DIDI'S PAIN DADA'S PLEASURE

Mamata Banerjee today announced her "painful decision" to vote for Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential election, seeking to cut her losses once it became clear she was "left with no other option".

"We will vote for Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential election. It is a painful decision. I am finding it difficult to accept it. It was a difficult one for us. I cannot smile while I am saying this," the chief minister told reporters at Writers' Buildings.

Displaying signs of the nimble-footed political instincts that had often bailed her out of adversity, the Trinamul chief conceded that she had run out of options. "For the sake of coalition politics, the people, the state and democracy we have taken this decision. There was no other option before us," she said.

The media conference was convened at short notice after Mamata met party leaders at Writers' this afternoon. After the 30-minute session, Mamata walked out of her chamber to announce the decision.

Mamata explained why she had no option but to vote for Mukherjee. "We could have abstained. Or we had the option of voting for Pranabda or P.A. Sangma. If we didn't vote, that would not have made much difference. If we vote for Pranabda, he gains the 50,000 votes that we have. I feel that for the larger interest, we have to vote in his favour," Mamata said.

Trinamul sources said Mamata was clear that she could not vote for Sangma as she did not want to be seen voting along with the BJP.

Mamata's decision means that Trinamul voters and those of the Left will vote for the same candidate. The CPM's support for Mukherjee played a role in prompting Mamata to go with the UPA and reduce chances of a renewal of contact between the Congress and the Left.

Before stepping out of her chamber, Mamata had already dialled the Prime Minister who could not attend her call. But Manmohan Singh called back, following which Mamata informed him of her decision and the Prime Minister thanked her. Calls from Sonia Gandhi and the presidential candidate would follow.

"I have been in touch with the Prime Minister and also Soniaji. She knew my mind," Mamata said. "He asked me whether we would support Pranabda. I told him 'you will be happy to know that we have decided to support him'. He was very happy."

Mamata, whose clout in the UPA is under stress after the presidential poll manoeuvres droveMulayam Singh Yadav closer to the Congress, sought to shed her image as the trouble-maker-in-chief. "We have not struck any deal. This is for the sake of coalition politics," she said.

Trinamul sources said compulsions of running the state government had also forced Mamata's hand. "By supporting Pranabda, Mamata has shown that she is committed to the UPA," said a senior Trinamul minister.

Sources in Delhi said the Centre might offer a financial package but that would be out of concern over the state of affairs in Bengal and not because of any quid pro quo deal.

The chief minister tried to address criticism that she had allowed her personal preferences to stand in the way of a Bengali becoming the President for the first time. Mukherjee is "Banglar manush. So, I took this opportunity to vote for him", Mamata said.

She insisted that her initial choice of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was correct but he did not agree to contest because of "political non-co-operation".

The presidential load off her mind, Mamata retreated to her chamber to paint flowers on canvas.

Tanmoy Bhaduri, Kolkata

Little Rainfall, but Mumbai sees Flood

The first few showers have already brought with it a rising number of virulent forms of conjunctivitis, which not only takes weeks to heal but also has corneal complications.

The outdoor patient departments (OPDs) of city hospitals are flooded with conjunctivitis cases, in addition to fever and respiratory problems.Over the last one week, hospitals have recorded a sharp rise in patients suffering from acute conjunctivitis.

Dr Harshvardhan Ghorpade, consultant ophthalmologist at Fortis Hospital, said, “Around 20% of the conjunctivitis cases that I am getting are with corneal complications, where we see white spots on the cornea and there is a drop in vision.”

According to ophthalmologists, patients suffering from viral conjunctivitis experience severe pain and more redness, which can last for weeks. “This may be because of the mutation of the virus. All that people can do is be careful and embrace hygiene to prevent getting the disease,” added Dr Ghorpade.

Dr Nagendra Shah, consultant eye specialist at Bombay Hospital, said, “It is best to treat the viral conjunctivitis at the onset and show it to a doctor instead of self-treatment. The delay in proper treatment is worsening the virulent form of conjunctivitis. Also, we are getting cases were the viral conjunctivitis is associated with fever and upper respiratory problem. So, the doctor should not only concentrate on the eye, but also look out for the other problems.”

Dr Pranay Kapadia, an ophthalmologist, said: “This is a good time for the conjunctivitis-causing bacteria to spread.People need to be careful with hygiene so that it does not spread. Also, the spread of conjunctivitis can be checked by avoiding touching the eyes frequently.”

Experts have warned people against self-medication or buying eye drops without consulting a specialist, as it can be dangerous. 

City hospitals have also witnessed a rise in cases of viral fever, malaria, typhoid, and pneumonia in the last one week.

Animals Killed as Assam Flood Waters Fill Parks, Sanctuaries

The severe floods in Assam have resulted in the killing of a number of animals and inundation of large areas of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the world-famous Kaziranga.

TANMOY BHADURI

The animals which lost their lives in the annual scourge include two highly endangered one-horned rhinos, senior Forest Department officials said.

In the Kaziranga National Park, wild animals such as elephants, hog deers, swamp deers, buffaloes and wild boars have moved out of the park for shelter and food to the higher reaches of neighbouring hill district of Karbi Anglong.

                                                                             FLOOD DEVASTATION IN ASSAM                                                                                                          

A one-horned rhino, a wild boar and 22 hog deers drowned in the swirling waters that have covered a vast portion of the Park.


Another 15 hog deers and a wild boar were killed after they were knocked down by vehicles on the National Highway 37 which passes through the Park.


Last evening, Kaziranga oficials recovered a carcass of a one-horned rhino from the Karbi Anglong hills.


It is presumed that the rhino, which escaped from the rising waters, was a victim of poaching as its horn is found missing.


More than a hundred wild animals, mainly hog deers, were also rescued and released in the Panbari reserve forest and Kukurakata reserve forest.


"Round-the-clock vigilance has been arranged on the NH-37 and nearby high ground outside the Park. Animals which moved out to higher ground, particularly towards Karbi Anglong, are being guarded round the clock," an official said.


The administration of Golaghat district where Kaziranga is situated, has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC on NH-37 between Bokakhat and Jakhalabandha to regulate speed of vehicles in an effort to prevent accidents.


Barricades have been placed at strategic points on the vital NH-37 with additional deployment of staff.


"Two mobile veterinary squads have been deployed to ensure proper rescue and rehabilitation of the marooned and distressed wild animals," the official said.


Latest reports, however, said that the flood water has started receding from several stretches in the Park.


In the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in upper Assam, 18 hog deer were rescued, while two others drowned.


In the Manas National Park which borders Bhutan in lower Assam and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district of central Assam, there was no report of death of animals despite huge swaths being under water.

TRIBUTE TO TARUN SEHRAWAT : PHOTOGENIC

Singed innocence A child outside his house in Tadmetla, torched by security forces

Home? A young mother with her baby in Tadmetla, Dantewada, standing in what’s left of her house

Living on ashes Madvi Pisse with her family in Tadmetla, salvaging grain in their burnt-down kitchen

Last sign Aidma Kaher was threatened by SPOs in Abujmarh to keep mum about Operation Hakka

Scarred remains Rava Kosa, a tribal in Dantewada, whose house was burnt down by security forces in a combing operation in March 2011

Monsoon's Impact on Indian Economy

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an average monsoon in 2012, retaining its earlier forecast in April.

CLASSIFICATION

An average or normal monsoon means rainfall between 96 and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 89 centimetres during a four-month season from June, India's weather office says. Rainfall below 90 percent of the average is considered a drought.

ARRIVAL

The monsoon season starts with the arrival of the rains on the southern Kerala coast around June 1. Its progress triggers planting of summer crops.

PROGRESS

After hitting the south coast, it takes about a week to cover the coffee, tea and rubber growing areas of south India. It spreads to the rice areas of eastern parts in the first 10 days. It usually covers half of the country in the first fortnight and enters the oilseed-producing areas of central India in the third week of June. Cotton areas in the western region get rains by the first week of July. It covers entire country by mid-July.
Half of India's farm output comes from crops planted during the first half of the June-September season.
Here are some facts on the monsoon and its impact:

CROPS

RICE : Farmers sow paddy at the start of the monsoon in June and the key areas are in the east and south. The crop is heavily dependent on rains for irrigation.
A bumper harvest last year led the government to lift a four year ban on exports and rainfall within the average will erase any chance of a return of the export ban for the world's second largest producer of the grain after China.
SUGARCANE : An average monsoon will help the world's top sugar producer after Brazil to keep its free export policy on sugar in the new season from October 1.
OTHERS : Corn, lentils, oilseeds and cotton -- important crops in western and central India -- have some dependency on the seasonal rains. India remains a net importer of lentils and cooking oils and domestic output can alter overseas purchases. An average rainfall could allow the world's second biggest producer of cotton continue with its free policy on overseas sale.

ECONOMY AND MARKETS

-- The monsoon rains are vital for farm output and economic growth in India, the world's second-biggest producer of rice, wheat, sugar and cotton. Farm sector shares for about 15 percent of India's nearly $2 trillion economy, Asia's third biggest.
-- India is largely self-sufficient in major foodgrains such as rice and wheat, but drought can send the country to global markets. In 2009, India had to import sugar, sending global prices to record highs and pushing up inflation.
-- Higher farm output would rein in food prices and help the government to take steps to cut the fiscal deficit and farm subsidies. India's food inflation rose to 10.66 percent in May from 10.18 percent in April, latest figures show.
-- A stronger economic outlook can lift sentiment in equity markets, mainly of companies selling products in rural areas, including consumer goods and automobiles.
-- Monsoon rains impact demand for gold in India, the world's top consumer of the metal, as purchases get a boost when farming incomes rise amid high crop output.
IRRIGATION, POWER
-- Monsoon rains replenish reservoirs and lift ground-water levels, allowing better irrigation and more hydropower output.
-- Higher rainfall can cut demand for subsidised diesel, which is used to pump water from wells for irrigation and makes up for about 40 percent of India's oil products demand.