Credit for CM's village stay programme goes to entire coalition: Dy CM Parameshwara
Bengaluru, Jun 24: The credit for Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's 'Grama Vastavaiya' (overnight stay in villages) outreach programme goes to the entire coalition government, not JD(S) alone, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said Monday.
'Grama Vastavya' is aimed at taking administration to the people.
"This is coalition government, the Chief Minister is not alone for JD(S), he is Chief Minister for the entire state.
If he does grama vastavaiya will it (credit) go only to JD(S)? It will go to entire government," Parameshwara, who is from the Congress, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "We are taking the administration to people, it is not taking Janata Dal to people."
'Grama Vastavya' is a popular programme that Kumaraswamy had launched during his first stint as Chief Minister heading the BJP-JD(S) coalition government in 2006-07.
During his previous stint, Kumaraswamy used to spend the nights at villagers' houses as part of the initiative.
This time, however, he has decided to stay in government schools.
Kumaraswamy did his first grama vastavya of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government at Chandaraki village in Yadgir district on Friday, while the stay at Herur village in Kalaburagi rural taluk on Saturday was postponed in the wake of heavy rain.
He will be in Karegudda in Raichur district on June 26.
Responding to a question about the Congress taking part in the CM's outreach programme, Parameshwara said, "Our minister and karyakartas were all there, when we do they (JDS workers and leaders) will also come."
Kumaraswamy had recently said he has asked all his ministers and mlas to do grama vastavaiya separately.
The statement by the deputy chief minister is being seen as an attempt by the Congress to claim credit for the popular programme fearing that it may entirely go to the JD(S) alone.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
