tirupati l saturday l december 10, 2022 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION Sushmita Shukla APPOINTED nO 2 OF NY Federal Reserve The Indian-origin insurance sector veteran, 54, has been named First Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of New York Fed Did engg from mumbai, mba from new york To take charge in March 2023 Shukla has an MBA from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Mumbai. She has served in leadership roles in insurance industry for nearly 20 years and has extensive experience leading large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives, as well as in-depth knowledge of technology and Agile innovation methods ■ ■ The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks which, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, DC, make up the United States’ Federal Reserve System Sushmita Shukla will take over as the second ranking officer with effect from March 2023, the New York Fed said in a statement Largest tHE NY fed is the BIGGEST reserve bank in terms of assets and volume of activity 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 Cyclonic storm to make landfall between Sriharikota & Puducherry today, weaken into depression by afternoon Seven districts in AP brace for mandous E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirupati/Vijayawada Under the impact of Cyclone Mandous, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in one or two places in Prakasam, Annamayya and Sri Satya Sai districts, and heavy rainfall at one or two places in Nellore, Tirupati, Kadapa and Anantapur districts. According to the IMD’s bulletin at 8 pm on Friday, the cyclonic storm Mandous moved northwestwards at a speed of 14 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred about 110 km southsoutheast of Chennai and about 80 km southeast of Mamallapuram at 6.30 pm. It is expected to make landfall between Sriharikota and Puducherry anytime between Friday midnight and Saturday early hours. “It is very likely to move nearly northwestwards and cross North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph, gusting to 85 kmph between Friday midnight and early hours of Saturday,” the Met department said. After making landfall, it will gradually weaken into a deep depression by early morning and into a depression by Saturday noon, it added. Meanwhile, under the impact of the cyclonic storm system in the Bay of Bengal, the south costal districts received light to moderate rains with cold winds making their presence felt. Heavy rains were reported in pockets of Tirupati, Nellore and Prakasam districts. The sea along the coast of the State was rough. Due to the high-velocity winds, electric poles and trees at a few places in Nellore and Tirupati were uprooted. As a precautionary measure, NDRF teams were deployed at Kavali, Nellore, Gudur, Chittoor to take up rescue and relief operations, wherever needed. A total of five NDRF and four SDRF teams were deployed P2 in four districts.  H a r p r eet B a j w a @ Chandigarh Under the impact of the cyclone, several mandals in Tirupati district witnessed 7 cm rainfall on Friday | Madhav K Highest rainfall reported in nellore Muthukur mandal in Nellore district received the highest rainfall of 9.7 cm in the State by 6 pm. Half-day holiday was declared for all education institutes in Annamayya, Kadapa, Chittoor, Tirupati and Nellore districts on Friday due to the downpour Control room numbers Nellore 1077 Precautions for south coastal AP till Dec 10  People asked to remain cautious while moving outside and around vulnerable structures  Total suspension of fishing operations  Regulate onshore and off-shore operations  Regulate traffic Nellore municipal corporation 18004251113 & 0861-2301541 RTI Act not applicable to Collegium discussions: SC THE Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea seeking full details of the Collegium meeting that took place on December 12, 2018 under the RTI Act, saying the discussions and consultations among Collegium members can’t be disclosed as they are not final decisions. A bench of judges M R Shah and C T Ravikumar said a decision is termed final only after it is formally drawn and signed by all Collegium members. Till then, it can only be considered a “tentative decision”, which can’t be put in public domain. “During the consultation if some discussion takes place but no final decision is taken and no resolution is drawn, it cannot be said that any final decision is taken by the Collegium,” the court explained. The SC’s order came on a plea filed by RTI activist Anjali Bharadwaj seeking the agenda, minutes and resolution of the 2018 Collegium meeting. According to the autobiography of former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, the 2018 meet had agreed to elevate the then Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and the then Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon to the SC. However, the decision was kept in abeyance after the news of their elevation was leaked. The petitioner also cited an article written by a former Collegium member expressing disappointment over the SC’s failure to upload the decision taken at the December 2018 meeting. While dismissing the plea, the bench cited a subsequent resolution passed by the Collegium on January 10, 2019, indicating that no final decision on elevating the two judges was taken in the 2018 meeting. Vigil stepped up 2 NDRF teams and one SDRF team deployed in Nellore 126 rehabilitation centres set up in Tirupati 169 people from lowlying areas moved to relief centres in Chittoor Chittoor 94910 77356 Kadapa 08562-246344 Annamayya: 08561-293006 Likely issues during landfall  Damage to thatched houses/huts  Minor damage to power and communication lines  Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of small trees  Damage to paddy, other standing and horticulture crops  Inundation/localised flooding in low lying areas  Traffic may be disrupted A day after wresting power in Himachal Pradesh, newly elected Congress MLAs on Friday passed a typical one-line resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to name their chief minister. Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh leads the race for the hot seat followed by former state unit chief Sukhiwnder Singh Sukhu and outgoing Congress legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri. The first meeting of the legislature party at Shimla had to be postponed thrice before it began late in the evening. The resolution authorising Kharge to name the new CM was moved by Agnihotri and seconded by Sukhu. After the meeting, AICC’s Himachal Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla flanked by Pratibha, Sukhu and two party observers — Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda — made the announcement about the resolution. “Both our observers will give their report to the high command in a day or so. Then the decision on the new CM will be made,’’ he said. Shukla claimed that no MLA proposed any name and it is for Kharge to take the call. How- ever, sources claimed that all MLAs were told to give two names for CMship along with their merits and demerits. Right through the day, both Pratibha and Sukhu were lobbying will party MLAs seeking their support. While Pratibha met Baghel, Hooda and Shukla, Pratibha Singh’s loyalists raise slogans demanding her selection as CM before Bhupesh Baghel’s vehicle, in Shimla | PTI Sukhu remained elusive during the day amidst speculation that he was keeping his flock of MLAs intact. Before the CLP meeting, Pratibha’s supporters raised slogans outside Congress Bhawan in Shimla, demanding that she be made the CM. Pratibha did not contest the Assembly election as he represents mandi in Parliament. However, she campaigned extensively across the state and sought votes in the name of her late husband Virbhadra Singh’s legacy . Salt water stagnation kills coconut trees in K’seema No disclosure SHRU T I K A K K AR @ New Delhi Himachal Congress authorises Kharge to decide CM pick S T r i m u r t h u l u @ Amalapuram Brazil’s Neymar fights for the ball with Croatia’s Dejan Lovren during their World Cup quarterfinal match in Doha on Friday. At the time of going to print, the scores were levelled 1-1 after completion of extra time | AFP Super Saturday Defending champions, France, seek to move past free-scoring England while Portugal face Morocco test. A look at the remaining quarterfinals... Mbappe main man Kylian Mabppe has already scored five goals and will like the chance of running at an England defence. It’s no surprise that most of the focus is on him. But England, who have scored the most number of goals, will know they possess the tools to upset the defending champions. Situation surrounding Portugal The European outfit were at their attacking best in their 6-1 dismantling of Switzerland. They were fluid and it largely had to the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Whoever plays up front, they will find Morocco a tough nut to crack. Today Matches Portugal vs Morocco 8.30 PM | France vs England 12.30 AM (on Sunday) express read Rudraraju assumes charge as APCC chief Vijayawada: Gidugu Rudraraju on Friday took charge as the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, along with four executive presidents Mastan Valli, Janga Gautam, Sunkara Padmasri and P Rakesh | P4 Ex-CBI joint director to contest from Vizag Visakhapatnam: Former CBI joint director VV Lakshminarayana has said he will contest again from Vizag Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 elections. He took the decision following representations from various sections of people | P4 Amalapuram in BR Ambedkar Konaseema district is known for its coconut groves. However, the trees in 11 villages, spread across 25 km in the district, now resemble lifeless pillars. Saltwater entering the groves due to illegal sand mining by private contractors has been reported to be the reason for the withering of coconut trees in P Gannavaram, Sakhinetipalli, and Malikipuram mandals. Besides, aquaculture done using brackish water is also said to be another cause for the slow death of coconut trees in the picturesque Konaseema region. The district has 11,861 aqua ponds in 35,154 acres. Of the total, cultivation in 23,128 acres is done with fresh water, while the rest of the area is under brackish water aqua cultivation. Increase in aquaculture and use of brackish water has adversely affected agriculture. Even though fresh water is used in some of the aquaculture ponds, chemicals and med- Soil fertility in about 25 km land affected due to unrestrained sand mining in 3 mandals of Konaseema icines used for aquaculture have a negative impact on soil fertility . Pvt member UCC bill introduced in RS Rajesh Kumar Thakur @ New Delhi A massive uproar erupted in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour on Friday after BJP member Kirodi Lal Meena sought permission to introduce a private member bill on the uniform civil code (UCC). The proposed Uniform Civil Code of India Bill 2020 drew stiff opposition from various parties, which feared that it could result in national disintegration. However, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal (BJP) stood by Meena’s ‘legitimate right’ to raise an issue that comes under the directive principles of the Constitution. The bill seeks to set up a national inspection and probe panel for preparation of the UCC. Members of the Congress, CPI, CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress were vocal in their opposition, saying it will destroy India’s social fabric. When Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar put the motion to vote, it was passed with 63 ayes against 23 nays. CPI (M)’s John Brittas said the UCC is neither necessary nor desirable in the country. Santosh Kumar (CPI) called it a dangerous bill. Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said that the proposed legislation carries an idea that is totally contrary to the country’s fabric of secularism. While UCC is an article of faith for the BJP the party , line is it will be done through legislation in BJP-ruled states and not via a Central law. India’s Soft power G20 events to showcase Yoga, Ayurveda and herbal products K AVI TA B AJ E LI - D AT T @ New Delhi The Centre plans to use the G20 events spread across the country during India’s presidency to promote India’s tradi, tional medicine, indigenous products like herbal tea, and recipes based on Ayurveda. To boot, traditional medicine experts will be around to share personalised diet and well-being tips to foreign delegates, said Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Ministry of Ayush. “We have proposed that in all the meetings, there should be yoga sessions for which we will be the knowledge partners,” he told this newspaper. Kotecha added that the ministry has already successfully tried it at the recent SCO meeting held at a five-star hotel in Goa. “We coordinated with the chef on some recipes based on Ayurveda, to be served to the delegates. The recipes were sourav roy highly appreciated,” he said. For G20 events, the plan is to organise a full-fledged yoga session, a five-minute yoga break or both, along with promotion of traditional medicine through different activities such as prakriti pariksha (Ayurveda’s unique way of determining the body type of an individual). Explaining the five-minute yoga break concept, the official said it’s a short routine in which meditation and stretch- ing can be done in sitting and standing positions. “All these are science-based, which our experts will help the delegates with,” Kotecha said. A scientific software will be used for prakriti pariksha. “We will inform the delegates how they can become healthy without consulting a doctor. They can achieve it by changing their diet, exercise, and sleep pattern. These are customised recommendations,” he added. Further, salt water flowing through the villages and stagnating in low-lying areas of cultivable lands has disrupted the livelihood of people dependent on coconut groves. It has been estimated that soil fertility in about 25 kilometers land has been damaged due to unrestrained sand mining. As a result, farmers in Sankaraguptam, Padamatipalem, Kesanapalli, Turpupalem, Gollapalem, Pallipalem, Gudapalli and Gubbalapalem villages in Malkipuram mandal have been P4 facing several issues.  YSRC MP seeks amendment to enumerate BCs E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada YSRC MP V Vijaya Sai Reddy introduced a private member bill in Rajya Sabha on Friday seeking an amendment to the Indian Constitution to provide for caste enumeration of people from Backward Communities (BC). Explaining the reasons for the private bill and its objectives, he said India is home to a diverse population belonging to a broad array of castes. This necessitates the availability of latest and extensive data on caste so that the Central and State governments can design effective policies for affirmative action and resource redistribution, Vijayasai Reddy added. The caste data was first enumerated in India within the general census undertaken in 1872 and continued for the next six decades until 1931. However, in the post-independence era, in every census conducted so far from 1951 to 2011, no caste data, besides Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), has been collected, he P4 pointed out.