Coal Mine Expansion Norms Eased Amid Supply Crunch

HT Daily News Wrap

Coal mine expansion norms eased amid supply crunch, covid-19: Booster dose gap cut to 3 months for those traveling overseas, Karnataka govt to deliberate more on OBC quota in local body polls, bowlers have a night out as Mumbai eliminate Chennai, and other top news in this bulletin.
The Union environment ministry has relaxed the mandatory compliance norms for coal mining expansion projects citing higher demand for coal amid an ongoing power crisis — a move that has been criticised by environmentalists, especially since the coal ministry has said there is no shortage of coal in the country. According to the revised norms, coal mines with environmental clearances (EC) to expand by 40%, can now expand by up to 50% without any environment impact assessment or public consultation. Indian citizens can take a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine as soon as three months after second doses if they are set to fly abroad, the government announced on Thursday, reducing the gap for the so-called precaution doses to allow international travellers to meet conditions imposed by several countries. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the Co-WIN platform will be tweaked to allow people to book the third doses under the new rules shortly, while government officials aware of the matter said no proof of travel will be required for those seeking the third dose. The Basavaraj Bommai-led state government on Thursday said it will continue deliberations on the issue of providing reservations for backward classes in local body elections before it can hold the polls. Karnataka’s minister for law and parliamentary affairs JC Madhuswamy told HT on Thursday: “The chief minister, me, legal experts have all discussed this issue today but it hasn’t concluded and we will take it up again day after or on Monday.” The southwest monsoon, which usually arrives in Kerala on June 1, marking the onset of rains critical to Indian agriculture and the rural economy, will likely arrive slightly early over Kerala, and, based on its current progress, is a week ahead of schedule. It is already advancing towards South Andaman Sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal, and will reach these locations by May 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its forecast on Thursday. This year, six films from India narrating diverse stories infused with myriad hues of the country’s culture will be coming alive on the screen at the upcoming Cannes film festival. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has shortlisted six films which will be screened at the 10-day film festival, which starts on May 17. The lineup includes R. Madhavan’s Rocketry – The Nambi Effect (Hindi, English, Tamil), Godavari (Marathi), Alpha Beta Gamma (Hindi), Boomba Ride (Mishing), Dhuin (Hindi, Marathi) and Tree Full of Parrots (Malayalam). On a lively Wankhede Stadium track, batters struggled to cope with pace and bounce before Mumbai Indians (MI) prevailed by five wickets in a low-scoring Indian Premier League match to end Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) slim hopes of making the play-offs. After electing to field on winning the toss, the MI pace attack blew away the CSK batting line-up which was left ruing the non-availability of the DRS at the start of the match. Opener Devon Conway was unlucky to be given out leg-before on the second ball of the match when DRS was not available due to a technical snag but the rest of the line-up collapsed in a heap and CSK were all out for 97. It was their second lowest total in IPL after 79 versus MI at the Wankhede Stadium in 2013.