HYDERABAD  TUESDAY  OCTOBER 08, 2024  `9.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION U.S. SCIENTISTS WIN NOBEL MEDICINE PRIZE FOR DISCOVERY OF microRNA Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA, the tiny pieces of genetic material that alter how genes work at the cellular level VICTOR AMBROS GARY RUVKUN A NEW PRINCIPLE OF GENE REGULATION: JURY PROMISING WEAPON IN FIGHT AGAINST CANCER Though each cell in our body has the same set of instructions, called DNA, some turn into brain cells, while others become muscles. That’s because microRNAs regulate genes at cellular level, acting as a switch that turns genes off or on. “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a new principle of gene regulation essential for multicellular organisms,” the jury said ■ ■ Ambros and Ruvkun discovered microRNAs during their study on two mutant strains of worms. The study’s results were published in 1993 As microRNAs allow us to control the behaviour of genes, they could help in treating various diseases. In cancer patients, they can be used to cause the mutated gene in the cancer cells to stop its activities | P9 Dec 10 WHEN NOBEL LAUREATES ARE INVITED TO RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS 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 India extends $400 mn assistance to Maldives, signs a slew of pacts Musi project consultancy services awarded to consortium `3,000 cr currency swap deal to address forex shortage; RuPay card launched in Malé Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi Siddu plays caste census card, sets Oct 18 for cabinet discussion EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru AMID the growing demand from leaders of Backward Classes (BC) to implement the socioeconomic and educational survey report, popularly known as caste census, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a decision on implementing it will be taken after a discussion at the cabinet meeting on October 18. However, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries Kumaraswamy said the Congress is talking about the caste census report to divert attention from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority sites allotment case against Siddaramaiah. He dared the Cong ress to dissolve the Assembly and go for elections with the caste census issue. After a meeting with ministers, legislators and leaders from Backward Classes, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka was the first state in the country to conduct such a survey during his first tenure as chief minister from 2013 to 2018. The survey report was submitted to the state government in February Siddaramaiah said . legislators and leaders from BC communities have urged him to implement the recommendations of the report. However, sources said even after cabinet discussion, a cabinet sub-committee is likely to be formed to look into the report and give its recommendations. CENTRE MULLS REVIEW PLEA IN SAFARI RETREATS CASE Govt may move Supreme Court seeking a review of its recent verdict allowing commercial real estate firms to claim input tax credit on construction costs for their rental buildings | P10 PM Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu virtually inaugurate the new runway at the Hanimaadhoo Int’l Airport, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi | PTI dow. The agreement would be valid till June 18, 2027. The SAARC currency swap framework is designed to offer short-term foreign exchange liquidity to member countries experiencing balance of payments stress or foreign exchange shortages. It serves as a temporary solution until more permanent financing arrangements can be made. The bilateral meet saw the signing of several agreements, including the launch of RuPay card in Maldives and enhancing the relationship between the two nations to a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership. PARTIES BRACE FOR J&K, HARYANA VERDICT TODAY P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi WITH the counting of votes for Haryana and J&K assembly elections on Tuesday, the results would hold significance for all major players, coming as they do three months after the Modi government assumed office for the third consecutive term. While Haryana witnessed the first direct contest between the BJP and the Congress after the Lok Sabha polls, the mood is upbeat in the grand old party as most of the exit polls predicted its smooth win. If the exit poll results are validated in Haryana, it will be a shot in the arm for the Congress and the INDIA bloc in the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections. The party is hoping to keep up the momentum of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where a resurgent Opposition INDIA bloc reduced the ruling BJP to 240 seats. For the Congress, victory in Haryana would indicate a strong support from the farmers and the Dalit community, which constitutes 20% of the state’s population. However, a tussle for EXPRESS READ INDIA on Monday took a major step in healing the strained ties with the Maldives by enhancing its development assistance to the cash-strapped nation and signing a slew of pacts, including a `3,000 crore currency swap agreement. After the bilateral talks with the visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $400 million support to the island nation to overcome its financial challenges. Announcing the details, the Reserve Bank of India said it has entered into a currency swap agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework 202427. Under the pact, the MMA is eligible for financing support from the RBI amounting to $400 million under the US Dollar/ Euro Swap Window and `3,000 crore under the INR Swap Win- Modi and Muizzu virtually inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and witnessed a live transaction using a RuPay payment service card in the Maldives. The airport’s redevelopment under Indian Line of Credit of $132 million aims to provide complete new infrastructure including ATC tower, hangar, cargo facilities, and passenger terminal building. The two leaders agreed to bolster bilateral ties that had hit a rocky patch last year after some Maldivian ministers tried to fan anti-India sentiments. Stressing India’s historic relations with the Maldives, Modi said New Delhi has supported Malé in times of crisis. “India has always been the first responder for Maldives whether it was essential commodities or vaccines,” he added. Muizzu thanked India for the assistance. “We hope to welcome more Indian tourists to Maldives,” he said. the chief minister’s post can mar the glory of a Congress victory with former CM Bhupender Singh Hooda and his bete noire Kumari Selja vying for the top post. Despite the exit poll results, the ruling BJP is confident of retaining power for a third term. Apart from the BJP and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party INLD-BSP , and JJP-Azad Samaj Party are also in the fray . In the keenly watched J&K polls, some pollsters have given an edge to the CongressNational Conference alliance while others predicted a hung assembly. These polls are the first since the abroga- tion of Article 370. While the BJP is hoping to form the government in ‘Naya Kashmir’ with the help of Independents, the Congress-NC alliance has also begun backchannel talks with other parties. J&K saw the entry of a large number of Independents and smaller parties like the People’s Conference, Apni Party and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP). The PDP, which severed its ties with the BJP in 2018, is hoping to emerge as a kingmaker. On Monday, NC president Farooq Abdullah said he will “accept PDP’s support from the core of his heart”. Security personnel stand outside a counting centre in Jammu, a day before the counting of votes for Jammu & Kashmir Assembly polls on Monday | PTI HC orders govt to take back land allotted to ‘inactive’ firms Hyderabad: In a significant ruling, the Telangana High Court has directed the state government to cancel land allotments made to industries that have not initiated construction or taken steps to establish businesses. The order was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Campaign for Housing and Tenural Rights (CHATRI), represented by its secretary S Jeevan Kumar | P2 CM A Revanth Reddy with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Monday CM seeks Central aid for flood relief, Musi project trunk sewers, large-size box drains, and new sewage treatment plants at a cost of `4,000 CHIEF Minister A Revanth crore, Revanth explained. Reddy on Monday met Union The chief minister also subHome Minister Amit mitted the DPR to REVANTH’S Shah and Union Urban the Union minister DEMANDS Development Minister and sought swift perInclusion of Manohar Lal Khattar mission for the Hyderabad’s in Delhi and sought improject to pave the Comprehensive mediate release of way for commencing Sewerage Master `11,713.49 crore for flood work. Plan in AMRUT 2.0 In his meeting with relief and the Centre’s 50:50 JV between assistance for the Musi state and Centre for Shah, Revanth sought Riverfront Develop- executing Metro rail release of `11,713.49 crore for the repair ment Project. phase 2 expansion of infrastructure Explaining the concept behind the Musi Immediate release of damaged by recent `11,713 crore rains in the state. The project to Khattar, the for flood relief CM reminded Shah chief minister said that of his letter on the river, which runs for 55 km through Hyderabad, September 2 and the report subis being flooded with sewage mitted to the Centre by a Central across the city To prevent this, team on September 3, pegging . a Detailed Project Report has estimated damage at `11,713 CONTINUED ON P4 been prepared for constructing crore. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad THE state government has awarded consultancy services for aggregate master planning of the Musi Riverfront Development Project (MRDP) to the consortium of (1) M/s Meinhardt Singapore Pte. Ltd., with (2) M/s Cushman and Wakefield India Private Limited and (3) M/s RIOS Design Studios Pte. Ltd for `166.48 crore based on the recommendations of the Tender-cum-Evaluation Committee. The administrative sanction was given for a total amount of `166.48 crore, which includes `141.08 crore for consultancy services and `25.39 crore towards GST at the rate of 18 per cent. The MRDP is a major urban planning initiative of the state government aimed to conserve the river, promote tourism and prevent flooding. With the selection of the consortium, the state government has authorised Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited to issue a Letter of Acceptance (LoA). HYDRAA LAUNCHES APP | P3 Satellite images of a lake at Kistareddypet in Ameenpur mandal in 2014 (left) and 2023 (right); it is now fully encroached 498 of 920 Hyd lakes encroached: Bhatti M A N DA RAV I N D E R R E D DY @ Hyderabad OUT of a total of 920 water bodies in Hyderabad, 498 were partially or fully encroached upon till 2023, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka revealed on Monday . Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat here, the deputy chief minister, using data based on satellite imagery , disclosed that 269 tanks were fully encroached. Of these, 44 were fully occupied after the formation of a separate state in 2014, he noted. A further 229 of the 920 water bodies have been partially encroached. Stating that the government is committed to protecting lakes and government lands, Bhatti Vikramarka asked opposition parties to give suggestions in this regard. He accused the opposition of creating confusion on HYDRAA and Musi Riverfront Development Project by levelling 269 tanks fully encroached in capital 920 Total number of water bodies in Hyderabad 2014 2023  269 fully encroached  229 partially encroached 225 tanks fully encroached by the time Telangana state was formed in 2014; 196 partially encroached and 499 intact till 2014 20 tanks, which had no encroachments till 2014, completely occupied by 2023 24 that were partially encroached till 2014, were fully encroached by 2023 false allegations against the government. “Lakes in Hyderabad do not belong to me or Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. They belong to people and they should be safely and carefully handed over to the future Mukkasani Kunta SOME WATER BODIES THAT SAW MOST ENCROACHMENTS BETWEEN 2014 & 2023  19.15 acres of Mukkasani Kunta in Puppalaguda, Gandipet mandal  11.58 acres of a lake in Mallapur, Uppal mandal  9.98 acres of Fox Sagar in Doolapally, Dundigal mandal generations. This is our government’s agenda,” the deputy chief minister asserted. Bhatti Vikramarka clarified that there was no scope for personal or vested agenda. CONTINUED ON P4 CHECKMATE Global conflicts take the moolah out of the Amritsar chess industry H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh A bustling industry of chess kits with an international clientele is struggling due to global uncertainty following the Israel and Ukraine wars. Before the wars broke, chess kit manufacturers in Amritsar sold goods worth about `20 crore, of which 75% was exported. Export orders are now down by 70-80%. Wooden chess kits are among the sought-after gift items during Christmas and New Year, yet there is little demand as of now. “Though winter is our busiest season, most of us hardly have any orders,’’ rues Rishi Sharma, a third generation manufacturer, who says his business took a 40% hit last year. He proudly claims he made a chess set for English business magnate Richard Branson in 2021. Amritsar has a small but specialised industry of about 35 medium and small chess manufactures. They employ around 500 highly skilled artisans plus another 1,000 semi-skilled workers to make the wooden pieces and sets. It’s a craft that has been passed from generation to generation. The artisans take great pride in their artistry as they use simple implements to carve the exquisite pieces. For example, the carving of a knight itself takes 5-7 days. The cost of their chess kits range between `5,000 and `25,000 depending on the quality, design, material and craftsmanship. “We were exporting to the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, Ukraine, Iran and Israel. But with inflation rising IVORY TO RED SANDALWOOD TO SHEESHAM Before Independence, chess pieces were carved out of ivory. When ivory was banned, it was replaced with red sandalwood. When that too was prohibited, manufacturers shifted to sheesham. Now that sheesham is on the restricted list, chess pieces are made from Kikkar as well due to global uncertainty, our industry has been affected,’’ says Sharma. The cost of raw material and labour, too, have gone through the roof. Then there is the issue of obtaining a ‘Vriksh Certificate’ from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The certification process started in 2018 takes 15-30 days to get as every minute detail of each sheesham tree from where wood for the chess pieces are sourced are to be recorded and shared. “Due to these stringent rules restricting the sale of sheesham, the market share of wooden chess sets has declined sharply says Sharma. ,’’ Surjit Singh Ahuja, another Amritsar-based exporter, says, “when a Netflix web series, The Queen’s Gambit released in the UK in 2020, it was a worldwide hit and our sales went up manifold. The bounce continued till December 2022 before it tapered down.’’