New Delhi Jan 18 PTI Pregnant and lactating women are informed about the risks of COVID-19 during pregnancy as also the benefits and likely side effects of the vaccination as per the advisory and Standard Operating Procedures SOP the Centre has told the Supreme CourtIn its affidavit the Centre has said that the guidelines issued for monitoring of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccine allows for reporting of any suspected adverse event irrespective of the time interval between the day of vaccination and the day of onset of symptomsAs per the advisory and SOP issued dated July 2 2021 once a woman declares herself as pregnant lactating woman the vaccinator provides them with information about the risks of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy the benefits of vaccination along with the likely side effects of vaccinationThus all pregnant womenlactating mothers who avail COVID-19 vaccination are made aware of the likely side-effects of the vaccination the affidavit saidThe Union ministry of Health and Family Welfare MoHFW has filed the affidavit on a plea filed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights DCPCR seeking direction to the Centre to declare pregnant as well as lactating women as high-risk category to be given priority for COVID-19 vaccinationIt said that if pregnant women decide to get vaccinated the vaccinator marks them as pregnant womanlactating mothers on the CoWIN platform and thus a list of all those women receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is maintained in the databaseOn the petitioners suggestion regarding tracking of Adverse Event Following Immunisation AEFI in hospitals and creating mechanisms for self-reporting through CoWIN or other platforms the Centre said that the current AEFI surveillance system is adequately empowered to handle suspected AEFI related to COVID-19 vaccinationThe AEFI surveillance system collects data of all adverse events related to COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries including pregnant womenlactating mothers The system is time-tested and well equipped to handle adverse effects of vaccination on pregnant womenlactating mothers it saidThe Centre said that under the AEFI surveillance system the District Immunization Officers DIOs have been instructed to set up a network with private hospitals to report adverse events following immunization through Case Reporting Formats as soon as they are informed of any AEFIsThe DIOs also investigate the case and submit reports Training has been given to State Officers and Instructions for training of all medical officers private practitioners and front line health workers on their role in AEFI surveillance related to COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant womenlactating mothers were issued it saidOn the suggestion of medical treatment for pregnant and lactating women who suffer from AEFIs the Centre said it is being provided free of cost to beneficiaries who suffer AEFIs in all government health institutionsStates and UTs have been asked to identify at least one AEFI management Centre in each block State and district authorities DIOCMO or the Block MO have been asked to proactively reach out to all health care service providers such as medical hospitals public autonomous and private and individual practitioners and sensitize them to report any adverse event following COVID-19 vaccine as per guidelines the centre saidIt added that MoHFW has established a patient to doctor telemedicine platform and accordingly a National Telemedicine Service by the name of eSanjeevaniOPD was rolled out nationally by the ministry in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic On September 20 last year the top court had agreed to hear a plea of DCPCR and sought a response from the CentreThe government said that till now 6356743 consultations have been effected on eSanjeevaniOPD which is citizen friendly safe medium to seek health services by citizens in the confines of their homesOn December 3 last year the top court had asked the DCPCR to forward its suggestions if any to the Centre and if required it will incorporate it in the national COVID-19 vaccination programmeAdvocate Vrinda Grover for the DCPCR had earlier submitted before the court that there is a need to declare women in these conditions as high-risk categories and since people are dealing with a virus which they do not know much about there is a need to conduct continuous research on the effects of vaccination on themThere is also a need to create a platform for registry of pregnant and lactating mothers for proper monitoring she said PTI MNL SA

Noida Oct 29 PTI The Supertech Group has informed the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority NOIDA that it would require more than the stipulated three months time to demolish its two multi-storey illegal towers in the city sources said on FridayThe real estate group cited opinion of top experts it had hired for reviewing the demolition plan of the two under-construction tower in sector 93A of Noida and would seek further time extension from Supreme Court for safe demolition the sources saidTop officials however said NOIDA cannot extend the time limit on its own and the developer should abide by the apex courts order or approach it for any changeThe court had on August 31 ordered the demolition of the twin towers which had come up in violation of building bylaws It had set a three-month time line for the demolition which ends on November 30 Supertech Group has informed NOIDA that it approached top demolition experts and agencies for carrying out safe demolition of the towers but without causing any collateral damage to other adjoining towers and housing projects a source privy to the development told PTICiting the opinion of demolition experts the developer has informed NOIDA that it would seek further time extension from the Supreme Court to carry out demolition in a safe manner the source said The real estate group is believed to have engaged five individual demolition experts from various companies for the work with the specialisits suggesting it might take up to five months for completing the work two months for analysis and development of action plan and three months to execute safe demolition and clear the debrisNOIDA CEO Ritu Maheshwari said the Supreme Court has directed Supertech Group to demolish the towers within three months It is their responsibility and NOIDA cannot give any time on its own beyond that Supertech Group has not even submitted any clear detailed plan to demolish the buildings as directed NOIDA has directed them to do that as soon as possible They have to abide by the Supreme Court decision or go to the Supreme Court if they want any change Maheshwari told PTIThe case pertained to realty firm Supertech constructing two 40-storey towers illegally in itsEmeraldCourt housing project premises with over 900 flats and 21 shops in the towersResidents of the housing project claimed their consent was not taken for the twin towers which were being built in violation of norms and moved courtThe Allahabad High Court had in 2014 ordered the demolition of the twin towers with the Supreme Court upholding the verdict in 2021However buyers who have invested their money in these towers hoped their interest would be protected even as the Supertech Group has filed a modification application in the Supreme CourtIn light of the top courts verdict and the Uttar Pradesh governments directions NOIDA has also initiated action in the case and lodged an FIR against 26 of its own officials including those retired four directors of Supertech Group and two architects PTI KIS RHL

Chennai Reiterating that the Tamilnadu Government is taking all necessary action to prevent Karnataka from constructing a dam at Mekedatu across the River Cauvery Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on Monday said that TN will soon file a civil appeal in the Supreme Court against the Order of the National Green Tribunal NGT on the issueMoving the demand for grants for his department in the State Assembly he said the TN government has continuously been conveying its strong objections to the Karnataka and the Union Government on the proposed new reservoir at Mekedatuacross the River CauveryListing out the steps taken by the government Duraimurugan said when newspapers reported that Karnataka has started preliminary works at Mekedatu site the TN Government on April 27 this year requested the Union Government to advice Karnataka not to take any action on the proposed Mekedatu project since the matter is pending in the Supreme CourtDuraimurugan also listed out the steps taken by the government including Chief Minister M K Stalin peronally taking up the matter with Prime Minister Modi all party resolution and the meeting with the union jal sakthi Minister on the Mekedatu issueHe said the TN Government is taking all necessary action to prevent Karnataka from constructing a Dam at Mekedatu or any other place in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka in violation of the Final Order of the Tribunal and the Judgment of the Supreme Court and to safeguard the rights of Tamilnadu