Dhenkanal: After mangoes, the demand for Dhenkanal’s green papaya is growing internationally.

The fruit’s unique taste and health benefits have sparked interest among consumers abroad. A total of one tonne of green papaya, cultivated by 14 women farmers from the Saptasajya Agro Producer Company under the Sadar block of Dhenkanal district, was exported to London last week.

Similarly, green papaya harvested from the Ghatipiri area of the Odapada block was shipped to Dublin in Ireland, through the Madan Mohan Cooperative Society.

This marks the first time that green papaya from Dhenkanal has been exported outside India. Most of these women farmers belong to tribal communities.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export process, aiming to provide significant economic benefits to local farmers. Previously, mangoes grown in Dhenkanal had been exported to Dubai. With the rising demand for fruits like green papaya and mangoes grown in the region, there is a crucial need for cold storage facilities.

Meanwhile, farmers have urged authorities to operationalise the abandoned mango hub and the fruit and vegetable preservation centre located along the national highway in Gobindpur under Sadar block.

Dhenkanal Deputy Director of Horticulture Gitashree Padhi stated that green papaya from the district has been exported to London and Ireland for the first time through Saptasajya Agro Producer Company and the Madan Mohan Cooperative Society, with support from APEDA.

She emphasised that such initiatives would encourage farmers and strengthen their economic standing.

PNN

Keonjhar: The demand for ‘Giliriphula,’ a vibrant forest flower used in traditional delicacies, is rising in Keonjhar due to its unique taste and natural availability.

Collected from forests, these flowers are sold by tribal communities in local markets and are also popular among tourists.

The trade provides a vital livelihood to tribal families, but middlemen reportedly earn higher profits by selling them outside the district at inflated prices.

In urban areas, the flowers are sold for R 10- Rs20 per cone, while in other districts, traders make two to three times more.

“We collect these flowers from the forest and sell them in markets. Demand is growing, especially in cities, but our earnings are limited due to transportation and other expenses,” said Sunita Naik of Banspal, who earns Rs100 to Rs200 daily.

‘Giliriphula’ is widely used in local cuisine, increasing its demand both in Keonjhar and beyond. Some traders have begun exporting them for higher profits.

Also Read: City Apollo Hospital felicitates women

Besides flowers, tribal communities rely on forest products like fruits, nuts, roots, and medicinal plants for sustenance. They also practice ‘podu’ (shifting) cultivation during the monsoon.

Once considered a “poor man’s food,” forest produce is now highly valued in urban markets. However, deforestation and mining activities are threatening the availability of these resources. Experts urge the government to safeguard tribal livelihoods and conserve the region’s rich biodiversity.

PNN

Mumbai: Global gold demand grew 18 per cent annually to touch 4,741 tonnes in 2022, the highest since 2011, mainly driven by strong quarter four (October-December) demand and hefty central bank-buying, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report Tuesday.

The total demand during 2021 was 4,012.8 tonnes, according to WGC’s annual ‘Gold Demand Trends’ report.

Annual central bank demand more than doubled to 1,136 tonnes in 2022, up from 450 tonnes in the previous year and to a new 55-year high.

Purchases in the fourth quarter last year alone reached 417 tonnes, bringing the total for the second half of 2022 to more than 800 tonnes, the report stated.

Investment demand (excluding over the counter) in 2022 was up 10 per cent against the previous year, mainly due to a notable slowdown in exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows and strong gold bar and coin demand.

Gold bars and coins continued to hold favour with investors in several countries, which helped to offset weakness in China.

Total European gold bar and coin investment for 2022 was over 300 tonnes, aided by persistently robust demand in Germany, there was also significant growth in the Middle East, where annual demand increased by 42 per cent year-on-year.

“Last year we saw the highest level of annual gold demand in over a decade, driven in part by colossal central bank demand for the safe haven asset. Gold’s diverse demand drivers played a balancing act as rising interest rates prompted some tactical ETF outflows, while elevated inflation spurred on gold bar and coin investment. In the end, overall investment demand was up 10 per cent on the previous year,” WGC Senior Markets Analyst Louise Street said.

Jewellery demand softened slightly in 2022, down 3 per cent at 2,086 tonnes, largely driven by the marked drop in Chinese annual jewellery demand, down 15 per cent, as consumer activity was curtailed by ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns for most of the year.

The gold price rally in the fourth quarter also contributed to the annual decline in jewellery demand.

Meanwhile, the report stated that the total annual supply in 2022 was up by 2 per cent at 4,755 tonnes and remained above the pre-pandemic levels.

In fact, the mine production increased to 3,612 tonnes — a four-year high.

Street further said that in 2023, economic forecasts are pointing to a challenging environment and a likely global recession which could lead to a role reversal in gold investment trends.

If inflation comes down, this could be a headwind for gold bar and coin investment, she said, adding that conversely, continued weakening of the US dollar and the moderating pace of interest rate hikes could have positive implications for gold-backed ETF demand.

“We will likely see jewellery consumption remain resilient, bolstered by a release of pent-up demand as China re-opens, but possibly dragged down by the squeeze on consumer spending if there is a more severe downturn. While there are several possible outcomes, gold has a precedent for performing well in turbulent economic times, highlighting its value as a long-term, strategic asset,” Street added.

PTI

Kendrapara/Pattamundai: Hundreds of local denizens Monday voiced their prolonged demand for Gobari river water treatment plant (WTP) and drainage system here in the town.

The two proposals were previously sent by state Urban Development department for approval that suffered red tape. Restoration of existing drainage system badly needs attention of the civic authorities.

If the files will not be cleared before the rainy season and the project be completed on time, several places in the town might get submerged in water and keep the residents waterlogged, locals said.

A master plan was jointly prepared in this regard by Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) and TTI Consulting Engineers (India) Pvt Limited in 2017. It was then proposed to set up a WTP at Indupur village under Kendrapara tehsil limits. A detailed project report (DPR) was jointly prepared by Urban Development and Drainage departments with an estimated cost of about Rs 19 crore 47 lakh, which has made no progress so far, the local residents alleged.

Also read: Odisha registers NINE new Covid-19 cases

Earlier, the erstwhile civic body had attempted for the first drainage system and water treatment plant. As per the proposal, it was decided that rainwater would not be released into either Gobari river or existing canals and rather be carried to outside the town through a special drain and treated in WTP, former councillor Hiranya Panda said.

In turn, the purified water was decided to be released into Gobari river and the irrigation canals passing through the town, thereby keeping the river and canals free from getting polluted, Panda expressed.

“Service drains in the town usually overflow with even low rainfall. As a result, garbage and municipal wastes get dumped on roads. This is a perennial problem that we have been facing for past several years. Necessary steps should be taken by the civic body well ahead of the rainy season,” resident of Fakirabad locality Mir Abu Obeda said.

Echoing the same view, a social activist from ward No-21 named Umesh Chandra Padhi said, “Many parts of ward No-21 including No-12 and No-13 get waterlogged during rainy season. Gobari river and municipal drains are now under encoachment. It is high time that the civic body should curb encroachment and stop giving permission for construction of houses on Gobari river and irrigation canals.”

On being contacted, Kendrapara Municipality chairperson Sarita Sahu said, “We had recently held a meeting and reviewed the prevalent drainage problems. The process to develop existing drainage system and provided the residents a healthy atmosphere has already begun. Efforts are on to construct a WTP to purify Gobari river water.”

With mercury on the rise and farmlands gradually becoming dry, many farmers under Pattamundai municipal limits demanded for release of water from the main irrigation canal here to save their crops.

A good number of local farmers from Kasanaanta, Talaba-Lamipada, Balipada, Nandini Nagar, Siddha Patana, Tanupur, Bachhara, Mandapada, Kakudipalli, Nuagaon, Balipatana, Sandhapalli, Nimapur, Alabha, Srirampur, Palapatana, Kadamba Dandi, Damarpur, Balabhadrapur, Athara Batia, Chhedara, Gunupur, Haladharpur, Similia, Dihapada, Ainipada, Badapada, Badamohanpur, Dihudipur, Ambera and Khadianta have cultivated vegetables this season.

Pattamundai main canal and its branch canals have become dry since last rainy season. Hence, release of water into the main canal is barely essential to save the crops, the vegetable farmers rued.

PNN

Bhubaneswar: Members of Odisha Drivers’ Association have staged a protest Monday at Master Canteen square demanding fulfillment of an 11-point charter of their demands including security and insurance cover for death due to accident, an office-bearer informed.

“Our association had organised a massive rally in the state capital a few months ago and submitted a memorandum to the government for immediate fulfillment of our demands, but to no avail. We will intensify our agitation if the demands are not met,” the office-bearer said.

“Drivers from as many as 314 blocks in 30 districts of Odisha joined the protest Monday. We will continue our agitation more aggressively until our 11-point charter of demands is fulfilled,” a protestor said.

Also read: Man arrested for theft dies, family alleges custodial death

“State government has been misleading us by making false promises. We provide uninterrupted service in the state. No one seems to be concerned about our demands. We are not asking a place on the Moon; rather, our demands are genuine,” the protestor rued.

On the other hand, vehicular movement was partly disrupted for quite a couple of hours in the capital city due to the massive rally.

PNN

Balasore: Hundreds of locals Saturday demanded the development and beautification of the historic Raibania fort in Balasore district. Despite being a place of much interest for historians, researchers, scholars and tourists as well, the 1000-year-old fort has been suffering neglect, they alleged.

“The 1,000-year-old Raibania fort located under Jaleswar tehsil in the district will be renovated soon. Odisha government has sanctioned funds for repair of the South Gate of the ancient edifice to give it a new look,” state Culture and Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi had said earlier during his visit to the site in July 2019.

However, little progress has been made so far in this regard since Panigrahi’s visit. A lot more needs to be done to develop the tourist destination, the locals rued.

Raibania fort dates back to King Virat of Matsya Kingdom, who reigned during Mahabharat Era. Initially, the fort spread over six square miles and it was a five-cornered gigantic structure, encircled by walls on which a horseman could ride easily to keep a watch on enemies.

Also read: Truck helper dies in freak road mishap

Raibania fort had played a significant role in thwarting invaders during the reign of Odia kings and helped in establishing their dominance in West Bengal. It has structural remains such as the Jayachandi shrine, Jagannath Temple, observation towers and over 50 ponds.

The fort was providing security from invasion of Moghuls, Afghans and Marathas. It was then being regarded as the largest fort of eastern India. The fort had previously three gates – the eastern one was called Singhadwar, the western Hatidwar and the southern Sunamukhidwar. The remains of only two gates can be seen now, the source added.

Goddess Kichakeswari was previously worshipped in a temple inside the fort.

As a legend goes, there was a huge meadow spreading from Raibania to Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj district. A ruler of Mayurbhanj belonging to the Bhanja Dynasty had relocated the deity from here to Khiching in the district and subsequently established the goddess there.

Raibania fort is situated about 65 kilometres away from Balasore district headquarters and 14 kilometres from Jaleswar tehsil.

Notably, Raibania fort was a centre for training of soldiers as well as the cavalry and elephantry in between 1238 and 1264 AD. Large number of war horses and elephants along with nearly five thousand soldiers were stationed in the fort. A deep water body called Gadakhai had surrounded the fort, as per historians.

PNN

Bhadrak: Hundreds of local residents Monday demanded bridges at some of the ghats and an approach road to Charbatia Bridge on Mantei River here in the district. A bridge which was constructed earlier at Charbatia ghat has no approach road, they alleged.

Lack of bridges have made it difficult to access the places of importance in Bhadrak.

“Words given by political leaders during elections are usually not kept and the politicians forget everything once the poll process is over. Charbatia bridge was constructed at a cost of crores of rupees, but it has remained unusable sans an approach road. At some places, residents use ropes to cross Mantei river,” many villagers stated.

Also read: Minimum temperature to rise by 3°C to 5°C: IMD

Such precarious situations are experienced everyday by people in Basudevpur and Chandbali Assembly constituencies of Bhadrak district. Charbatia ghat connects Tihidi, Chandbali and Basudevpur blocks in the district. Besides, Choudhury ghat connecting Dhamra-Chandbali and Matiasahi ghat connecting Basudevpur-Tihidi also do not have bridges. People depend on ferries round the year to cross Mantei river. Development has eluded the residents, they added.

Similarly, villagers also cross Baitarani, Brahmani and Mantei rivers amid fear of crocodiles. Panchutikiri ghat is crucial for residents of Chandbali block. A bridge at Tinitara ghat would facilitate road connectivity between Chandbali-Aradi-Kendrapara, the locals said.

Notably, this has become a main issue for partisan and non-partisan candidates ahead of the three-tier rural polls. On the other hand, local voters resented that the ruling party has not kept its words, so far.

PNN

Kendrapara: Hundreds of residents Wednesday morning demanded Vigilance enquiry into the Mantei Bridge collapse Tuesday noon that was being built at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore under Biju Setu Yojana (BSY) at a place on Asrunkhala canal of Antei panchayat under Marshaghai block in Kendrapara district.

“The ambitious project being built at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore could not sustain a few days due to low-quality of work,” irate locals alleged while ventilating their resentments.

Roof of the first span in the four-spanned under-construction bridge was casted recently. Centering made on Spanner No-2 of the bridge went down and caved in to the canal leading to the collapse.

Luckily, the workers engaged in the construction work had a close shave. The incident has exposed the inefficiency of the department officials, locals further added.

Also read: Odisha registers 8,778 new Covid-19 cases; 792 below 18 years

Besides, the mishap has triggered public outrage. Locals had earlier brought the issue to the knowledge of departmental officials in writing that low quality of cements and iron rods were being used in the construction work and not being supervised properly.

However, no improvement was brought in the work, they added.

Villagers namely Rabindra Kumar Mohapatra, Ashok Kumar Rout, Kamalakanta Sutar including many others said, “Foundation stone for the bridge was laid December 12, 2016. Due to neglect of the department officials, the construction work could proceed a little. After local residents demanded for an early execution of the work, it was taken up later. After completion, Mantei bridge would have directly connected Balighai, Nuapada, Manikapur and Batira villages in the region, thereby facilitating better road communication.”

On being contacted, Kendrapara District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Executive Engineer Ajit Kumar Sahu said, “We had taken all possible precautions in the construction work. However, we are probing into the collapse incident to find out fault, if any.”

The Mantei bridge construction work will resume soon, Sahu stated.

Worth mentioning, Mantei Bridge was targeted to benefit over 30,000 people in the area.

PNN

Aska: The marital discord between Tapaswini Dash aka Dimple and Dr Sumit Sahu took a new turn Sunday evening after a video of her demanding Rs 8 lakh from the latter went viral Sunday evening.

Sumit has released the video that has now gone viral. In the video, Dimple who has been struggling for a pinch of vermilion, can be seen demanding Rs 8 lakh from Sahu. However, Tapaswini said her father had given Rs 8 lakh to Sumit for pursuing his medical studies prior to their marriage.

“I will furnish all facts directly before the SJDM court and hopefully get justice,” she added.

Reacting to the video Sumit said, “My mental and physical state has completely shattered. We have not taken a single rupee from them. Tapaswini has been lying. I have proof that she was talking to another boy. She has been trying to defame my family.”

Meanwhile, making things murkier, one more audio of Sumit talking to another woman has also gone viral on social media Monday.

Also read: Cold Wave grips entire Odisha, night temperature at Daringbadi dips to 4 degree Celsius

Furthermore, Tapaswini was seen cooking her food Sunday night in open air in front of her in-law’s house at Brahma Nagar in Berhampur of Ganjam.

On the other hand, many local residents have come forward in her support. Some locals warned to break open the gate to give entry into her in-law’s house.

Meanwhile, Sumit Friday moved Ganjam District and Sessions Court against a previous order of the Berhampur SDJM. In his petition filed with the higher court, he mentioned that since two cases are pending in court, it is not feasible for the couple to stay together.

A hearing in SDJM court scheduled Friday was postponed and the next date of hearing was fixed for December 20.

Citing that Sumit has breached the lower court’s order, Tapaswini filed another petition in which she appealed the court to order for a criminal case against Sumit and allow her to stay at her in-law’s house till finalisation of the marital discord case.

She also claimed Rs 50,000 per month from Sumit towards her maintenance, in the petition with SDJM court.

PNN

Sonepur: Demanding the scalp of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged nexus with the prime accused Gobinda Sahu in teacher Mamita Meher murder case, the district unit of BJP observed 12-hour Subarnapur Bandh, starting 6.00 AM Thursday.

The saffron party also sought a CBI probe into the murder case.

According to a district level BJP spokesperson, hundreds of workers and supporters of the Opposition party staged agitations in all five blocks, two notified area councils (NACs) and a Municipality in the Subarnapur district. Earlier, 12-hour bandh was observed October 25 in Birmaharajpur subdivision of the district.

The bandh that started in the morning will continue till 6.00 PM.

Also read: Manish Anurag murder: Vigilance raids houses of dismissed constable over DA charge

“Subarnapur Bandh began at 6.00 AM and vehicular movement was not allowed. However, the emergency services like ambulance, milk, water, medicines and fire brigade were not disrupted during the bandh,” a district level leader of the party said mediapersons.

Party workers were instructed to ensure that marketplaces, roadside shops, malls and commercial establishments including government and private organisations remain close, the local leader added.

It is pertinent to mention here that, in the same line of demand, BJP observed 12-hour Nuapada Bandh Thursday. Moreover, hundreds of party workers staged a gherao at the district SP office in Boudh.

Besides, a BJP central fact-finding team led by Vanathi Srinivasan will visit Odisha Friday (October 29) and carry out a probe into the deceased lady school teacher Mamita Meher case. The team will submit its report to the party’s national president JP Nadda.

PNN

Gunupur: The bridge across Vamsadhara river at Gunupur in Rayagada district is in bad shape and its condition is worsening by the day.

This bridge is a lifeline for thousands of people commuting every day to the district headquarters and some areas in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

According to reports, former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had inaugurated the bridge May 17, 1994. Twentyseven years have passed since then.

Locals have demanded a second bridge across Vamsadhara to facilitate communication.

They alleged, “Hundreds of vehicles ply on the bridge every day. It is in precarious condition as the Works department has failed to undertake its repair and maintenance work.”

Instead of undertaking repairs, the Works department only carries out colouring of bridge’s guard walls and repairs blacktopping every year.

There are big craters on the bridge, while iron rods are protruding out, posing life threat to commuters. Whenever heavy vehicles pass on the bridge, it vibrates vigorously, triggering apprehension regarding a possible disaster, they added.

In 2007, Gumuda bridge was washed away by floodwater. For 12 years, people of Rayagada and Ganjam could not commute on that route and instead they took a detour of 30 km, locals pointed out.

Before there is a disaster, the Works department should do something to ward off communication glitches on the Vamsadhara bridge, as was seen in case of the Gumuda bridge, they said.

Moreover, with each passing day, the bridge has to bear increasing load of heavy vehicles. They observed that the government should consider building another bridge on the river.

The second bridge will ease the load of the existing bridge and help in avoiding a disaster. Raghunath Gamang, Gunupur MLA, said that he would take up the issue of the second bridge across Vamsadhara with the government.

Akshay Das, a social activist of Gunupur, said that the bride was weak. “Earlier, fewer vehicles were plying on the bridge. However, their number has gone up manifold these days,” he added.

Bijay Mishra, the junior engineer of Works department (Gunupur), said that it is an old bridge and it has been proposed that the state government start construction of a second bridge.

PNN

Jaleswar: Farmers in north Balasore have been left high and dry after back-to-back floods played havoc to kharif paddy. Affected farmers have demanded re-assessment of crop damage in the district, a report said.

According to reports, floods from Subarnarekha had left large tract of farmlands in Jaleswar, Bhograi and Baliapal blocks inundated.

The problem was the flood water remained stagnant for days together, causing paddy plants to rot. Farmers lamented that the floodwater did not drain out into the sea as water from West Bengal became a hurdle.

Repeated floods completely damaged the paddy farming in the north Balasore. Farmlands are still waterlogged. The extent of damage could be known only after floodwater recedes from these areas.

Official sources said, paddy was cultivated in 20,055 hectares of land in Jaleswar. Owing to lowpressure induced rains and floods, 3500 hectares of farmlands remained submerged under water for a long time.

Following repeated demands by the flood affected people for assessment of the crop damage, the agriculture and revenue departments had jointly carried out survey.

Assistant agriculture officer Rajlaxmi Mohanty said 941 hectares of farmland has suffered less than 33 percent damage while over 33 percent damage was recorded in 555 hectares.

According to the agriculture department, 9850 hectares of land out of a total of 15837 hectares remained submerged under floodwater for over 10 days. Paddy plants in the farmlands have been damaged.

District agriculture officer Chandra Sekhar Padhi said nonpaddy crops in 113 hectares have also suffered damage due to floods. In Baliapal, paddy farming in 200 hectares has been completely damaged.

However, many farmers in all the three blocks alleged that the survey report as submitted by the agriculture department was faulty and far from reality.

They have demanded further survey on the extent of damage to paddy farming in the flood-affected areas. If properly assessed, the extent of damage will exceed the damage shown by the department, they added.

PNN

Gunupur: Lanjia Soura, a primitive tribe, has demanded development of irrigation infrastructure and drinking water facility in Gunupur area of Rayagada district.

Most of these tribal people have been left out of the food safety net. They have submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through Gunupur sub-collector Sonal Jena.

Reports said, scores of Lanjia Saura people live in Shagada panchayat. They have been leading a miserable life in the absence of basic facilities like drinking water and irrigation.

Though their livelihood mainly hinges on collection and sale of minor forest produce, many of them have shifted to farming.

“But irrigation is essential to boost the farming prospects. As proper irrigation facility is missing, we have to face droughts and are unable to do farming in right manner,” they pointed out in the memorandum.

They said there is a need for new dykes across Rugudi creek to irrigate farmlands and ward off drought. About 40 years ago, three dykes had been built across the creek.

Then, they used to come handy for farming. The tribals raised various crops. But dykes have been in bad shape for lack of renovation. These dykes should be renovated to bolster farming.

The tribals alleged that they have no pattas of their land they have been residing in and their farmland. They said that forest dwellers have every right to get land patta of their land.

They also lamented that the government has made provision of ration cards to ensure subsidized food stuff for the poor, but many of them are still deprived of the benefits of food security.

Safe drinking water has not been provided to them in some villages too.

The Shagada Panchayat Unnayan Parishad, a local outfit fighting for the cause of tribals, observed that the government is urged to pay heed to the plight of the primitive tribe and sort out their basic issues.

It is said that Lanjia Saura Development Agency (LSDA) is exclusively working for welfare and development of these tribals. Lakhs of rupees are being spent, but basic problems of the tribe have not been resolved till date.

PNN

New Delhi: Gold prices fell by Rs 50 to Rs 47,375 per 10 grams in the futures trade Tuesday, as speculators reduced their positions amid low demand.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold contracts for October traded lower by Rs 50, or 0.11 per cent, to Rs 47,375 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 10,165 lots.

Analysts attributed the fall in gold prices to the trimming of positions by participants.

Globally, gold traded 0.97 per cent lower to USD 1,815.90 an ounce in New York.

PTI 

New Delhi: As the pandemic-hit Indian travel industry hopes for a quick recovery, Google Monday launched a new website that provides demand trends from search data to sector participants.

Called ‘Travel Insights with Google’, the new website will help better understand pent-up travel demand and leverage insights from these tools for businesses to position themselves for recovery, the company said.

“The pandemic has had a direct, immediate and continuing impact on the travel industry. But it is also one of the industries that has been at the forefront of digitisation,” Roma Datta Chobey, Director – Travel, Google India, said in a statement.

“Our Travel Insights with Google tool recognises that, and amidst this volatility, provides players real-time, actionable analysis of travel intention and sentiment, domestically and from overseas, for better and more agile decision making.”

Based on user search data, the Travel Insights with Google tool can point to two kinds of time-specific trends — Destination Insights and Hotel Insights.

The Destination Insights tool will give a clear picture of the top sources of demand for a destination, and the destinations within countries that travellers are most interested in visiting — helping the industry map out a possible resumption of travel on specific routes and make choices about where to communicate with potential future travellers.

Hotel Insights is designed to help properties of all sizes, especially small and independent hotels, understand where travel demand for their geography may be coming from, and get tools, advice and tips for making their businesses stand out online.

For instance, in the month of November, growth in search interest for domestic travel to cities such as Shirdi, Chandigarh, and Bagdogra was strong.

In this same period, travellers in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Gujarat top the searches for accommodation options.

The tool also provides granular insights into travel demand for single geographies split by air travel demand and demand for accommodation.

During the same period, the tool shows that the top demand for outbound travel from India by air came for Male, Bangkok and Dubai, while the top growing cities by search interest were Male, Genoa and Boston.

In addition, the website also hosts the Travel Analytics Center.

Available to Google’s commercial partners in the travel sector, this will enable these organisations to combine their own Google account data with broader Google demand data and insights to give a clearer picture of how to manage their operations and find opportunities to reach potential visitors.

IANS

New Delhi:  As India’s economic growth begins to pick up, the country is going to need perhaps ‘a little bit of stimulus’ on the demand side, noted economist and former Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya said Saturday.

Panagariya also said that imposing import licensing will be a violation of WTO norms that India has signed.

“Down the road, as the economy is continuing to open up, if we see that inventories are accumulating rapidly then that would be a clear sign that there is a demand deficiency problem. At that point, I think stimulus would be very useful,” he said at CII’s India@75 virtual event.

Panagariya pointed out that even with the current level of intervention, India is staring at debt-to-GDP ratio rising from 72 per cent to about 85 per cent at least by the end of the current year.

“And we are going to need perhaps a little bit of stimulus on the demand side as the economy begins to pick up,” the eminent economist said.

The government in May announced nearly Rs 21 lakh crore stimulus package to help the nation tide over the economic crisis induced by the coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns.

Panagariya, a professor of economics at Columbia University, said the country’s  economy was in stress even before COVID-19 hit it. India’s economy grew at 4.2 per cent in 2019-20.

He opined that a large fiscal stimulus in India would not have produced result as it has not given results in the US or Europe.

“Large stimulus could help if the supply curve is positively sloped,” he argued.

Talking about the government’s  ‘Aatmanirbhar’ programme, Panagariya said Aatmanirbharata (self-reliance) does not require that you got to produce everything that you consume.

“Import substitution is not a good idea.. What worried me actually, is turn in the policies that has happened three years ago and trend has not reversed itself,” he said.

Panagariya noted that he does not think that the talk of ‘Aatmanirbharata’ accelerated the process of import substitution policies.

“I don’t think since the talk of  Aatmanirbharata, this has accelerated…I have heard some talk about import licensing, somebody has told me that import licensing has come back, I have not seen any reports of actual import licences having been imposed,” he said.

“Of course that (import licensing) will be complete violation of WTO norms agreement that we have ourselves signed,” he added.

Panagariya also said that he was more worried about the general trend of rising import tariffs in India.

He also noted that  India is facing a strategic challenge from China because India’s economy is much smaller than China’s.

(PTI)

Cuttack: After several persons from Behera Sahi tested positive for COVID-19, traders in Cuttack have threatened to shut the Malgodown demanding coronavirus test for Behera Sahi locals in the next three days.

Sources said that most of the locals of Behera Sahi protested after their area was declared as a containment zone, Wednesday. During the protest many people had come in contact with some coronavirus infected people.

On the other hand, most of the residents of Behera Sahi are working in Malgodown and some have their shops in it. For this the traders association threatened to keep the shutters down from Monday and will not engage any worker from the locality.

Cuttack Chamber Of Commerce General Secretary Prafulla Chhatoi said that an emergency meeting was held and all members including the rice merchants’ association and the retail dealers association have expressed concerns over the fact that several locals were seen moving outside the containment zone flouting COVID-19 norms.

Notably, after 11 residents were detected positive for the virus in the area, CMC declared the area as containment zone, Thursday.

Several residents of Behera Sahi were moving outside, not cooperating with the health teams of the CMC and are reluctant to undergo COVID-19 test.

Chhatoi said that Malgodown is a major commercial hub of Cuttack. Many people of Cuttack are depending upon it as it has the largest wholesale and retail market for several essential commodities.

Traders of seven to eight districts of Odisha supply their commodities at the market hub.

“If Behera Sahi locals will not cooperate with health officials and not conduct their COVID-19 tests then they will be forced to not allow any members of the locality to work in the godown till their complete COVID-19 test,” added Chhatoi.

PNN

Kolkata: Demanding that Cyclone Amphan be declared a “national disaster”, the opposition Congress and CPI(M) Saturday urged the visiting central team to make a proper assessment of the damage to ensure the affected people get requisite aid from the Union government.

The BJP, which has emerged as the primary opposition party in Bengal after last year’s Lok Sabha polls, however, said rather than debating the nomenclature, efforts should be made to ensure the monetary aid, which would be allotted by the Centre, reaches the beneficiaries.

A seven-member team, headed by Anuj Sharma, joint secretary (cyber and information security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited the state Friday to take stock of the cyclone-hit areas.

Left front leader in the assembly and CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty said the Union government should release a relief package at the earliest.

“We welcome the visit of the team and urge its members to take stock of the damage. We want the Centre to declare Amphan a national disaster. Whatever relief package is necessary to rebuild homes and rehabilitate people should be disbursed as soon as possible,” he said.

Taking a dig at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, Chakraborty added, “Unlike those who opposed central help when our party was in power and Aila struck, we do not want to politicise a disaster.”

Congress leader Abdul Mannan said the cyclone, if declared a national disaster, would invite more attention and help from international NGOs.

“There lies a wide gap between the CM’s description of the situation in the aftermath of the cyclone and the response to the calamity by her administration and partymen.

“We visited Sagar islands on Thursday. In fact, we were the first ones to visit the area, which have been ravaged by the calamity,” he said.

State Congress chief Somen Mitra said the central funds allotted following the careful study of the losses by the team should directly benefit the victims. Cyclone Amphan battered parts of Bengal May 20, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

The saffron party, on its part, said the money disbursed by the Union government should be deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

“We are of the view that rather than spending time in deciding the category of the disaster, it is important to ensure that houses are built, and the affected get their due,” state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.

Alleging that the monetary relief doled out by the state did not reach the victims, he said, “We have requested the central team to appoint a nodal officer to audit all construction activities in the cyclone-damaged areas and deposit money in the accounts of those affected.”

Alleging that the erstwhile Left-front government had also not utilised well the central help after Aila over 10 years ago, he said, “The same inconsistent policy is being followed in the cyclone-hit interior villages near Sunderbans, which experiences floods every year.

“No proper work was done after Cyclone Bulbul to stop erosion of embankments. Hence, we don’t want the Union government to leave everything to the state,” he added.

PTI

New Delhi: A civil rights group Monday condemned the arrest of two Jamia Millia Islamia students in connection with the Delhi riots and accused the police of “abusing” the COVID-19 lockdown to silence those who oppose government policies.

In a statement released by ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’, which has been signed by 26 civil rights activists, the group termed the arrests by Delhi Police “arbitrary”.

Meeran Haider of Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal was arrested April 2 while Safoora Zargar of the Jamia Coordination Committee was held April 11.

“This is a time when the nation needs to be focused on the health and hunger crisis across our land; when our priorities need to be to stay united to fight this virus,” the group said in the statement.

“At a time when citizens in lockdown are unable to fully exercise their democratic rights, it is the moral duty of governments to guard against any abuse of power by the state,” it added.

The statement claimed there is “open communalisation” of the pandemic and “targeting of students and activists by agencies of the state”.

“We condemn the witch-hunt by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police against activists and students who were at the forefront of the democratic upsurge against CAA/NRC/NPR,” the statement added.

Several other activists like Gul Inquilabi, many Muslim youth from northeast Delhi and students of Jamia are being called for questioning by the Special Cell every day amid this lockdown, the statement said.

“There is now an attempt to implicate them in false cases related to the Delhi violence… Now, weaving fictitious narratives about the Delhi violence, Delhi Police is abusing the COVID-19 lockdown to silence and arrest those who oppose government policies, hoping that this abuse of state power will go unreported, with neither news coverage nor democratic protest,” the statement said.

Jailing activists and students in false cases amid the pandemic puts their lives in peril and with courts functioning only partially owing to the lockdown, those arrested are being denied proper legal aid, it said.

Calling the arrests “attempts to unleash fear within the large young democratic opposition that had emerged across the country against CAA/NRC/NPR,” the statement demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of the activists.

The signatories include Yogendra Yadav, Anjali Bhardawaj, Annie Raja, Teesta Setalvad, Kavita Krishnan, Medha Patkar and Umar Khalid.

PTI

New Delhi: Hundreds of demonstrators, including students and members of civil society organisations, hit the streets Thursday protesting the recent violence at JNU and demanding resignation of the varsity vice-chancellor.

The protesters, carrying placards and banners, started a march from Mandi House towards the HRD Ministry. Slogans of ‘Halla Bol’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ rent the air as the agitating people waited for JNU students to arrive at the protest venue.

Banners with messages such as ‘No CAA, No NRC’, ‘Ban ABVP from university campuses’, ‘Reject Violence’, ‘Education is not a commodity to be bought or sold’ dotted the swelling crowd that demanded strict action against those involved in the campus violence of January 5 that left more than 35 injured.

Left Front leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat also joined the march. LJD leader Sharad Yadav was also among the protesters.

“People have started speaking up and that is what these people are not able to take. They are manufacturing stories that the protests have nothing to do with students or workers but are political,” Brinda said, referring to the ruling BJP government.

Yechury said, “For three hours, people wearing masks beat up varsity students. They entered the campus with police being present at the main gate.”

Alleging that the incident could not have happened without the vice-chancellor knowing about it, he said, “The VC has to go”.

A mob of masked men Sunday stormed the campus and targeted students in three hostels, unleashing mayhem with sticks, stones and iron rods by hitting inmates and breaking windows, furniture and personal belongings.

The JNU students union has been demanding a rollback of the hostel and mess fee hike and had boycotted the registration process for the next semester.

PTI