Anti-dengue operations have been intensified in Tirunelveli district even as the death toll mounted to 29. The outbreak of dengue, whose impact is seen in other southern districts, has put public health officials on their toes.

Director of Public Health R.T. Porkaipandian is in Tirunelveli with a team of officials to supervise the operations. In neighbouring Tuticorin district, four cases were under treatment at Tuticorin Medical College Hospital.

While hospitals and medical colleges in West Bengal are grappling with frequent cases of infant deaths, the State Health department has issued a directive to all State-run hospitals to conduct an in-house inquiry in the event of three or more infant deaths on a single day.

Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya told The Hindu on Wednesday that the directive was issued to make sure that there was no negligence by hospital authorities in providing treatment to newborns.

Plans are afoot to increase the production of inland fish in the State to three lakh tonnes a year.

Presently, of the total 5.97 lakh tonnes of fish production in Tamil Nadu, inland fish production is only 1.72 lakh tonnes and marine fisheries is 4.25 lakh tonnes. To make available more fish seeds and advanced fingerlings from 7 cm to 10 cm stage, the capacity of fish hatcheries and fish-rearing centres across the State is being enhanced and additional infrastructure created. Catla, Rohu, Mrigal varieties of Indian major carp (kendai meen) and common carp are bred and reared at these centres.

Major power producers in the private and public sector, including Tata Power, NTPC, Torrent Power and Mahagenco, have opposed the proposal floated by the Association of Power Producers (APP) to pool domestic gas with RLNG (regasified liquefied natural gas). They have opposed the move on the ground that this would lead to higher tariffs.

In its submission to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on the gas pooling issue, Tata Power said that its Trombay power station was allocated 1.5 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) when ONGC flaring first started.

Calling the Rs.7.50 increase per litre in petrol price shocking, Delhiites on Wednesday expressed their outrage at the Central Government's “inconsiderate” move.

“The Government has clearly not taken into consideration the already sky-rocketing cost of living. Rising fuel costs and the lack of adequate, safe public transport system adds to the problems of the common man. The worst hit are two-wheeler users,” said Jatin Gandhi from Janakpuri who uses his bike to come to Connaught Place and works as a marketing executive.

Rates of diesel, LPG and kerosene left untouched

The UPA-II, celebrating three years in office, gave the “common man” a gift on Wednesday: the steepest- ever increase of Rs. 7.54 in petrol prices. The increase is the first in the past six months. Petrol price in Delhi was increased by Rs. 7.54 a litre to Rs. 73.18 with effect from midnight Wednesday, the state-owned oil marketing companies said in separate, but identical, statements.

Changes in traffic flow at Chirag Dilli, Siri Fort intersections

The flow of traffic between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand along the Capital's much talked about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor will revert to the original lane system from Wednesday. The Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS), which operates the corridor, said on Tuesday that following the end of the trial runs by Central Road Research Institute on the instructions of the Delhi High Court, the corridor was handed back to it on Saturday.

Six automated parking facilities based on public-private partnerships planned in various parts of South Delhi are yet to see the light of day. Work has not started on the facilities in Greater Kailash-1, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, South Extension – I and II, Kamla Nagar and Rani Bagh despite tenders for some of these facilities being called as early as 2007.

A District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) has been constituted in Gurgaon to formulate, manage and monitor drinking water and sanitation projects.

The mission, headed by the Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner, will also scrutinise and approve drinking water and sanitation projects submitted by the gram panchayats and forward them to State-level committees if required.

The Central government has sanctioned Rs. 588 crore as drought relief for Maharashtra, which is reeling under the crisis, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam announced on Tuesday.

The State whose 15 districts have been declared drought-affected, had appealed to the Centre for relief recently. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and representatives of all parties had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with a proposal for Rs. 2,700 crore.