Mar 11: Karnataka reports 783 infections, two fatalities
Bengaluru, Mar 11: The uptrend in fresh COVID-19 cases in Karnataka continued with the 783 more testing positive on Thursday, taking the infection count to 9,51,600 as the active cases rose by over 2,000 since this month beginning.
Two more deaths took the COVID-19 toll to 12,336, the health department said.
According to a bulletin, 9,37,353 people have been discharged cumulatively so far including 406 on Thursday.
The total positive cases
There were 7,831 active cases in the state which includes 110 in the intensive care units, the department added.
Active cases stood at 5,824 on March 1 and has been climbing steadily since then.
Maximum cases of the day in the state was contributed by Bengaluru urban district, which reported 492 infections whereas both the deaths happened in the city while rest of the districts reported zero coronavirus related deaths.
Cumulatively, the city has reported 4,09,655 infections, 4,514 deaths, 3,99,315 discharges, including 191 on Thursday, and 5,825 active cases.
There was zero infection and zero fatality in Haveri whereas, one infection and zero fatality was reported in Kolar, Koppal and Ramanagar.
A total of 73,101 tests were done on Thursday with 68,466 of them using the RT-PCR method, taking the total tests done so far to 1.96 crore, the department added.
On Thursday, 9,344 people were vaccinated including the first dose to 7,388 general public.
There were no instance of adverse event following immunization (AEFIs), the department added.
Today's Media Bulletin 11/03/2021
— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) March 11, 2021
Please click on the link below to view bulletin.https://t.co/XaTUIAQpdh @PMOIndia @narendramodi @CMofKarnataka @BSYBJP @MoHFW_INDIA @drharshvardhan @mla_sudhakar @Comm_dhfwka @MDNHM_Kar @CovidIndiaSeva @KarnatakaVarthe @PIBBengaluru pic.twitter.com/tjXr98gjuX
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No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
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Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
