Concerned about India’s fight with COVID, Kuwait resolves to send oxygen cylinders
Kuwait: According to an Arab Times report, the Kuwaiti Cabinet has resolved to send oxygen supplies and relief items to India during its weekly meeting held on Monday, in line with the framework of the distinguished friendship ties between Kuwait and India. The resolution comes in the background of India’s current fight with COVID-19, which has led to a growing number of deaths and infections in the country.
The Cabinet expressed profound concern and lamented about the worsening health situation in India due to the spread of the mutated strain of the coronavirus that has resulted in rising deaths and infections due to scarcity of oxygen in medical settings.
Discussing the political affairs in light of the report involving the latest developments on the political arena on both Arab and international levels, the concerned Cabinet followed up on the acts of violence against the Palestinian people in Al-Aqsa Mosque committed by radical Jewish groups since the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. The Ministers condemned these provocative attacks, hatred, and racism which have reportedly resulted in the injury of many Palestinian civilians.
In this regard, the Cabinet called on the international community to take genuine measures to safeguard the Palestinian civilians, prevent violation of their rights and put an end to Israeli transgression committed by the racist colonizers who target the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of the city of Jerusalem. Additionally, the Cabinet also pressed for measures that would create the right atmospheres to achieve peace and tolerance in this holy month.
Expressing heartfelt condolences to Iraqi President Barham Salih and the Iraqi government and families of victims of the fire incident, the Cabinet voiced its confidence in the Iraqi government to overcome the tragedy that occurred in the hospital in Baghdad.
The Cabinet also congratulated President Patrice Talon of Benin on being re-elected as leader of the country for a new presidential term and wished him success. It praised the amicable relations between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Benin and affirmed their common goal to strengthen each other in various fields
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Bombay HC to form high-powered committee on Mumbai air pollution
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it would form a high-powered committee to oversee the compliance of measures to tackle air pollution in the Mumbai region, noting that the efforts taken so far by state and civic authorities are insufficient.
It was not criticizing anyone but wanted to ensure that "people should live in pure air," said a division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar.
The HC had in October 2023 taken suo motu cognizance of the rising pollution in the metropolis "which was ranging between good, satisfactory, moderate poor, very poor and severe", the bench noted.
Directions were issued by the court on November 6, 2023, and suggestions were made for short-term, mid-term and long-term measures.
Since then, the HC has made observations expressing dissatisfaction about the steps taken by the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai civic bodies, the judges said.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is simply "sailing on its affidavits," but the steps purportedly taken by it were not sufficient, the court stated.
Air pollution in Mumbai has not decreased, in fact it was reported to be very severe in December, said the judges.
"We have apprised ourselves of the previous orders, and find that compliances so far made by (municipal) corporations and MPCB are not sufficient and satisfactory," the court said.
The authorities might have taken serious steps but their results were not visible, it added.
The court expressed inability to examine all the affidavits filed by the municipal corporations and MPCB and reports submitted by an expert committee (formed in 2023), citing the "rising number of dockets and limited hours and time."
After hearing all the parties at length, the high court decided to form a high-powered committee led by a former Supreme Court judge to monitor the compliance of measures to tackle air pollution in Mumbai and the surrounding areas.
The committee should meet on a daily basis, the court said, adding that its members should be provided necessary facilities.
The bench also referred to a suggestion that the citizens affected by pollution should be compensated.
The lawyer for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation said there are existing statutory bodies to look into this aspect.
"Maybe there are statutory bodies formed in Maharashtra, but then we have not come across any suggestion or action taken by such a body in the present proceedings..." the court said, adding that it was inclined to give "some powers" to the committee.
The court is expected to finalize the names of the committee members in its written order.
