Soren gets 10-days extension from EC to reply to notice over mine lease
BHUBANESWAR: Severe cyclone Asani neared the east coast, packing gale-force winds up to 105 kmph, amid indication of gradual weakening on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reviewed preparedness for severe cyclone.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed nine teams and kept seven more teams on standby in Andhra Pradesh while one team has been deployed and 17 units are on standby in Odisha.
As many as 12 teams were deployed and five teams were on standby in West Bengal while additional teams are also in readiness if required.
“The union home secretary today reviewed preparedness of central ministries, agencies and administrations of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in view of cyclone ‘Asani' in Bay of Bengal,” a home ministry spokesperson said. The cyclone, which was moving at 5 kmph in the morning, gained speed to 25 kmph later in the day, as it lays centered around 210 km south-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and 530 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, according to the latest bulletin issued at 4.30 PM.
The system is expected to recurve on Tuesday evening and move parallel to the coast in the north-northeast direction. The cyclone would have wind speeds of 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph on the Andhra Pradesh coast and 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph on Odisha coast.
Suspension of fishing operations has been suggested.
The union home secretary directed central ministries and agencies to keep a regular watch and be in touch with administrations of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for any help, said the spokesperson.
IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said that cyclone Asani has already achieved maximum stage of intensification and is gradually getting weakened.
"After nearing the Andhra Pradesh coast in the evening, the system will change its course and move off and along the Odisha coast," he said.
Mohapatra said that the severe cyclonic storm will weaken into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and turn into a deep depression on Thursday.
The MeT Department has warned fishermen against venturing into deep sea till Thursday, as Odisha braced for heavy rain in the coastal areas. Rainfall was recorded in Ganjam, Puri and Khurda on Tuesday morning.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said local authorities have been put on alert to face heavy rain and water-logging and asked to undertake evacuation of people from 15 blocks in four coastal districts. Under the influence of the cyclone, Odisha and West Bengal had received heavy to moderate rainfall on Monday.
Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has put its officials on high alert in the wake of possible heavy rainfall triggered by the cyclone and asked them to ensure speedy restoration of railway traffic, a statement said.
It has opened round-theclock disaster management cells at its headquarters in Bhubaneswar and divisional headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Khurda Road and Sambalpur.
ECoR has positioned special teams for early restoration of tracks, signaling system and electrification and also kept on standby diesel locomotives in case of power failure.
RANCHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Tuesday sought a four-week extension from the Election Commission to reply to its notice over charges that he issued a mining lease in the state in his favour, but the poll panel gave him 10 days
The EC had sought Soren's response after it had received a representation that he was allegedly misusing the office of chief minister and therefore he should be disqualified as a member of the assembly. Soren has rejected the charges.
The cyclone would have wind speeds of 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph on the Andhra Pradesh coast and 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph on Odisha coast
The EC had issued the notice to Soren on May 2 asking him to reply by May 10, but the JMM leader had sought four more weeks, citing his mother's ill health among other reasons.
"I have sought at least four weeks' extension of time from the EC for submission of my detailed reply to its notice," Soren told PTI earlier in the day.
However, sources in the national capital said the poll panel gave him 10 days.
Soren said he had also requested the EC to be given the opportunity of personal hearing by the Commission "through my legal counsel before it formulates its opinion in the matter for tendering it to the Governor of Jharkhand under Article 192(2) of the Constitution of India".
The poll panel has received a representation from Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on the issue of "misuse" of office by the chief minister and will send its opinion to him. If the charges are proven, Soren may stand disqualified as a member of the state assembly.