1. Gujarat Records 83% of Season’s Rainfall, 28% More Than 2018
Gujarat has recorded 83 percent of the season’s rainfall, 28 percent more than what was recorded on 11 August 2018. Total rainfall received by the state and coverage of areas is better overall when compared to 2018.
Among the districts, six of them have already crossed 100 per cent of rainfall, whereas a few districts in the north are yet to reach the 50 per cent mark. There is little hope that these districts would make up their deficits this week, as going by the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast, it is parts of Saurashtra, Kutch and south Gujarat that are expected to receive heavy rainfall this week.
The rainfall received in Gujarat in the 10 days of August alone accounted for 51 per cent of season’s rainfall – 347 mm out of a total rainfall of 678 mm.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Vishwamitri River, Ajwa Reservoir Continue to Overflow, 2,155 People Shifted
Though Vadodara received only 3 mm rainfall between 6 am and 4 pm Sunday, 11August, Vishwamitri river and Ajwa reservoir continued to overflow with water levels at 29.5 feet and 211 feet. While the danger mark for Vishwamitri is 26 feet, for Ajwa it is 212 feet.
People residing in areas close to the Vishwamitri such as Parshuram Bhatta, Tulsiwadi, Akota villages, have been shifted to schools since Saturday night. Evacuations continued on Sunday as State Disaster Response Force teams and police force rescued over 50 people from a low-lying residency in Vadsar area of the city. In all 2,155 people have been shifted out.
While bridges remained shut till Sunday afternoon, they were opened to traffic after waterlevels didn’t rise further. No traffic was allowed through three underpasses in as they remained waterlogged for a second day.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Airport Security Tightened Over 2 Incidents Last Week
Security has been tightened at Ahmedabad International Airport after two separate incidents of possible threats in the past three days raised fears, even as an advisory has been sent by the Centre ahead of Independence Day.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport has been put on high alert and new security measures implemented to prevent any untoward incidents in the days leading up to 15 August.
On Wednesday, 7 August, police arrested 21-year-old labourer Mizannur Rehman from Assam for carrying a paper cutter inside one of his shoes. He was detained at the security checkpoint, when he was on his way to board an Indigo Flight from Ahmedabad to Guwahati in Assam. Police said Rehman claimed that he had left hurriedly from his rented accommodation in Surat when he came to know that his village in Assam had been flooded. In his hurry, he had allegedly forgotten that he was carrying a paper cutter in one of his shoes.
On Friday, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel manning the airport nabbed a 25-year-old man for breaching the premises of the airport by climbing one of its walls.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Indian Coast Guard Rescues 79 Fishermen; Recovers Six Bodies
The Indian Coast Guard has rescued 79 fishermen and recovered six bodies off the coast of Porbandar in Gujarat. Efforts are on to rescue 10 more people, the Ministry of Defence said in a release on Sunday night.
According to the ministry, 95 fishermen in 19 boats ignored the warning of inclement weather to venture into the sea on August 9. Around 3 pm on Saturday, the fishing association of Porbandar informed authorities about the missing boats along with their crew.
While three teams of Coast Guard were pressed into action, 10 boats with 59 fishermen returned to the coast. However, three boats capsized in the deep sea, said the MoD statement quoting the association.
“A total of 14 fishing boats along with 79 crew have been safely rescued, and six cadavers have been recovered so far. Allout efforts are being taken to search and rescue the remaining nine crew of two boats and one missing crew,” said the release.
(Source: DNA)
5. Annual Returns Filing Under GST to Be a Tall Task
Filling of annual returns under Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be a tall task, feel tax practitioners. The figures of returns filed by the central government indicate that only 17% of returns for the financial year 2017-18 have been filed in over five months, with only three weeks left, they wonder how the remaining 83% returns will be filed. They say extending the date is not an option. Only simplification of filing of returns can solve the problem.
Businessmen under regular GST have to file annual return GSTR-9, while dealers who have opted Composition Scheme by paying lump-sum tax need to file GSTR-9A. Those filing GSTR-9 need to file audit return in form of GSTR-9C.
(Source: DNA)
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