Nearly a month after a Maharashtra activist alleged a massive scam in the supplies and availability of key anti-viral drug Remdesivir injections, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner has finally ordered a probe.
Taking cognizance of a petition by Barrister Vinod Tiwari, the CVC has ordered the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers to investigate the issue in detail.
In a communication to Tiwari dated May 11, the CVC has said that the complaint has been duly examined by the Commission and having regards to the nature of the issues raised therein , it has been sent to the CVO of the ministry for a probe.
As states impose fresh lockdowns of varying durations and intensity to arrest the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows that medium-duration travel bans are counterproductive they trap migrants in cities that are COVID-19 hotspots long enough to expose them to the virus, which they then carry to their home districts. These findings are based on the study of return migration out of Mumbai between March and August 2020, covering the first national lockdown and the subsequent unlock phases. The study also took into account the epidemiological data on the rise in infections in the home districts of the migrant workers.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray. File
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In the editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Sena also said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had acknowledged Maharashtra’s efforts in mitigating the second wave of the pandemic. The Shiv Sena on Tuesday described Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as the “family doctor” of the 12 crore people of the State, saying his “caring attitude” and efforts have prevented the State from crossing the “danger level” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Sena also said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had acknowledged Maharashtra’s efforts in mitigating the second wave of the pandemic.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. According to ED sources, the case was filed on the basis of the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Earlier in April, the CBI had conducted raids at four premises of Deshmukh after registering an FIR against him in connection with allegations made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. An FIR was filed based on section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120 B).
Mumbai, May 11
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been asked to explore the possibility of global procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray said on Monday. “Looking at the need for adequate vaccines to ensure that vaccination is swift & efficient, after discussing the issue with CM Uddhav Thackeray ji, as guardian minister of Mumbai, we have asked @mybmc to explore possibilities of global procurement of vaccines,” Thackeray said in a tweet.
He further discussed other measures to improve and increase vaccination efforts. “We are also working on a method to ensure that the non-tech savvy citizens and those who can’t operate the CoWin app with easehave access to vaccines in time, he said.