1. Silver Line Rail project in Kerala to get clearance soon

Key points:

1. The Silver Line Rail project in Kerala is expected to receive Central government approval soon. The process of land acquisition for the proposed project is in progress. The State Cabinet has already given its nod to the detailed project report (DPR), submitted by the project implementing agency Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), a joint venture of the Indian Railways and the Kerala government.
2. These trains will cover the Thiruvananthapuram- Ernakulam stretch in one-and-a-half hours. The project’s DPR, prepared by the Paris-based consultant-Systra, was submitted to Central and state governments for approval, after conducting aerial LiDAR survey, traffic survey, environment impact assessment study and geotechnical study. The Silver Line project will help recovery from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 outbreak and will generate job opportunities during and after the completion phase. This project will also provide job opportunities to the repatriates returning to Kerala.

(Construction Week Online, 13 October 2020) News Link

• POJK
• Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army thwarts weapon smuggling bid from PoK ; recover arms and ammunition

Key points:

1. Security forces on Tuesday (October 13) thwarted a weapon smuggling bid from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by recovering arms and ammunition during a search operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara.
2. An official said alert troops deployed at Tangdhar sector in Kupwara, thwarted yet another attempt by Pakistan Army to send weapons from PoK. “Following specific information, a joint search operation was launched by Army and J&K Police near the LoC at 1830 hours on Monday,” he said.

(Asian News,13 October 2020) News Link

1. Mamata Banerjee orders forensic inspection of truck tyres to prevent Coronavirus spread: Read details

Key points:

1. In a bizarre move to contain the Coronavirus pandemic, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked administrative authorities on October 6 for forensic inspection of truck tyres incoming from other States. She was of the view that the moving vehicles coming from other States were the reason behind the rising of Coronavirus cases in Jhargram district.
2. During the course of an administrative meeting, she said, “We need to test the tyres of a few trucks which are entering the state through toll plazas. If the virus can be transmitted through clothes and shopping bags, then why not tyres?”
3. The West Bengal CM, therefore, wants to conduct tests on tyres of trucks, which pass through toll plazas. Citing the example of her locality where 6 people of a family apparently tested positive for Coronavirus, she said, “From them, the disease had spread to 36 others. I had stopped the movement of vehicles on the road where the house was located because as vehicles move from one place to another, they can spread diseases. The tyres of vehicles can carry organisms, which can trigger diseases.”

(Op India, 13 October 2020) News Link

1. PM Modi urges Maharashtra residents to follow health norms amid Covid-19

Key points:

1. “The danger of coronavirus still persists. In Maharashtra, the situation is a little more worrying. I appeal to everyone, don’t be careless when it comes to wearing masks and social distancing. Remember – ‘Jab tak davai nahi, tab tak dheelai nahi’ (No carelessness till a medicine is found),” Prime Minister Modi said at an event where he released the autobiography of Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and renamed Pravara Rural Education Society as Loknete Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society..

(Economic Times, 13 October 2020) News Link

• ‘Don’t need Hindutva certificate from you’: Maha CM retorts to Governor’s ‘secular’ barb over reopening of temples

Key points:

1. Responding to a letter by Koshiyari who questioned Thackeray’s Hindutva credentials for delay in the opening of religious places in the state, Maharashtra CM shot back saying he is an ardent follower of Hindutva and doesn’t a certificate from him.
2. “As imposing lockdown all of a sudden was not right, revoking it completely at once will also be not a good thing. And yes, I am someone who follows Hindutva, my Hindutva doesn’t need verification from you,” he said.
3. “Do you mean that opening up religious places is Hindutva, and not opening them means being secular? Secularism is a crucial base of the oath you took as Governor. Do you not believe it?” he added.

(Dainik Jagran, 13 October 2020) News Link

1. Government departments take action to spread awareness about Coronavirus in Kanpur

Key points:

1. In Kanpur, an effort to educate the masses about the virus and all its various aspects is being undertaken. To maximize the reach, the state government has roped in several government departments to carry out the task. The departments will consist of officials from the health, education, panchayati raj, child development and nutrition departments.
2. At any rate, the awareness program is a great move that the state government has taken to curb the spread of the virus in Kanpur. As more people learn about it, the more precautions they will take.

(Knock Sense, 13 October 2020) News Link

1. Mysuru’s Famous Dasara Parade Restricted to Palace Ground Amid Pandemic

Key points:

1. The Karnataka government has decided to restrict the annual Dasara parade to the Mysusru Palace grounds to avoid further spread of the coronavirus disease.
2. “Pageantry surrounding Mysuru’s Dasara festival has been cut down and will be celebrated very simply. Coronavirus will be with us for a long time and we will have to live with Covid-related restrictions until we have vaccine. But life has to go on; there will be festivals… Utmost precautions will be taken. We are trying to ensure people’s safety. People are cooperating and understanding of the situation,” Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwath Narayan told

(NDTV, 13 October 2020) News Link