LUCKNOW: The energy task force (ETF) headed by chief secretary Jawed Usmani gave nod to various power upgradation projects on Monday. The ETF cleared the proposal to construct 23 33KV substations and laying of 300 km transmission lines in the state. The Rs 100 crore-plus project will help in better power transmission and distribution in the state. The substations will be constructed in districts like Gautam Budh Nagar and Bulandshahr. Likewise, a similar substation will be constructed in Govardhan area of Mathura.

After 4,000 deaths and 19,000 victims over seven years, encephalitis has made it to the election manifestoes of most parties in Uttar Pradesh in 2012. On ground zero in eastern Uttar Pradesh, however, it is still to figure in the candidates’ campaign. Voters are angry and frustrated but say they are not surprised. Some are determined not to vote at all on February 8 and 11, when the seats in these areas go to polls.

Realising that the closure of Gandak canal could jeopardise its election prospects in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Mayawati government has lodged a protest with Bihar government saying farmers were being affected because of the closure of this all-important canal of the region.
Chief Secretary Anup Kumar Mishra had held a meeting with his Bihar counterpart early this week and demanded that the canal be made operational at the earliest.

Visit of doctors from national institutions to worst-affected regions recommended

Even as New Delhi grappled with the increasing incidence of Japanese encephalitis — a disease reported for the first time — the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has recommended that Japanese encephalitis vaccination be included in the national immunisation programme and an eradication programme launched nationwide against Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has written a fresh letter to UP Chief Minister Mayawati over alleged irregularities in implementation of MNREGA in seven districts and demanded a CBI probe into it.

In a 14-page letter to Mayawati, Ramesh cited the instances of alleged irregularities and corruption in implementation of the scheme in Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Kushinagar, Mirzapur and Sant Kabir Nagar.

Criticised for not doing enough to tackle the spread of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, where hundreds of children die or are disabled every year, the Centre has now approved the setting up of dedicated wards in seven hospitals in the districts worst affected by the deadly infection.

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: The dance of death continues in the eastern districts (Purvanchal region) of Uttar Pradesh. The dreaded acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) has so far killed 199. The victims are mostly children and people below the poverty line.

This comes at a time when the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) appears to have been contained by the SA-14-14-2 vaccine imported from China.

Amita Verma
Aug. 25: Even as the nation reels under the impact of the swine flu, Japanese encephalitis (JE), the dreaded disease that strikes in Purvanchal region year after year, has already claimed nearly 200 lives in 2009.