SIT will have to seek permission of Bangalore Court to subject Telgi to such a test. "When they file the application and notice is issued, we will deal with the situation", he said.

Meanwhile, the second fast track Court here hearing the fake stamp paper cases against the accused adjourned the matter to December 30. The Court is awaiting directive from High Court to transfer these cases to a special Court set up for the purpose.

Special Prosecutor B R Nanjundaiah told reporters that he expected the transfer of cases in a week or so. He said 11 charge-sheets have been filed. (PTI)

Kalam for integration of energy, water management policies

KALPAKKAM (TM), Dec 17: President A P J Abdul Kalam today mooted the idea of integrating the energy and water management policies, focusing on solar power generation, nuclear power and desalination projects, to tide over the drinking water and power crisis in the country.

Speaking after inaugurating the 14th conference of the Indian Nuclear Society (INS) and the first board of research on nuclear sciences at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) here, he said there was a need to explore the possibility of setting up desalination plants in all the future nuclear power plants in the country.

Stating that shortage of water and energy would be the critical problem in the next few decades, he said while several nations were pre-occupied with either war or finding a solution to terrorism, it was essential for India to have water and energy management schemes that unfurled the vision for the next two decades.

"Integrating desalination of sea water coupled with solar energy generation and nuclear energy plants would form the centre-stage of our planning," he added.

"We need to go in for new technologies for desalination as the country cannot afford to have costlier technologies that are being adopted in several countries in the middle east," he said.

Dr Kalam said there should be a consortium of Government agencies like the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), nuclear power corporation and BHEL for promoting desalination projects under which sea water could be converted into drinking water through the reverse osmosis system.

The private sector institutions and the State Governments concerned and the Centre could also be involved in the consortium to tackle this issue in a mission mode.

"It is imperative that the water needs of many of the states need to be addressed immediately through sea water desalination process and for this purpose international initiatives and cooperation may be considered in the energy and water sector wherever required," Dr Kalam said.

On the power mission, he said the generation capacity had to be tripled by 2020 from the existing 100,000 Mw of power to meet the future targets.

Stating that this had to be achieved through different sources like hydel capacity, nuclear power and non-conventional energy sources, primarily through solar energy, Dr Kalam said the hydel capacity generated through inter-linking of rivers was expected to contribute 34,000 Mw of power.

The President said the nuclear power plants should have a target of 50,000 Mw of power and the balance had to be generated through the conventional thermal plants.

The present nuclear power capacity of 14 reactors in the country was expected to go up from 2720 Mw to 7420 Mw by 2010 with the completion of nine reactors that were now in progress.

Dr Kalam said "as per the present plan BARC is expecting to increase the capacity to 20,000 Mw by 2020 and hence there is a need to plan right now to increase the capacity by 30,000 Mws." (UNI)

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