No Plan To Shut, Says Tirupati Temple As Priests, Staff Test Covid +ve
Courtesy: NDTV
New Delhi: People can continue to visit the famous Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, the top official of the temple's board has said amid a controversy over priests and employees getting infected with the highly contagious coronavirus. The temple's board decided to re-open it on June 11, in line with the centre's "Unlock" plans to handhold the country out of the pandemic in phases.
There are no plans to stop public darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple, said YV Subba Reddy, chairperson of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board. He said there is no evidence of pilgrims testing positive for coronavirus.
Fourteen priests were among 140 temple employees who tested positive for COVID-19, which is known to spread faster in crowded places, hence the need for social distancing, according to the authorities.
Seventy have recovered, Mr. Reddy said, adding most of those who got infected with coronavirus are from the Andhra Pradesh Police who have been working with the temple. "Only one of them is having severe symptoms," the TTD chairperson said.
"We have no plan to close Tirumala temple. Senior priests will not be put on duty. Priests and employees have requested separate accommodation," Mr. Reddy said, adding a separate facility for making food for the employees will be set up.
Coronavirus cases in India have crossed the one million-mark, recording 34,956 fresh infections and 687 deaths in the biggest one-day jump today, government data shows. It put total cases recorded since the outbreak began in the country at 1,003,832 with 25,602 deaths. Over 6.35 lakh people or 63.34 per cent of the patients have recovered
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LS passes bill to open up nuclear sector for private participation
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the nuclear energy bill with Union minister Jitendra Singh asserting that it would help India achieve its target of 100 GW atomic energy generation by 2047.
The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which seeks to open the tightly-controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation, was passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the opposition.
Singh termed the bill a "milestone legislation" that will give a new direction to the country's developmental journey.
"India's role in geopolitics is increasing. If we have to be a global player, we have to follow global benchmarks and global strategies. The world is moving towards clean energy. We too have set a target of 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047," he said.
The opposition contended that the bill diluted provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 that passed on the liability for a nuclear incident on to the suppliers of nuclear equipment.
