HYDERABAD  FRIDAY  NOVEMBER 15, 2024  `9.00  PAGES 38  LATE CITY EDITION DEVELOPED NATIONS TOLD TO HONOUR CLIMATE FINANCE PLEDGES AT COP29 A group of developing countries including India told developed nations to honour commitments to provide climate finance during COP talks in Baku $1 TN NEEDED PER YEAR TO COPE WITH WARMING EARTH REMAINS ON TRACK TO GET 2.7°C HOTTER Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) said developed nations must not dilute their obligations to provide climate finance under the Paris accords. It comes as a new report by the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance said $1 trillion will be needed every year by 2030 to help developing countries cope with the effects of global warming ■ ■ ■ An analysis showed for the third straight year, efforts to fight climate change haven’t lowered projections for how hot the world will get The Earth remains on a path to be 2.70 Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times by 2100, Climate Action Tracker said The UN climate talks in Baku entered its fourth day on Thursday 1.3 DEGREES CELSIUS IS HOW MUCH THE WORLD HAS WARMED SINCE PRE-INDUSTRIAL TIMES CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SECOND EDITION OF THE RNG SAHITHYA SAMMAN TODAY PA R A M I TA G H O S H @ New Delhi I DEALLY, works of literature should never have to compete, but what would literary prizes be without such competition? The second edition of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman instituted by The New Indian Express group will on Friday unveil the names of winners across three categories from among some of India’s most exciting voices in fiction and non-fiction. At the ceremony to be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, a citation, a trophy and a cash prize will be award, ed to each of the three winners. The selection process kicked off in July with a long list of prospective winners based on suggestions and submissions from senior editors from each of TNIE’s 30-plus centres across the country — in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, and The Morning Standard and Sunday Standard in Delhi — as well as from publishers. The list was finally whittled down to a shortlist by an internal jury . In the non-fiction category four books were , in the fray — The Day I Became A Runner by Sohini Chattopadhyay The Yellow Sparrow by , Santa Khurai, H-Pop: The Secretive World of Hindutva Pop Stars by Kunal Purohit, and Neerja Chowdhury’s How Prime Ministers Decide. The fiction section had three contenders — Acts of God by Kanan Gill, The Scent of Fallen Stars by Aishwarya Jha and Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. Decisions on these two segments apart, the jury had also the task of zeroing in on one among a shortlist of literary luminaries for a Lifetime Achievement Award, the top honour instituted in the name of the group’s iconic founder Ramnath Goenka by TNIE Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Kumar Sonthalia. Chaired by Pavan K Varma, former Ambassador and author, the external jury consisted of former foreign secretary and writer Vikas Swarup and the popular writer on history Manu S Pillai. They were joined by an internal jury comprising Editor Santwana Bhattacharya and Consulting Editor Ravi Shankar for extensive deliberations. The non-fiction prize, in particular, was most keenly contested and led to a nail-biting finish. Await the names to be unveiled at the award ceremony today! panel AFSPA back in 6 areas of Manipur Housesummon not to GIVING LEEWAY Situation continues to be volatile with intermittent firing in parts of the troubled state, says Centre M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi WITH the situation in Manipur continuing to be grim, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday re-imposed the tough Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas in the Imphal valley after declaring them as disturbed areas. The announcement came on a day when there was no trace of six Meiteis — three women and three children — missing after Monday’s gunfight in Jiribam district that left 10 ‘militants’ dead. The police said search operations were continuing even as political parties joined various organisations in demanding the release of the six captives. Till now, most of Manipur was in the disturbed areas category except for 19 police stations in the Meitei-dominated Imphal valley . The geography of the disturbed areas has now been extended to the jurisdictions of Sekmai and Lamsang police stations in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Moirang in Bishnupur, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi, and Jiribam police station in five districts. The imposition of AFPSA is warranted to carry out well-coordinated operations to maintain the security situation and contain the activities of insurgent groups there, the ministry said in its notification. A truck damaged after militants set it on fire, in Jiribam district | PTI The ministry said Manipur continues to be volatile with intermittent firing in violence prone areas in the fringe areas of Bishnupur-Churachandpur, Imphal East-Kangpokpi-Imphal West and Jiribam districts. There was active participation of insurgent groups in heinous acts of violence. AFSPA empowers officers of the armed forces to “fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death” after giving due warning against “any person who is acting in contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the disturbed area” if they are of the opinion that it is necessary to maintain public order. The law protects officers from prosecution. “No prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government, against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act.” Autopsy report The autopsy report of a 31-year-old tribal woman killed in Jiribam district on November 7, revealed that she was subjected to thirddegree torture and suffered 99% burns PRAJA PALANA FETE TO BE MEMORABLE  Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would unveil the redesigned Telangana Talli statue in Secretariat premises on Dec 9  The ceremony would be part of the Telangana Praja Palana - Vijayotsavalu  The government has decided to invite women from across the state for the unveiling of the statue  Celebrations in Hyderabad would be held at the Tank Bund, Secretariat and Necklace Road on December 7, 8 and 9 respectively Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy greets children during the Children’s Day celebrations at LB Stadium in Hyderabad | VINAY MADAPU No eligible family will lose sops due to caste survey: CM EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad MAKING it clear that no welfare scheme will be snatched away from any eligible family with the caste survey, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday alleged that “a few people” were trying to obstruct the ongoing survey in the state. “Caste survey is like a mega health checkup, not just X-ray . Some people are spreading false propaganda about the caste survey If anyone obstructs (the . survey), we shall consider them traitors,” the chief minister said. Addressing a programme at ‘Lower age limit for contesting polls to 21’ Revanth said that lowering the age limit to contest elections for the Assembly to 21 would encourage youth to actively participate in politics and would bode well for the country | P4 the LB stadium as part of the Children’s Day celebrations on Thursday, the chief minister called upon students to rebut the false propaganda over caste survey. He said that the caste survey was being conducted to ascertain the reservation as per the population ratio. A caste survey is needed to ensure social justice, he stated. Responding to the recent reports over the food poisoning in various residential schools in the state, the chief minister warned that the government will take strict action and send those who supply contaminated and low quality ingredients to jail. “Our government’s aim is to provide food with superfine quality rice to hostel inmates,” he added. Accusing the previous BRS regime of neglecting the education sector, the chief minister stated that in contrast, his government has allocated 7% of the total Budget to education. CONTINUED ON P4  The CM will participate in public meetings at Warangal, Karimnagar and Mahbubnagar districts as part of “Telangana Praja Palana - Vijayotsavalu” celebrations  On November 19, the CM will lay the foundation stones of Indira Mahila Shakti buildings in 22 districts at Warangal.  Cultural programmes would be organised in all Assembly constituencies across TG TRANSGENDERS TO CONTROL HYD TRAFFIC SOON Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday directed officials to focus on appointing transgenders to control the traffic in Hyderabad city. He said: “In the first phase, transgenders should be appointed in high traffic areas. Use the services of transgenders on the lines of home guards to prevent signal jumping, drunken driving and controlling the traffic.” He ordered preparation of an exclusive uniform for transgenders on traffic duty. They would also be given salaries and allowances similar to that of home guards. The chief minister directed the officials to take steps to implement the decision on an experimental basis as soon as possible. Decisions to this effect was made at a review meeting chaired by the chief minister. Lagcherla attack: Narender Reddy denies naming KTR in any confession AS IT HAPPENED  The district administration starts the process to acquire around 1,350 acres of land in three villages: Lagcherla, Polepally and Hakimpet  The Congress government scraps the Hyderabad Pharma City plan at Mucherla  Instead, it proposes to set up 10 pharma clusters along the Outer Ring Road in a bid to decrease pollution  As part of the proposed clusters, the government plans one cluster in Dudyal mandal of Vikarabad district  When the officials tried to conduct a public hearing on November 11, a group of people attacked them in Lagcherla. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad A day after his arrest, BRS former MLA Patnam Narender Reddy on Thursday denied confessing to his involvement in the attack on the Vikarabad district collector and his team in Lagcherla village of Dudyal mandal and also to naming BRS working president KT Rama Rao in the case. He also said that he was unaware of the contents of the remand report. Narender Reddy, who has been lodged in Cherlapally jail following his remand, in an affidavit claimed that the police “created the story” of his socalled involvement. “No police official has talked to me nor have I given any statement to the police,” Narender Reddy said in his affidavit submitted to the Kodangal court. It may be mentioned here that the remand report, accessed by TNIE, mentions the former MLA’s “confessional statement” and says that he conspired the attack as per the directions of Rama Rao. “To gain political mileage and defame the government of Telangana as per the directions of their party prominent leader i.e., KTR and others (sic)”, the remand report says. When TNIE contacted a top police officer over Narender Reddy allegations, he said that the cops have the evidence needed. “We are going on (with the investigation) based on the evidence,” said the police officer. This officer mentioned that a few days back, while he was speaking with the villagers, Narender Reddy told the locals that he would “take on” whoever comes to the village, including collector. CONTINUED ON P4 Buch for its next meeting P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, headed by senior Congress leader K C Venugopal, has decided not to summon Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch for its next meeting on November 19. Buch, who is in the eye of a storm over allegations of conflict of interest raised by US-based short-seller Hindenburg, was asked to appear before the House panel on October 24, but she skipped the meeting at the last hour citing personal reasons. The meeting was postponed after officials informed the PAC about Buch’s inability to attend the meet. Venugopal later said the Sebi chair person had sought exemption but he denied the request. Although her no-show could be considered as contempt of the Parliamentary panel, Venugopal said the committee took a lenient view on grounds of her being a lady . According to the schedule published on Lok Sabha website, the PAC has decided to call representatives of the Ministry of Coal on the financial scam involving Dewan Housing Finance Corporation for its next meeting on Tuesday . It has no mention of summoning Buch and Sebi officials, though it was widely expected. While PAC members did not cite any reason for the omission, sources said the upcoming polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand on November 20 may be a factor. Venugopal’s move to call Buch last time had sparked a political row after BJP members accused him of taking unilateral decisions. The BJP MPs also complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against the Congress MP’s “politically motivated actions”. DALLA EXTRADITION TO BE SOUGHT BY INDIA India said it will seek the extradition of Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, after his arrest in Canada. He was designated a terrorist by India in 2023 | P9 EXPRESS READ Karnataka SIT to probe Covid scam against BSY Bengaluru: The Congress government on Thursday indicated its reported plan to prosecute BJP leaders BS Yediyurappa and B Sriramulu for their involvement in the alleged Covid scam in 2020 | P7 Master forger and aides held after creating 10,000 fake Aadhaar cards, 15,000 EPICs EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad AN online services centre owner, in collusion with a passport agent, a GHMC computer operator and three other private individuals, created 10,000 fake Aadhar cards, 15,000 voter ID cards, 50 passports, 2,000 birth certificates and 1,500 PAN cards since 2015. The police said that by creating these fake IDs, the accused facilitated their customers to apply for new passports and even renewals. An investigation revealed that for Nepali citizens, the accused created 1,000 fake Voter IDs, 750 fake birth certificates, 1,500 fake Aadhaar cards in the last five months alone, using which they managed to obtain Aadhaar and cards needed for them to stay on in India. The Hyderabad police on Thursday arrested six persons in connection with creating these fake certificates. The accused were identified as Yelgam Raj Kumar, who runs an online services centre, his wife Rachamalla Vijayalaxmi, Md Mahboob (a private employee), Kurapati Pallavi (computer operator), Bandi Shankar (passport agent) and Giriraj Anil Kumar, (GHMC contract employee). The police said that Raj Kumar had been running RS Online Service Center at Patny for the last 10 years. He used to create fake IDs like EPIC, Aadhaar and PAN using software. Raj Kumar made changes to addresses mentioned in Aadhaar cards using fake voter ID (EPIC) cards. He also got rub- ber stamps of a gazetted officer surreptitiously made and using them, and forging the officer’s signature, made changes to Aadhaar cards. By using these fake documents, he facilitated his customers to apply for new passports or their renewal. Raj Kumar also created fake birth certificates using which he made changes to name and date of birth in Aadhaar cards. The forgeries were so good that he managed to obtain caste certificates from the MRO office at Marredpally for his customers. The police said that the accused Mahboob is contract worker in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and was authorised to make corrections in Aadhaar cards only at schools, but was in cahoots with Raj Kumar to make easy money .