Aligarh : Soil bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt, became famous for its connection with genetically modified crops like Bt cotton and Bt brinjal. But it has its use in agriculture beyond GM crops. A group of Indian scientists have found new strains of Bt which they say can be used to develop biopesticides in future.

Researchers from Aligarh Muslim University and New Delhi-based National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology have identified new strains of Bt from soil samples collected in Northwestern Himalayas. 

Bt is an important soil organism which produces protein crystals toxic to many insects. These proteins become active in the gut of pests under alkaline conditions and form pores in their cell lining. Subsequently, insects lose their cellular constituents, stop feeding and ultimately die. GM crops exploit these traits by incorporating such bacterial genes. However, over a period of time pests become resistant to toxic genes. Crystal proteins of Bt can be added directly to soil instead of chemical pesticides, but in this case too their prolonged use may allow pest to develop resistance. 

Therefore, scientists are on a lookout for different strains of bacteria that contain unique insecticidal genes. In their search for a novel strain of Bt, researchers focused on Northwestern Himalayas. They gathered 207 soil samples from ten different locations and cultured the bacteria in lab. The crystal proteins produced were then tested for toxicity against cotton bollworm.

Two proteins – Cry and Cyt- have the strongest insecticidal action against this moth. So, scientists checked bacterial DNA for the presence of seven different classes of Cry genes and two classes of Cyt genes. Almost two-thirds of the Bt strains tested positive for either gene. Researchers then isolated bacterial proteins and fed them to the cotton bollworm larva. Eating leaves coated with these proteins stopped larval feeding in 30% of cases. Scientists noticed that strains most successful in this endeavour expressed both Cry and Cyt genes.

Based on these results, four potential strains that can be used to develop broad range biopesticides have been identified. One that particularly stands out is Bacillus thuringiensis JK 12 which is required in the least quantity to stop larval feeding.“In future, all these four potentially toxic strains shall be tested against other lepidopteran pests and we will determine their applicability as broad-host-range biopesticides”, Showkat Ahmad Lone, the lead author of the study, told India Science Wire. 

However, Dr. Raj K Bhatnagar, Professor Emeritus at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, who is not connected with the study, pointed out that such studies fall short on characterising the gene or the protein. “In the present study, there is no comparison of toxicity with known strains,” he added.

Because these proteins are non-toxic to humans and do not affect soil productivity they offer several advantages over conventional pesticides, Dr Bhatnaghar felt.

The research team included Showkat Ahmad Lone (Aligarh Muslim University), Abdul Malik (Aligarh Muslim University) and Jasdeep Chatrath Padaria (National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology). The study has been published recently in journal Biotechnology Reports. 

Directed: Abrar Alvi/ Produced; Guru Dutt/Story: Bimal Mitra/Screenplay: Bimal Mitra and Abrar Alvi/ Cinematography: VK Murthy/ Editing: YG Chawhan/ Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni/ Music: Hemanta Mukherjee/ Playback: Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and Hemanta Mukherjee/ Art Direction: Biren Naug/ Costumes: Bhanu Athaiya/ Starring: Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman, Dhoomal, Minoo Mumtaz, Sapru, Jawahar Kaul, Nazir Hussain, Harindranath Chattopadhyay and Pratima Devi

In his short life span of 39 years, Guru Dutt wrote four films, produced seven and directed another eight. A luke warm success at the box-office, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, an adaptation of Bengali author Bimal Mitra’s tale is considered to have been directed by Guru Dutt’s protégé and best friend, screenwriter Abrar Alvi. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is still regarded as one of Guru Dutt’s and Bollywood’s most artistic films. An enduring saga of decaying feudalism with a parallel sub plot of the downward-spiral of a zamindar’s neglected wife, loaded with unforgettable performances, lilting music, Bhanu Athaiya’s costumes, Biren Naug’s Art Direction and VK Murthy’s cinematography have made this film an unforgettable gem.

The controversy about who actually helmed Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam remains alive to this day. Guru Dutt never discounted Abrar Alvi’s role in the film and it was Alvi who won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film. Abrar Alvi never denied that Guru Dutt did direct the songs in the film, but not the entire film. The film’s editor Y.G. Chawan always maintained that it was Abrar Alvi who sat with him during editing.

According to Waheeda Rehman Guru Dutt wanted bulk dates from Shashi Kapoor as Bhootnath because a huge set had been erected and he had acquired Meena Kumari’s dates. Shashi Kapoor, a rising busy star in those dayscouldn’t spare the required dates. The next choice Biswajeet whose Hindi film debut it would have been didn’t want to be tied to an exclusive contract. Guru Dutt donned the mantle himself . 

Nargis and then legendary celebrity portraiture and glamour photographer Jitendra Arya’s wife Chhaya were considered for the role of Chhoti Bahu. Waheeda Rehman wanted to play Bibi and was refused by Guru Dutt because she didn’t look mature enough. She backed down only after she did a photo-session with V.K.Murthy and Guru Dutt in Chhoti Bahu’s attire and saw the result for herself. 

However when the director on board Abrar Alvi asked Waheeda Rehman to play Jaba, Guru Dutt was livid upon her assent! This time he felt she had become a big star to take on a secondary character that was not even mentioned in the titles like Rehman, Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt himself. 

Waheeda Rehman did not share a single frame with Meena Kumari in the film and her consistent pleading to Abrar Alvi and Guru Dutt to incorporate one scene was denied citing the fact that the novel did not have such a scene. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was Waheeda Rehman’s last film with Guru Dutt an enviable collaboration which included Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool and Chaudhvi Ka Chand. 

Meena Kumari portrayal of Chhoti Bahu is perhaps one of the greatest performance ever seen on the Indian Screen. Meena Kumari to Guru Dutt’s request if she would be interested in playing the lead role of Chhoti Bahu turned it down as she had her hands full with pending commitments. Guru Dutt extremely desperate completed the entire film by 1962 leaving aside the role of Chhoti Bahu. 

Meena Kumari settled for forty-five days of non-stop shooting and a fee with 25 per cent raise , writes veteran journalist late Vinod Mehta in Meena Kumari: The Classic Biography. Meena Kumari won the Filmfare Best Actress award in 1963 for her performance as Chhoti Bahu. That year, she was the only actress up for Best Actress with two other nominations apart from Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – Aarti and Main Chup Rahungi.

Guru Dutt had also wanted SD Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi for the music and lyrics but SD Burman was unwell and Sahir declined the offer. In walked Hemant Kumar and Shakeel Badayuni on their second project after the mega hit Bees Saal Baad released earler that very year. Hemant Kumar’s baton had Geeta Dutt rendering – Koi door se awaaz de chale aao, Piya aiso jiya and Na jao saiyan for Chhoti Bahu. His melancholic background music and that behind Chhoti Bahu evoked looming tragedy. 

Geeta Dutt didn’t playback for Waheeda in this film although in Pyaasa she sang for both Mala and Waheeda. Guru Dutt had Asha Bhosle’s voice for Waheeda and Geeta sang for Meena Kumari. Amazingly Waheeda Rehman was was not happy with the rushes of the song Bhanwara bada naadan hai and had Guru Dutt reshot the song, it was only this ditty from the film which went up to number thirteen on the annual list of Binaca Geetmala in 1962.

A rebel like Guru Dutt could not ignore irate reactions of the audience to the original last scene which showed Chhoti Bahu resting her head in Bhootnath’s lap as they travel in a carriage. The scene was reshot to show a conversation between the two characters. Alvi and Guru Dutt removed the song Sahil ki Taraf and replaced it with dialogue exchange between Chhoti Bahu and Bhoothnath in the doomed carriage. An additional scene with paralyzed Rehman repenting his debauchery was also shot but never used. Hemant Kumar went on to recycle the tune for Sahil ki Taraf for the song Ya dil ki suno from Anupama (1966).

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam went on to win Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Director, Actress and Photography. Hemant Kumar against all odds lost Filmfare for Best Music to Shankar-Jaikishen for Professor (1962). The film won the President’s Silver Medal and the ‘Film of the Year’ Award from the Bengal Film Journalist Association and was screened at the Berlin Film Festival in June 1963 and was India’s fourth official entry to the Oscars that year and was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

The depiction of old age zamindari finally collapsing under the weight of British colonialism and the opulent and decadent lifestyle of the havelis form the majestic backdrop against which the most interesting aspect of the film is presented to the viewers, the ambiguity that shrouds the relationship between Chhoti Bahu and Bhoothnath is mesmerising. The moot question hammering at the back of minds and which keeps us riveted to the screen is whether the Ghulam physically desires Chhoti Bahu and whether she considers him more than an attendant? 

The chemistry between the Bibi and Ghulam is so crackling that you forget that Meena Kumari appears on screen after nearly 45 minutes of the film is over and that Guru Dutt and Meena Kumari had only eight scenes together! This is the celluloid magic of Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam from which even younger masters like Anurag Kashyap and Tigmanshu Dhulia have drawn from!

(The writer is a Filmy Buff)

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh witnessed an all time high of more than 74 per cent in the single phase polling on Thursday. It is indicative of either a strong anti- incumbency against chief minister Virbhadra Singh or that the 83-year-old Congress war horse is not giving up electoral politics without putting up a stiff last fight. 
Having been the chief minister for no less than six terms, he appears to have managed the campaign well despite the Congress organisation being in disarray as evidenced in other parts of the country. 
Having been nominated as the Congress chief minister in case the party won the assembly elections, BJP chief Amit Shah wasted no time in zeroing in on two time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as the lotus party’s numero uno in HP. 
Dhumal’s popularity in the state is not in doubt. He is  73-years-old even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diktat is that a politician should hang up his boots on attaining the age of 75. Will that apply to Dhumal or will he be the exception in case the Lotus party regains power in Shimla. 
Politicians in HP will have to be patient and wait for nearly seven weeks for the counting of votes on December 18 after the two phase elections in Gujarat on December 9 and 14. 
Five years back in the 2012 assembly elections, the Congress had won 36 seats and the BJP 26 with five independents and a lone seat going to the Himachal Lokhit party. 
It is widely believed the poll outcome in Kangra and Mandi regions will decide which party comes to power in HP. Being the largest district with 15 assembly seats, the Congress is putting up a tough fight amid the rebellion in the BJP. 
In the last assembly elections the Congress had won ten of the 15 seats in Kangra. Prior to that the BJP had won nine seats from this region and formed the government. Kangra has been the borough of BJP veteran Shanta Kumar. 
There are enough BJP rebels in the fray though some of them were summoned to the national capital by the BJP brass to try and pacify them. 
The Congress appears to have an edge in Kangra. At the same time it is in a tough spot in Mandi having ten assembly segments. This district is a stronghold of former Congress leader Sukh Ram who along with his son Anil Sharma, who was a member of the Virbhadra Singh cabinet, has joined the BJP. 
What has queered the pitch for the Congress is the presence of  rebel candidates. In HP politics the two party system of the Congress and BJP has prevailed. The people have traditionally alternated between the Lotus party and the Congress. 
Attempts at forming a Third Front failed to meet the expectations of the people. The Left parties — CPI and CPI (M) — enjoy a base in a few pockets in HP but have failed to make their mark in state politics. 
A combination of these factors has compelled the Aam Aadmi party to steer clear of contesting assembly elections in HP. It is, however, going to be in the fray in the assembly elections in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Miniter Narendra Modi. 
Congress is on the backfoot because of the disproportionate assets case against Virbhadra Singh. Then, the Gudiya rape and murder case is also likely to affect the Congress adversely. The sentiments of women and young voters are against the Congress in the wake of the botched up investigation by the police and the High Court directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to take up the case. For continuity of dynastic rule in HP, Virbhadra Singh has given up his rural seat in Shima to his son Vikramaditya Singh who is facing a tough challenge. On the other hand Hamirpur is the stronghold of Dhumal. His son Anurag Thakur is a third time MP from this district. 
The BJP should cruise to a comfortable win in this district. What cannot be lost sight of is that no government has succeeded in retaining power for two consecutive terms in HP. Overall, the BJP appears headed in regaining power in the hill state even as the polls have predicted a runaway victory for the saffron brigade.  
(T R Ramachandran is a senior journalist and commentator. Views are personal.) 

Researchers from the Department of Biotechnology at the Indian Institute of Technology -Roorkee claim to have developed a path-breaking technique that would reverse drug resistance and enable the existing antibiotics to effectively kill the bacteria. 

Drug resistant bacteria use a system called `efflux pumps’ that act as tiny motors to expel out the antibiotic from the cellular interior, thereby preventing the drug from reaching its target and helping the bacteria to survive even in the presence of antibiotic. The team, led by Dr. Ranjana Pathania, claim to have discovered a novel molecule which inhibits the efflux of antibiotics leading to effective build-up of antibiotic inside the cell and subsequent cell death. The molecule discovered by the team has been named Â‘IITR08027’ and it disrupts the proton gradient that is responsible for energizing the pumps.  The team has shown that the molecule when used in combination with fluoroquinolones allows the antibiotic to kill the bacterial cells, thereby effectively tackling the antibiotic resistance problem.

According to an estimate, about 1,900 people die every day due to antibiotic resistant infections, which amounts to about 70,000 deaths per year.

The study published in International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents found the molecule developed to be effective against multi-drug resistant clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, one of the most prevalent pathogens, which have developed strategies to counter the existing antibiotics especially fluoroquinolones.

Elaborating about her research, Dr. Pathania, said“Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens has been one of the major issues that plagues the health care sector today. Discovering a new antibiotic or drug, to counter the resistant bacteria will be a time taking process, due to which the team wanted to come up with a technique, which could restore the efficacy and effectiveness of the existing antibiotics and medications like ciprofloxacin or nor?oxacin.”

“Since this molecule rejuvenates the activity of fluoroquinolones against resistant bacterial pathogens, its clinical use of could be a medically as well as an economically beneficial move. Moreover, this molecule has a very low cell toxicity which makes it an ideal candidate to enter pre-clinical trial phase for toxicity and efficacy in animal models,’’ added Dr. Pathania.

According to the team, this general mode of action of IITR08027 and the inhibition technique of efflux can be used against other bacteria which express efflux pumps and adopt a similar mechanism of expelling antibiotics from the cell.

Sikkim State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd (SIMFED), the apex marketing federation of Sikkim, launched a vast range of organic and natural food products in the Capital.

Sikkim was declared as the first Organic State of India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. The organic food products were launched by SIMFED in collaboration with Qseal Agritech Pvt Ltd., an organic agriculture-based organization.

One of the pioneering organizations in India in the field of organic farming, SIMFED in the last 10 years has worked with more than 40,000 farmers on almost 35,000 hectares of agricultural land in 10 States across India.  To provide best prices to the farmers, SIMFED has taken many successful measures such as the elimination of middlemen and easy processing. And to enhance the reach and penetration of organic food, SIMFED strictly complies with the latest quality standards that ensure highly safe and nutritious food.

The vast range of SIMFED’S organic food products includes unpolished rice, organic flours, organic cereals, unpolished pulses, spices(whole and powdered). These will be introduced in the market soon in 500 grams and 1 kg packages. Organic pickles, jams and bakery products will also be launched shortly.

The specialty products from Sikkim include organically grown buck wheat flour, dale chilli (cherry pepper), large cardamom a high value cash crop and export commodity and ginger and turmeric (two powerful spices from the Himalayan ranges). The other specialty products that will available soon are cashew from Andhra and Odisha, king chilli from Assam, mango from Andhra, pineapple from North East region, joha and black rice from Assam, kodo and lemon from Chhattisgarh and Assam, potato from Gujarat, and mandarin orange from Assam.

In the near future, SIMFED is also planning to export various organic produce like niger, ginger, turmeric, black pepper and potato from different regions of the country.

 SIMFED’S organic food products were launched in the presence of Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Mr Radha Mohan Singh, Sikkim Chief Minister Mr Pawan Chamling, and Mr Somnath Poudyal, Food Safety and Agriculture Minister of Sikkim.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Roger R. Rai, M.D., SIMFED said, “At SIMFED, we work for the benefit of both the consumers and the producers. We ensure that the farmer, who is the intrinsic part of our society is getting the best possible agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, equipment, and is able to get the best possible amount for his/her agricultural produce. Being an ethical and responsible committee, we are cautious that none of the quality measures formulated by the government are compromised or ignored, and the very best of the agricultural produce is reaching to the general public.”

Jaipur: Stating that innovation is the central theme to long run performance of any economy, experts at the conference on “Fostering Innovation for Sustainable Development” pointed the need to strengthen the foundation of the innovation eco-system in the developing world with an objective of achieving sustainable development.

Delegates attending the CUTS-CIRC 5th Biennial Conference on Competition, Regulation and Development here, felt that drivers of an innovation-based eco-system are disrupting traditional market transactions across almost all sectors. These developments are posing challenges for the regulators to catch pace with growing changes in the market dynamics. The experts have gathered here to discuss the role of regulation and competition in creating appropriate incentives for fostering innovation for sustainable development.

In his keynote address at the three-day conference Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Suresh  Prabhu emphasised on the importance of new ideas on trade, competition, regulation and development. Praising the role of CUTS in this regard, he said it was an important conference which could deliberate on the necessity of an optimal regulatory regime that could preserve incentives for innovation.

Delivering his welcome remarks, CUTS Secretary General, Pradeep Mehta pointed out that the idea for biennial series was conceived to highlight and discuss steps to address regulatory failures and weak institutional capacities in emerging economies. The first conference was organised in Delhi in march 2007 and the last was organised in December 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said the sectors chosen for the theme “Revisiting IPR and Competition” include Information and Communication Technology, Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture. Similarly, focussed topics chosen for the theme on disruptive technologies and optimal regulation include Digital Payments and Multi-Sided Platforms (Transport and e-commerce).  

Mr. Mehta said innovation, competition and IPR are intrinsically related to each other. Robust competition ensure that present competitors and upcoming market entrants constantly innovate to attain better returns from production differentiation. Absence of adequate IPR protection could discourage firms to invest in research and development and may negatively impact their incentive to innovate.

Former President, Federal Competition Commission, Mexico, Eduardo Perez Motta, Deputy Secretary General, UNCTAD, Isabelle Durant, and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and Nitin Desai, former Under Secretary General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.

Speaking on the merits of innovation based eco-system, Eduardo Motta highlighted the benefits of innovation and emphasised that it has the potential to have positive social impact. He said there is overlap between intellectual property and competition but stated that awareness on importance of intellectual property rights which do not harm competition is needed. However, an important issue to ponder over was how competition authorities would deal with the data markets. These and other issues need to be discussed at international forums such as UNCTAD, OECD and ICN, he added.

Isabell Durant agreed with his views and mentioned that new digital technologies have created immense benefits for consumers. However, without optimal governance and regulation, dealing with such issues can be challenging, as they deal with topics like data protection and privacy. The developing countries have to deal with additional constraints such as lack of capacity, access to finance, weak infrastructure, poor research and development and ineffective policy frameworks.   

Mr. Desai highlighted that there is lack of evidence on impact of intellectual property on productivity growth and spending on research and development. The number of patents does not constitute a measure of innovation. Big breakthroughs in development have come through competition and not through intellectual property and patent protection is becoming an instrument for corporate warfare. In view of this, the system is constraining innovation and not promoting the same and there is a need to modify the rigorous intellectual property regime.

As toxic haze and smog took the national capital in its grip and the air quality worsened alarmingly, the Delhi Government of Arvind Kejriwal decided to bring back the Odd-Even formula for vehicle owners in a last ditch effort to reduce vehicular congestion and pollution from November 13. 

The scheme, under which odd number vehicles ply on odd dates and even numbered on even dates, will be implemented for five days till November 17. 

For the past three days, citizens in Delhi are battling air pollution emergency with doctors declaring it to be a state of medical emergency and schools ordered shut till Sunday. The government has banned the entry of trucks and construction activity as public health crisis stared menacingly. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Punjab and Haryana governments to desist their farmers from burning waste and crop stubble which added to air pollution. 

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has reported 20 per cent rise in the number of patients reporting sick due to increased pollution levels. People in the city have complained of difficulty in breathing, heart problems, headaches and other respiratory problems. 

NEW DELHI: It put the authorities in the neighboring Pakistan on alert mode after a letter sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a Kerala-based physicist Babu Kalayil, predicted a massive earthquake resulting in Tsunami this year-end. 
Babu Kalayil, in his letter, has backed his predictions on the grounds of ‘extra-sensory’ perceptions and ‘sixth-sense’ and claimed that the earthquake will strike the Indian Ocean by December 31, 2017. The self-acclaimed forecaster has also warned China, Japan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The letter predicts the possibility of ‘Seeshma’, a storm which will affect about 120 kms to 180 kms with devastating impact. Initially, the letter floated in social media and gained little attention by news portals as they reported the forecast by  Kalayil, but soon after Pakistan’s The Express Tribune published the letter on its website claiming that the top authorities in Pakistan have started taking precautionary measures to deal with any such natural calamity, the ‘extra-sensory’ predictions of Tsunami have opened a Pandora’s box. 

The Tribune in Pakistan has written that ‘Pakistan’s top intelligence agency has purportedly warned the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), the body responsible for disaster management, of a massive underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean later this year.’  However, the letter has not moved the Indian government to take a note of the forecast by Babu Kalayil as it lacks less scientific evidences and proofs. No one can predict the exact time of a possible earthquake to occur in any part of the world. Many top-notch scientific organizations are still struggling to find ways to forecast the exact time and date an earthquake. We tried to contact Babu Kalayil on the phone numbers available on the letter, but he didn’t respond. 
Well-known science journalist Pallava Bagla speaking to The India Saga said, “Babu Kalayil lacks credibility and evidence to prove his claims and so called forecast. For any predictions about the earthquake in any part of the world, scientists consider the geographical locations and other major factors too. In this case, he (Kalayil) has not presented any scientific evidences in the support of his claim. I cannot say that what could be the motive of a person to issue such a letter to the Indian PM. The letter pad has no credibility.” However, Pakistani authority has said, “we should not ignore such information and should prepare because there is a threat of an undersea earthquake in this area and there have been tremors here in the past as well.” 

New Delhi: As the pollution levels reached an unacceptable level in the National Capital and doctors described it as a `public health emergency,’ though the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority described it as `severe plus.’

Taking a serious view of the life threatening high pollution in Delhi-NCR, the National Human Rights Commission has said that it was apparent that the concerned authorities have not taken proper steps throughout the year to tackle this hazard, which is amounting to violation of the Right to Life and Health of the residents in the region. 

Taking suo motu cognizance of several media reports in this regard, the Commission has sought reports, within two weeks, from the different Union Ministries and State Governments of Punjab and Haryana about the effective steps taken and proposed to be taken by them to tackle the situation.

Notices have been issued to the Secretaries of Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Highways and Road Transport along with the Chief Secretaries of the Governments of NCT of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

The Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is expected to give details about the preparedness of the government hospitals and other agencies to attend to the people affected by pollution and steps taken to create awareness among the public at large.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has announced the closure of all schools until Saturday and banned the entry of truck inside the Capital to reduce the levels of vehicular pollutions. All construction and demolition activities have been put on hold. The Air Quality Index touched the 493 mark.

Particulate matter is the main public health threat from air pollution. The health impacts of particulate matter depend on the level of exposure and the duration of exposure (which can be either short term e.g. 8 or 24 hours or long term e.g. annual). Individual sensitivity to the health impacts of particulate matter can vary and can also depend upon the age of the person exposed, health status, pregnant women, low socio economic status, occupational exposures and smoking of tobacco products. It can lead to heartache and even asthma attack.

As the demand for masks went up in the city, the Indian Medical Association has said that masks may not be of much use under present circumstances as the particles are too fine and can be inhaled.

According to Dr K.K.Aggarwal, president of IMA, all kinds of exercises, including yoga, is not advisable at this time. Even exertion can prove to be harmful for heart patients and vulnerable people such as those having asthma or heart conditions.

On its part, the IMA has launched a campaign for growing grass on open spaces which are a major source of dust. Dr Agarwal said all doctors in the city will start growing grass and indoor plants in and around their homes and then give the same advise to people as well.

Dr Agarwal was of the opinion that improving public transport system, introducing the concept of `work from home’ and car pooling would go a long way in reducing pollution.  

With the onset of winter in Delhi each year, there is a rise in air pollution in the city. A combination of festivals, post-harvest crop burning, firing of brick kilns and reduced wind speed increases the level of particulate matter in the air,  cause the smog that hangs in the air.

“Pollution is now the largest risk factor for death. In fact, pollution kills more people than HIV-AIDS, TB and malaria put together. In economic terms, the global cost of pollution in terms of hours not worked, premature deaths, health spending and eroded quality of life has been estimated at Rs 26,760 crores a year,” said Dr Vivekanand Jha of the George Institute.

Air pollution affects all stages of life, starting from pre-conception to old age and reduces the number of years lived in full health by aggravating asthma attacks, eye and skin disorders, and increasing the risk of development of high blood pressure, obesity, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, psychiatric disorders and frailty, Dr Jha explained.

The recent Global Burden of Disease study estimates show that about 25 lakh deaths in India in 2015 were causally linked to pollution, constituting 28% of all pollution-related deaths around the world. Of these, about 18 lakh deaths were linked to air pollution. India has half of the top 20 polluted cities in the world, including Delhi.

“As Delhi is waking up every day under blanket of toxic air, solutions must be adopted to yield long-term benefits which requires structural changes and a multi-pronged approach. We need better urban planning starting with proper land-use assessment, reducing major transport activity close to communities, relocating traffic sources (roads, airports) from crowded areas, avoiding the mixing of industrial and residential areas, making better roads, reducing uncovered areas in cities by planting more grass and plants, improving transport technologies, and increasing awareness of the societal burden imposed by air pollution,’’ Dr Jha said.

Dr. Sandeep Nayar, Senior Consultant & HOD, Respiratory Medicine, Allergy & Sleep Disorder, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, said: Â“The cover of smog and air pollution in the city is raising environmental problems with respiratory diseases. Air pollutants, if inhaled have serious impact on human health causing breathlessness, watering of eyes and nose, burning sensation in eyes, excessive cough, chest pain, dizziness, headache etc. Post Diwali and in last few days the number of patients has increase from 50-60% with breathing problems. With the increase in number, patients are now also coming with severe problems like throat infection, respiratory tract infection and nasal allergies. Even asthmatic problems have increased, he said.

New Delhi: As part of the crackdown on the parallel economy and in a bid to bring transparency in the real estate sector, the GST Council meeting at Guwahati is likely to take a decision to bring the real estate sector under the GST regime. The issue is being deliberated today by the officials and a final shape is expected to be given during the Ministerial meeting of the GST Council which is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Friday). 

The officials are trying to fix not only the rate at which GST will be imposed on the real estate sector but also to deliberate whether registration of property would invite stamp duty separately or shall it be subsumed into the GST regime. At present, various states charge different rates of stamp duty on property registration but majority of them give a special discount in the rates if the property is being registered in the name of a women. Similarly, following the submission of the report by a Ministerial group to study the rationalising of GST rates and making them simple and compliant, the GST Council is likely to take out majority of the items from the 28 per cent category and shift them to the 18 per cent and 12 per cent category each. There could be relief for consumers eating out in restaurants as the GST Council is likely to bring down the rate from 18 per cent to 12 per cent category. Also, it is expected that lot of other items under the 28 per cent regime will be shuffled to lower rates including textiles and fabrics. 

The government is of the view that real estate is one sector where maximum amount of tax evasion and cash generation takes place. It is understood that a number of states have backed the move to bring real state under GST regime but some others are against such a move. The Congress state ruled Chief Ministers are expected to push for abolition of the 28 per cent category and cap the GST rate at 18 per cent maximum.

Speaking about the GST Council meeting, Saloni Roy, Senior Director, Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP said: “The move to introduce GST was a historic step. There have been hiccups in its implementation. Concerns have been raised by various sectors of the economy, but the silver lining is that Government has adopted a positive approach and its taking action to ease the pain. It is expected that the GST Council meeting scheduled for today and tomorrow would bring relief to small and medium enterprises in terms of simpler GST filing norms. Also, reduction in tax rates for several items under the 28 per cent tax bracket along with rationalization of tax rates for daily use items is anticipated. GST Council is also looking at attending to issues of trade and industry with respect to higher rates of tax in respect of items which were subject to a lower rate under the pre GST regime.”

There has been outcry and unrest among traders and businesses over the complex GST regime and the high GST rates. The difficult in compliance has also come in for strong criticism forcing the government to have a relook at the whole issue on a war footing. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has also promised that next GST Council meeting will end the pain of GST for traders and make things simple including giving relief in shape of reduction of higher tax regime.

With the Assembly elections scheduled in Gujarat for next month, the Government is keen that the unrest among trading and business community needs to be addressed on a war footing and that is one of the reasons that Mr. Modi himself came out to reassure the traders that their grievances pertaining to the GST regime will be addressed soon.