Govt hasn’t taken any decision on handing over Mangaluru Airport to Adani, claims union minister

April 16, 2019

Mangaluru, Apr 16: In a bizarre claim, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has said that the government has yet taken no decision on privatising Mangaluru International Airport.

He was responding to queries of media persons at a press conference in in the city. “There is no decision taken on that subject,” he said.

However, recent reports had suggested that model code of conduct imposed after the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls had put on hold the handing over of the six airports including Mangaluru to Adani.

Reports also suggested that the decision to defer handing over the six airports, at present run by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), to Adani may have been prompted by the government’s intent to avoid a political controversy before the general elections. Such large contracts had become a subject of political controversies in the past.

“There is no need to award the projects in a hurry. It can be done in due course," a government official cited earlier.

Deferring the award of the projects till the election is over will reduce the chance of controversy, considering that all the six projects were won by a bidder who has little experience in managing airports. An email sent to the company seeking comments about the award of the projects remained unanswered till publishing of this story.

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April 15,2020

New Delhi, Apr 15: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the government to organise flights to bring back Indian workers stuck in the Middle East and desperate to return.

He said the workers are in deep distress there due to shutting of businesses in the Middle East due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Covid19 crisis and shutting of businesses in the Middle East have left thousands of Indian workers in deep distress and desperate to return home.

"The Government must organise flights to bring home our brothers and sisters most in need of assistance, with quarantine plans in place," he said on Twitter.

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April 18,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 18: The Karnataka government has fixed the cost of test for COVID-19 in private laboratories at Rs 2,250, an official said on Friday.

"Based on the discussions and negotiations, the cost per test has been fixed at Rs 2,250. This includes the screening test and a confirmatory test," said order by Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar.

A total of 16 laboratories (11 government and 5 private) have been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for testing samples of possible COVID-19 cases in the state.

Realising that early detection of coronavirus cases and timely treatment was the need of the hour, meetings were held to rope in more private laboratories to conduct COVID-19 sample tests.

As per the protocol by the Centre, testing the samples of suspected COVID-19 cases can be taken up in private laboratories subject to conditions which include sharing the lab data pertaining to the diagnosis of COV1D-19 with the state government and with the ICMR on a timely basis.

As per the Union Health Ministry, 353 people have infected from coronavirus in the state of which 83 are cured and discharged and 13 succumbed to the virus.

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April 22,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 22: In order to infuse confidence among people to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Karnataka government on Wednesday launched a helpline 'Apthamitra' with an exclusive toll free number and a mobile app, aimed at providing required medical advice and guidance for those in need.

The help line and app was launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in the presence of senior Ministers and officials of the department.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yediyurappa said that the help line was need at this crucial juncture. “If anyone has symptoms of Coronavirus, they can call the helpline from their home, get medical advice or assistance and get their doubts cleared. 

People who call to know the symptoms, an expert team of doctors will advice on what to do next.”

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