National Food Security Bill 2013 introduced in LS

Aug 7,  4:40 PM The Government introduced the National Food Security Bill 2013 in the Lok Sabha today. It replaces an Ordinance promulgated earlier. Moving the Bill, Minister for Food and Public Distribution Prof. K V Thomas said food is a basic right. The bill provides for food and nutritional security in human life cycle by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to enable them to lead a dignified life. Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House after introduction of the food security bill as the BJP members continued to protest against the Defence Minister’s statement on the killing of five Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj wanted the government’s response to the statement, which she said gave a clean chit to Pakistan. She demanded the presence of Mr A K Antony in the House to allay the apprehensions of the members. Responding to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said Mr Antony had already clarified about his statement in the Rajya Sabha. He also said that Army Chief General Bikram Singh will be able to give more inputs, if necessary, on the incident after he returns from Poonch. Both the Houses, which witnessed frequent adjournments on the issue of the killing of the Indian soldiers, were finally adjourned for the day at 3 PM.  RBI imposes Rs 5.6 lakh penalty on SBI for violation of norms Aug 7,  6:56 PM RBI has imposed a monetary penalty on State Bank of India for violation of currency chest norms. In a notification issued from Mumbai today, RBI has informed that a penalty of 5.62 lakh rupees is being levied in connection with the deficiencies or lapses observed in the operation and maintenance of the Currency Chest at SBI’s Secunderabad branch. Post the Cobrapost expose and related investigations, RBI had last month imposed a penalty of 3 crore rupees on SBI for violating Know Your Customer/anti-money laundering norms. UP floods: Over 550 villages inundated; Met predicts more rain in state Aug 7,  2:21 PM The state of Uttar Pradesh continues to struggle with the wrath of floods as more than five lakh population of over 550 villages continue to be inundated. Despite being on a slight decline, river Ganga is still 2.28 meters above the danger mark in Ballia and 1.37 meters above the red mark in Ghazipur. All the other major rivers including Yamuna, Sharda, Ghaghra, Gomti, Rapti, Rohin and Kunhra are reported to be in spate. Widespread rains have added to the woes of homeless flood victims who have taken refuge on the roads, schools and relief camps. The Met department predicts that heavy rainfall and thundershowers are likely to occur at several places in the next 24 hours in the state.Our correspondent reports that around three hundred villages of Ghazipur and Ballia are submerged in the flood water of Ganga and Ghaghra. Hundreds of houses have been washed away and dozens of villages are on the verge of extinction because of the raging floods in these areas. Lakhs of flood victims were enraged due to non supply of adequate relief and help by the administration. Same is the condition of Varanasi and Chandauli where life has become quite miserable because of the floods Justice Mehta refuses to take charge of Lokayukta despite SC’s clearance Aug 7,  4:25 PM In Gujarat, retired justice R A Mehta has refused to take charge of State Lokayukta of Gujarat despite the clearance from the Supreme Court. In a letter to the Governor Dr.Shrimati Kamala, Mr.Mehta expressed his inability to take the charge due to damage to his credibility and possible non-cooperation by the State Government. In his letter, Justice Mehta wrote, the highest courts in the state and in the country have upheld the appointment and repeatedly negated all contentions including that of bias against my appointment as the Lokayukta. He said that 45 crore Rs of public money is said to have been spent by the Gujarat Government in this litigation. AIR Correspondent reports despite the clearance from the Supreme Court after the long legal battle, retired justice Mehta’s decision is a big setback to the Modi government . GJMM Gorkhaland bandh enters 5th day; cripples life in Darjeeling hills Aug 7,  1:12 PM In West Bengal, indefinite shutdown continues to cripple life in the hills of Darjeeling district on the fifth day of the bandh called by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM). It has been reported that people are facing acute shortage of essential commodities. Shops, educational institutions and business establishments remained closed. Roads and streets are completely deserted in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong tehsils. GJMM supporters are staging dharna at various places in the hills. Home Secretary of West Bengal, Basudeb Banerjee, has reviewed the situation of law and order regarding the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in Darjeeling yesterday in a high-level meeting. Senior administrative and police officers also attended this meeting. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma is camping in Darjeeling to supervise the situation. 51 persons have been arrested on the charges of violation of law. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and India Reserve Battalion (IRB) have intensified patrolling at various sensitive places in the hills. Kerala rain: Several areas in Kuttanad submerged;fresh landslide in Idukki Aug 7,  2:27 PM In Kerala, several low lying areas in the Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district were submerged following the release of water from the dams due to heavy rains during the past 48 hours. Water level in Pampa, Achankoil, Manimala and Meenachal rivers have considerably increased with the release. Crop loss worth several lakhs has been reported in the region. Road traffic at several places has been affected. Water entered into nearly 5000 houses in Karthikappally Taluk in the district. The Alappuzha district authorities have already declared a holiday for all schools in the taluk. 317 relief camps have been set up in the district Meanwhile a fresh landslide has been reported from Naaliyani near Kulamavu in Idukki district this morning. No loss of life has been reported. People were already evacuated to safer places by the revenue authorities. Search operations by the rescue teams of the army and the NDRF at Cheeyappara in Idukki district has been called off. The landslide that took place on Monday at Cheeyappara had claimed three lives. Rescuers recovered a motor bike, a car and a jeep from the debris yesterday. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam has reached 134(.)7 feet as against the maximum capacity of 136 feet. Water level in the Idukki dam has touched 2393(.)5 feet, 89 per cent of its full capacity. Arunachal celebrates maiden Arunachal State Assembly Day Aug 7,  5:48 PM Arunachal Pradesh today celebrated the maiden Arunachal State Assembly Day with Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma calling for transparent and accountable governance to make Arunachal both a donor and model state having age old democratic values and systems. During the celebrations held at the Nokmey Namati Hall of the state Assembly, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki described the House as a temple of democracy that will decide the destiny of the people. Speaker Wangling Longdong informed that the celebration was being held for the first time after the State Assembly was set up 30 years back on 7th August 1975.