Karnataka reports second COVID-19 fatality; Total positive cases rises to 55
Bengaluru: A 70-year old woman, who died after being found positive for the coronavirus in an initial test, has become Karnataka's second COVID-19 fatality with results confirming the infection on Thursday as the total number of affected by the contagion in the state rose to 55, the health department said.
Results of three other people, including a 35 year-old man from Mysuru with no travel and contact history so far, returned positive on Thursday, besides that of the woman who died on Wednesday, it said.
However, the man was with quality assurance section of a pharmaceutical company in Nanjangud and had come in contact with many healthcare professionals.
"Till date 55 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed which includes 2 deaths and 3 discharges," the department in a bulletin said.
It said, as many as 50 positive patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable.
Out of the 55 case, six are transit passengers of Kerala who had landed in airports in the state.
According to the department, the 70-year old woman, a resident of Chikkaballapura district who returned from Mecca in Saudi Arabia on March 14, died on March 24 at a designated hospital here.
On Wednesday, the government had said the woman had tested positive initially but it was waiting for a final confirmatory report, which eventually came on Thursday, as the nation-wide COVID-19 toll was put at 16.
Her funeral rites were completed with all the precautionary measures as per the guidelines issued by the Centre for COVID-19 suspect deaths, it added.
Earlier this month, a 76-year old Kalaburagi man died "due to co-morbidity and was also tested positive for COVID- 19," becoming the country's first coronavirus fatality.
On the man from Mysuru, the department said he has been isolated at designated hospital in Mysuru and detailed investigation was under process.
"Seven primary contacts have been traced and are under house quarantine," it added.
On the other fresh cases, it said a 64-year old man from Anantapura in Andhra Pradesh, who returned from France on March 1, has tested positive.
Later he had travelled to Himachal Pradesh, Puttaparthi and arrived in Bengaluru on March 31, the bulletin said, adding he was being treated at a designated hospital in Bengaluru Rural District.
A 45-year old man from the city and contact of a patient who earlier tested positive has also been confirmed for the infection. The department said contact tracing has been initiated for all the cases.
Among the 55 positive, as many 35 have been reported from Bengaluru, five from Dakshina Kannada, three each from Kalaburgai, Chikkaballapura and Mysuru, two from Uttara Kannada and one each from Kodagu, Dharwad, Davangere and Udupi.
Three of them are discharged patients in the state capital while one death each has been reported in Kalaburgari and Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, an order has been issued by the Karnataka government allowing all Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to practice tele-medicine consultation with certain restrictions, keeping in view the lockdown across the state.
The government has also directed officials to take strict action under the Karnataka Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) regulations 2020 against landlords or house-owners forcing doctors, paramedical staff or healthcare personnel to vacate their houses.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who on Thursday held a videoconferencing with Deputy Commissioners of all districts regarding measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 and for the implementation of lockdown, asked them to take required stringent measures to see that people remain in home and don't come out unnecessarily.
Asking officials to strictly enforce the lock down, he told authorities to even consider arresting those who violate it.
The CM also directed officials to ensure that banks and financial institutions postpone the payment of installments of loan; and see to that all essential agricultural equipment, fertilisers and pesticides are available to farmers.
Asking officials to ensure that private clinics across the state functions, Yediyurappa said, all essential items should made available to people near their houses.
Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar has announced that 31 fever clinics will start functioning at different locations across Bengaluru and those who have returned from foreign countries in last two months and their first and secondary contacts can get their health tested here.
In the next ten days, around 25,000-30,000 people are expected to be tested in these clinics, he said.
From January 21 till date, a total of 1,25,000 people have come to Bengaluru from foreign countries and all their travel details are available with the government. Only 1,500 among them were made to undergo coronavirus test.
Now all those who traveled from foreign countries will be made to undergo tests and there by eliminate any fear in their minds, the Minister added.
In Mangaluru, the district Wenlock hospital will be turned into a dedicated facility for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said.
Another report from Mangalur said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes has granted Rs 1 crore from his MP local area development (MPLAD) fund for the efforts of Udupi district administration against the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the state Congress president demanded that both state and central governments convene a meeting of opposition leaders to discuss measures for controlling the spread of COVID-19 and managing the situation.
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Heated debate in Karnataka Legislative Council over continued ACC mining in Kalaburagi
Bengaluru (PTI): A heated exchange took place in the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday over alleged non-payment of mining dues and the "unauthorised" continuation of quarry operations by the Adani Group’s ACC Limited, with ruling Congress and the opposition BJP members questioning the government’s handling of royalty recovery and permissions.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Congress MLC K Shivakumar, speaking on behalf of his party MLC Arathi Krishna, alleged that substantial royalty dues remained unpaid even as operations continued.
Krishna wanted to know whether the Karnataka government was aware that the lease period granted to Adani Group’s ACC Ltd for mining in the Kannur Limestone Block at Wadi in Kalaburagi has expired.
“If it is true, what action has the government taken against the said company for allegedly carrying out unauthorised mining at the site without paying the total dues of Rs 850.21 crore towards royalty, rent or penalty payable to the state government?” she asked in the written question.
She claimed that despite the Law department having given a written opinion to the Mines department that the said company should not be permitted to undertake mining activities until it clears all pending dues payable to the government, no legal action has been initiated against ACC, and instead a letter has been written to the central government regarding renewal of the lease in favour of the company.
Krishna questioned the apparent disparity in enforcement between small quarry operators and large corporate entities.
“After the Adani Group took over quarrying, they had to pay Rs 837 crore as royalty. Till today, they have not paid the royalty. What prompted you to exempt them from this royalty?” asked Shivakumar, on behalf of Krishna.
“If there is any small quarry operator, if he does not pay royalty, you do not allow him... You just bring him and seize it.”
BJP MLC C T Ravi echoed similar concerns, questioning the legal and procedural basis for allowing participation in bidding and continuation of operations despite pending dues.
“Do your rules allow those with pending dues to participate? If such a provision exists, under which rule does it exist?” he asked, also seeking clarity on recommendations of the High-Level Committee, Law Department and concurrence of the Finance Department.
Responding to the allegations, Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, replying on behalf of the Mines and Geology Minister S S Mallikarjun, maintained that no fresh licence had been granted and that the matter involved both an existing mining lease and a separate new application still under process.
He said the company had applied through the bidding route and was given time to complete formalities, which had since been done.
The minister explained that the issue of dues was pending before the court, which has allowed operations to continue subject to certain conditions.
“The old licence is continuing under court direction. It has not been stopped. We are following court direction,” he said, adding that part payment had been made and the balance would be decided through legal proceedings.
Ravi, however, pressed further, arguing that court orders did not prevent recovery of dues.
“The court has not said do not recover dues. What does your legal opinion say? Why have you not recovered?” he asked.
Shivakumar also raised concerns over declining non-tax revenue from mining, citing the state’s own budget observations.
“If Rs 800 crore to Rs 900 crore is allowed to let go like this, where will non-tax revenue come from?” he asked and sought to know why the government had not fully tapped the sector’s revenue potential.
The Minister reiterated that the due itself was under dispute, making immediate recovery difficult.
“How can we recover when the amount itself is not decided? Until recovery is possible, no further permission will be given,” he said, adding that consultations with the Law Department and Advocate General would be held to explore further action.
He also cited tender conditions, stating, “As per the tender notification dated October 5, 2020, a company must have paid all past dues to be considered a successful bidder.”
Unconvinced, Ravi demanded that the recovery of dues should follow.
