Secy to seek funds in addition to . 67700cr already received this fiscal year. The fertiliser ministry may seek more funds from the finance ministry to meet its subsidy obligations as it needs more than the allocated amount to take care of the rising subsidy bill, a top official said. “We have already received . 17,700 crore in addition to the budgetary allocation of around . 50,000 crore. But we still need more funds, and the amount will be finalised in consultation with the finance ministry,” said fertiliser secretary Ajay Bhattacharya.

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.

Absence of preventive measures and affordable and accessible health care leads to nearly 500 encephalitis deaths in Uttar Pradesh.
IT is a strange paradox. In a country that aspires to be a superpower and boasts of rapid economic growth, 488 children died in a State, Uttar Pradesh, from encephalitis alone this year. It is nothing less than a national shame and tragedy. In six districts of Bihar, close to 200 children died this year. These are deaths that occurred in hospitals and hence were reported; the actual toll could be far higher.

Closure of the Western Gandak Canal by the Bihar Government for structural repairs and maintenance work has given jitters to the Mayawati government in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Apparently, poll-bound UP does not want to earn the wrath of farmers in its eastern districts - Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj and Kusinagar - that are dependent on this canal system for irrigation.

In another sop for election-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Water Resources yesterday included two irrigation projects of the state in the scheme of national projects. The projects are “Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana” and “Restoring capacity of Sharda Sahayak Project”. These projects would thus be eligible for 90 per cent funding from the Centre. The Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana has been under execution by the UP government since 1977, but could not be completed owing to lack of funds.

Union Environment Ministry has asked the state government to take strict action against those industrial units that are polluting river Aami in Gorakhpur making groundwater in adjoining areas unfit for drinking purposes.

New Delhi: The UPA government launched another salvo at BSP supremo Mayawati with the Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan writing to the Uttar Pradesh CM pointing out that industries were polluting select rivers in the state leading to contamination of groundwater in some regions.

Citing the latest findings of Central Pollution Control Board on deteriorating conditions of Aami river in Gorakhpur district, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, seeking “stringent action” against the defaulting industries, and has offered central assistance for taking up conservation projects. Natarajan was expected to personally visit the areas affected by the river pollution, but could not leave Delhi due to the weather, sources said.

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.