The New Indian Express Wishes its readers a Our offices and press will remain closed today and there will be no issue of the paper on Friday BENGALURU  THURSDAY  MARCH 19, 2026  `9.00  PAGES 22  LATE CITY EDITION GOVT APPROVES `33,660-CR SCHEME TO DEVELOP 100 INDUSTRIAL PARKS The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across the country PLUG-AND-PLAY MODEL FOR FASTER GROWTH `2,585 CR TO BOOST SMALL HYDRO PROJECTS Under the scheme, industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1,000 acres will be taken up for development with financial support of up to `1 crore per acre. BHAVYA’s plug-and-play model with pre-approved land, ready infrastructure, and integrated services, will significantly reduce entry barriers for investors, the government said in a press release | P15 ■ ■ Other decisions include a new `2,585 crore scheme to support the development of small hydro projects with capacities between 1 and 25 megawatts, by providing 30% of the project cost or `3.6 cr per MW The Cabinet also approved more than `1,718 crore to help the Cotton Corporation of India provide direct price support to cotton farmers `6,969 cr TO BUILD 4-LANE ACCESS-CONTROLLED HIGHWAY IN UTTAR PRADESH 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 Turkmenistan Gulf oil sites on edge as Iran’s gas field hit Honour killing Bill tabled in Syria state Assembly EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru Israel Th THE Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition (Eva Nammava, Eva Nammava) Bill, 2026, was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday . The proposed legislation aims to curb caste-based discrimination and protect intercaste couples, amid concerns over honour killings and social ostracism. The bill also stresses on minimum five years imprisonment if any killings in the name of ‘honour’ and, if any injury, three years’ imprisonment with penalty extending to Rs three lakh penalty for grievous injury and for simple hurt, it is two years with Rs two lakh penalty The offense is to be cog. nizable and non- bailable. The bill seeks to ensure freedom of choice in marriage, prevent caste-based crimes, safeguard human rights, promote the dignity of inter-caste marriages and establish “Eva Nammava Vedike” to solemnise inter-caste marriages. This Vedike shall consist of retired judge, police, revenue officer along with sub-registrar. The government may in consultation with , the High Court, designate District Courts as special fast-track courts to try cases related to honour-based crimes and offences under this Act. P7 ed eR S ea EXPRESS READ 17 killed as massive fires break out in Delhi, Indore New Delhi: Devastating fires in Delhi and Indore on Wednesday killed 17 people, many of them children, and gutted several shops in busy markets in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, triggering panic and large-scale firefighting operations. Nine members of a family, including three children, were killed after a massive fire tore through a multi-storey residentialcum-commercial building in southwest Delhi’s Palam area. In Indore, eight members of a family were killed after a fire broke out at a local businessman’s threestorey house following an explosion at an EV charging point outside the building. P12 Israeli strike prompts Tehran to warn UAE, Saudi, Qatar AGENCIES World’s largest natural gas deposit @Tehran /Tel Aviv/Dubai/ Washington IN a major escalation in the ongoing war in West Asia, Israel on Wednesday bombed Iran’s huge South Pars natural gas field, prompting an angry Tehran to threaten to retaliate by striking the energy assets in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar “in the coming hours”. The strike on South Pars has the potential to set off a chain reaction that could stifle the entire Gulf region’s economic lifeline amid disruption in oil production and movement. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson ter med the strike—carried out by Israel with the concurrence of the US—a “dangerous and irresponsible” escalation that put global energy security at risk. Iran’s Tasnim news agency, quoting Iranian officials, said Tehran would strike Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex, UAE’s Al Hosn gasfield, and Qatar’s Ras Laffan refinery and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company . South Pars, located off the coast of southern Iran’s Bushehr province, is the world’s largest natural gas deposit which Iran shares with Qatar. Targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure is seen as a major escalation as the US and Israel have till now held back on any move that could invite an Iranian retaliation against other producers in the region, which could set oil prices on fire. On Wednesday, Brent prices hovered over $108 per barrel— up from $70 just weeks ago. Israel on Wednesday said it also eliminated Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in overnight strikes. On Tuesday, Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted Israeli strike. In a first, Israel publicly stated that all senior Iranian officials would be its military’s targets from now on. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorised the Israel Defense Forces to target any senior Iranian official for IRAN South Pars gas field Strait of Hormuz QATAR DAY 19 Gulf of Oman UAE OMAN SAUDI ARABIA Yemen Gulf of Aden Smoke rises from a building following an Israeli strike in central Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday | AP whom an intelligence and operational opportunity arises, without the need for additional approval,” Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said. Meanwhile, in a body blow to US President Donald Trump’s justification for starting the war with Iran, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that Iran was not trying to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capacities that were destroyed in a June 2025 US-Israeli attack, under Operation Midnight Hammer. “As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme was obliterated. There have been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,” Gabbard said in a written testimony to the Senate P14 intelligence committee. DAY’S DEVELOPMENTS  Iran confirms assassination of top intelligence official Esmail Khatib in an Israeli strike  India to prioritise domestic fuel demand amid requests from neighbours Indian vessel ‘Jag Laadki’ carrying over 80,000 MT crude oil reaches Gujarat’s Mundra Port Two K’taka women shine at Jal Mahotsava TWO women from the state’s rural areas – Anitha and Channamma – were honoured during the ongoing Jal Mahotsava 2026 for the smooth implementation of rural water governance under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). President Droupadi Murmu, who felicitated them, appreciated them for their contributions. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising Jal Mahotsava 2026 from March 8 to March 22. While Anitha of Muddatanuru was honoured for her efforts to ensure 24/7 water supply to Muddatanuru Gram Anitha and Channamma receive awards from President Droupadi Murmu Panchayat, Channamma received the award for ensuring that every house in Sarawad has tap water connections with round-the-clock supply . Anita who worked alongside the Gram Panchayat and the Village Water and Sanitation Committee in Ballari, said, “I went door to door to identify households that lacked water S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi AMID complaints about airlines levying high additional charges for allocating seats on flights, the Union civil aviation ministry on Wednesday directed that a minimum of 60% of seats on all domestic flights be allocated free of charge. In another passengerfriendly measure, the ministry asked airlines to ensure that passengers traveling on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) are seated together. “Passengers travelling on the same PNR are to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats,” the ministry said in a release. The airlines were also directed to bring out clear, transparent policies for carrying pets on board. Besides, they must ensure that carriage of Arabian Sea GRASSROOTS SHEROES EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru No extra fee for 60% of seats on domestic routes for fliers Afghanistan Turkey Pakistan EVA NAMMAVA Caspian Sea connections and encouraged them to apply for it. I also helped in the operation and maintenance of the water supply system, coordinating with water supply staff, monitoring daily distribution and reporting leakages or breakdowns for timely rectification.” Channamma, a resident of Sarawad GP in Vijayapura district, said, “As an Anganwadi worker, I reached out to families and created awareness about responsible water use and safe drinking water practices. I also encouraged every family to responsibly use and maintain their piped water connection.” I went door to door to identify households that lacked water connections and encouraged them to apply for it. I also helped in the operation and maintenance of the water supply system Anitha of Muddatanuru sports equipment and musical instruments on board are facilitated in a transparent and passengerfriendly manner without compromising on applicable safety and operational regulations. Additionally, all airlines must strictly adhere to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations, and denial of boarding. The rights of passengers must be prominently displayed across the airline’s websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters, the ministry said. “60 per cent seats free of charge, assured seating together for families, and clear, transparent norms for carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments & pets,” Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X. Belagavi man poisons 15-day-old daughter to death E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @Belagavi IN a shocking incident, a 15-day-old infant was allegedly poisoned to death by her father in Ukkad village of Belagavi district. The grieving mother accused her husband, Bhimaraya, of administering poison to their newborn daughter. The infant had been born just two weeks ago. According to family members, Bhimaraya had come to visit the baby when the incident occurred. They alleged that he brought a small tube and used it to feed a poisonous substance to the child. Soon after, he fled the scene, raising strong suspicion. Tension prevailed outside the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS), where the family staged a protest with the infant’s body, demanding justice and immediate action against the accused.