nanika Editor - The Purbottar

27 Aug

826 People Remain Unaccounted for After Bhotekoshi Flood

nanika EditorInternational, Nepal

The number of people unaccounted for after Wednesday’s devastating Bhotekoshi flash flood in Nepal has risen to 826, including residents, security personnel and tourists, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Among those missing are 44 Nepali Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police officers and 13 members of the Armed Police Force. A total of 162 people from Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts remain out of contact. The Nepal Tourism Board said 590 tourists—476 foreigners and 114 Nepalis—have also not been reached by authorities. Among the foreign tourists, 177 are Indian nationals, followed by 63 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 34…

26 Aug

L&T Secures Major Gas, Offshore Contracts Amid West Asia Revival

nanika EditorBusiness

Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) has secured 13 orders since early July, including seven from West Asia, signalling a revival in business activity in the region following disruptions caused by the US-Iran conflict. While L&T discloses order values within broad ranges rather than providing exact figures, estimates suggest the company’s average order inflow for the quarter ending September 30 could reach around ₹1.11 trillion, surpassing the ₹1.08 trillion recorded in the previous quarter. Even under a conservative estimate, the new orders could be worth about ₹93,800 crore. West Asia remains a strategically important market for L&T, contributing roughly one-third of…

25 Aug

Tawang Pushes Responsible Tourism and Stronger Waste Management

nanika EditorArunachal Pradesh, North East

A review-cum-coordination meeting was held in Tawang on Monday to strengthen the protection of drinking water sources supplying the township and improve waste-management practices. Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo reviewed findings of a fact-finding committee and the actions taken to prevent activities that could contaminate water sources. The meeting brought together representatives from the district administration, Tawang Brigade, Border Roads Organisation, Public Health Engineering Department, education department and Monpa Mimang Tsogpa. Key discussions included proper disposal of construction waste, road-widening activities and the need for septic tanks and soak pits to prevent contamination. The Deputy Commissioner asked the Tawang Brigade…

24 Aug

Natural Farming Gains Focus in Dibang Valley Awareness Programme

nanika EditorArunachal Pradesh

More than 50 farmers participated in an awareness and orientation programme on natural farming organised by the Dibang Valley Agriculture Department at Anini on Sunday. Held under the supervision of Anini ADO Duyu Udi, the programme was attended by ZPM Siyo Miwu, Mipi CO Anmol Singh, GPC Dumpi Mega, farmers and members of the local community. Dibang Valley KVK agroforestry expert Neelam Sunny sensitised participants to the principles and practical benefits of natural farming, highlighting the use of indigenous bio-inputs such as beejamrit and jeevamrit to improve soil health, reduce dependence on external inputs and promote sustainable cultivation. Farmers were…

22 Aug

Nagaland Steps Up Power Capacity with Fourth Private Sector Renewable Project in Mon District

nanika EditorNagaland, North East

The Department of Power, Nagaland, has taken a significant step toward boosting its renewable energy infrastructure by signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with M/s Tvaksas Renewable Pvt. Ltd. for a 20 MW solar power plant at Lapa Lampong village in Tizit, Mon district. Signed at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, the agreement marks the state's fourth private-sector power generation initiative. With Nagaland's peak power demand currently standing at 203 MW and projected to reach 482 MW by 2034–35, Chief Engineer (T&G) Er. Nitovi A. Wotsa emphasized the critical need to expand generation capacity through both state resources and private partnerships.…

21 Aug

Fairfax Weighs CSB Bank Sale or Merger Ahead of IDBI Deal

nanika EditorBanking

Canada’s Fairfax Financial, a frontrunner for acquiring the government and LIC’s stake in IDBI Bank, may be given up to two years to consolidate its existing banking interests in India, according to sources. The proposed transaction, valued at more than $5 billion, would be the largest foreign investment in an Indian bank and is currently in the final stages of approval. Under Reserve Bank of India rules, an entity cannot own and operate two separate banks. Fairfax owns around 40% of CSB Bank, creating a regulatory requirement if it acquires control of IDBI Bank. Sources said Fairfax could either sell…

20 Aug

Home Minister’s Siliguri Visit to Focus on Northeast Connectivity and Border Security

nanika EditorSiliguri

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Siliguri on Thursday for a three-day visit focused on border security and the strategic Siliguri corridor, also known as the Chicken’s Neck, which connects the Northeast with the rest of India. Accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, senior Union Home Ministry officials and central security force personnel, Shah is expected to review security arrangements along the region’s borders. On Friday, he will visit the Sashastra Seema Bal’s Siliguri Frontier headquarters at Ranidanga, where he is scheduled to perform the bhoomi pujan of a new administrative building, interact with…

19 Aug

Healthcare Workers Demand Timely Salaries Under NHM-PPP Model

nanika EditorArunachal Pradesh, North East

Around 250 doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers engaged under the NGO-Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in Arunachal Pradesh have demanded the immediate release of their pending salaries, which they say have not been paid since March. The workers said prolonged salary delays have caused serious financial hardship, with similar instances in the past reportedly resulting in payments being withheld for several months and released only partially. Despite the uncertainty, they continue to provide essential healthcare services in remote and difficult areas, including emergency care, maternal and child health services, immunisation, disease screening and outpatient care. The…

18 Aug

Nestlé Targets Growing GLP-1 Market With New Nutrition Products

nanika EditorBusiness

Nestlé is seeking to turn the rapid growth of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs into a business opportunity by developing nutrition products tailored to users of medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The company is using artificial intelligence and nutritional science to study clinical research, identify nutrient combinations and develop products aimed at addressing challenges associated with rapid weight loss, including muscle loss, dehydration and reduced nutritional intake. Nestlé has already introduced products such as Boost Advanced Nutrition Shake in the US, containing 35 grams of protein, while a higher-protein version of Milo has been launched in Asia and Australia. Its Vital…

17 Aug

Ola Electric Unveils New Battery Storage Solutions from Home to Grid

nanika EditorBusiness

Ola Electric has unveiled an expanded Shakti energy storage portfolio aimed at enabling energy to be stored when available and deployed when needed, from powering homes during outages to supporting renewable energy at grid scale. Announced on India’s 80th Independence Day, the portfolio is built around indigenous lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology and Ola Electric’s vertically integrated cell-to-system capabilities. Ola Shakti comprises three solutions designed for different applications: Shakti Gen2 for home energy storage, Shakti Rack for commercial and infrastructure requirements, and Mahashakti for industrial and utility-scale applications. Ola Electric Chairman and Managing Director Bhavish Aggarwal said the company’s…