1. 37 Lions Died in Last Three Months
Between September-December 2018, 37 lions have died in the forests of Gir. An outbreak of babesia protozoa infections had killed 24 lions. The data tabled in the Lok Sabha was till 10 December and did not include the four lions that died after the above mentioned date, of which three were run over by a goods train.
However, there were no high number of unnatural deaths reported since 2018. The figures were tabled in the Lok Sabha after a question was asked by Gonda MP Kirti Vardhan Singh. The Union Government too has come up with its own plan to save lions.
According to the minister of state for environment the centre has approved Rs 100 crore project for the conservation of lions.
(Source: Times of India)
2. Gohil Closes Chapter After Rupani Replies to Legal Notices
Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, had sent legal notices to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani for allegedly blaming him for the violence against north Indian migrant workers. However, on Wednesday Gohil said that he has closed the chapter as Rupani has replied to the notices.
Gohil, who is the Congress’ in-charge for Bihar, tweeted, “Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has given reply to the legal notices….He replied that he has not released news against me nor managed the release in any way.”
Gohil also tweeted a letter he sent to the chief minister which said, “I close this chapter now….With this reply of yours, I expect that in future you will take special care when you will speak in public. This is because you carry the responsibility of the office of the Chief Minister of Gujarat.”
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Belgian Firm Likely To Sign Rs 560 Cr MoU for Dahej Plant
Solvay, a Belgium-based company is expected to sign a Rs 560 crore MoU for setting up a unit that will manufacture low-cost Hemodialysis membranes that serve as artificial kidneys. Haemodialysis is administered to patients suffering from various stages of kidney failure.
The procedure is done using an artificial kidney, that uses dialysis to remove impurities and waste products from bloodstream before returning the blood to the patient’s body. Currently, haemodialysis at a private hospital in Ahmedabad can cost about Rs 2,400 per sitting.
According to a state government official, most of the membranes used for the dialysis procedure in India is currently imported and is costly; however, Solvay will bring down the cost of dialysis in India.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Three More Held in Guj Police Exam Leak
The police on Wednesday said that three “key accused” in the police recruitment exam paper leak case have been arrested from different parts of the country. Cops have also claimed of a Karnataka link into the whole episode.
Director General of Police (DGP) Shivanand Jha said that the question paper was stolen from a printing press premises in Karnataka. Three accused have been arrested in a joint operation by Gandhinagar Police, Crime Branch-Ahmedabad City, and Anti-Terrorist Squad.
The arrested men have been identified as Vinay R Arora, a resident of Sonipat in Haryana, Mahadev D Asture and Vinod B Rathod, both residents of Bidar, Karnataka. Police have arrested 14 accused in this case, including a woman, who has approached the High Court for bail.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Farmers Oppose Limestone Mining, Clash With Cops
Clashes broke out on Wednesday between the police and farmers protesting against limestone mining by a private firm near a village in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, leaving several policemen and agitators injured, officials and local residents said.
While Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police (SP) P L Mall said four policemen were injured in the clashes, local villagers claimed around 15 people, including women and girls, were wounded. The protesting farmers hailed from 13 villages in the taluka, around 180km from Ahmedabad.
The police lobbed 35 teargas shells and resorted to baton charge to control a large group of farmers demanding that limestone mining by UltraTech Cement Ltd near Bambhor village in Talaja taluka be halted, the SP said. Around 30 villagers were detained, he added.
(Source: PTI)
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