The turnaround can be attributed to investor friendly policy, akin to the one that the Government of India took in 1991 with the New Economic Policy. The several steps that Telangana took includes: speedy clearance aided by a single window, 100 per cent refund on VAT and GST, refund on stamp duty, exemption from Land Ceiling Act, exemption from electricity wheeling charges and not running around to get approval from the State Pollution Control Board.
The most visible area of the state’s renewable energy push has been in public transport system. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) for instance teamed up with TSREDCO to install solar rooftop systems on the bus stations, bus depots and workshops. In all, 97 bus depots and 364 bus stations have been covered and the savings are over Rs 2 crore per annum. What is more! It resulted in reduction in carbon emissions by 7,300 tonnes a year.
A viral infection in Kollam city of Kerala has caused panic and alert as there are deep red, tomato-like blisters in children below 5 years of age.
So far, 80 children have been identified and they are being isolated as they have red, tomato-like blisters around their hands and legs.
Government officials of Kerala are on alert as for the area the number is high and they are trying to identify the cause and reason for the viral infection.
As the blisters look like tomatoes – it has been named tomato Flu. But in the medical journals, there is nothing like Tomato Flu. And the flu has nothing to do with tomatoes either.
Dr Narisnga Reddy, senior Indian Medical Association member of Telangana says, “From the initial reports in Kerala, it looks like either a variant of Dengue virus or chikungunya. The virus is being isolated and within 48 hours it will be clear what it is. Presently, we can only term it as a viral infection.”
Children are isolated as it is an infectious disease and can be easily affected.
What has led to this viral infection in Kollam? Is it environmental factors? Or is the sudden and rapid changes that are being noted due to climate change leading to mutations in existing strains of viruses.
Experts state that variants in dengue, chikungunya, swine flu and other viruses are natural as they adapt to the changes in the climate and the host bodies.
This could also be hand, foot and mouth disease as only children are infected, state another set of doctors.
Till the final report is available, neighboring state Karnataka has asked health officials to be alert and report if any cases are identified.