Karnataka govt announces Rs 5 lakh compensation to kin of children who drowned in Bengaluru lake
Bengaluru, Oct 23: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday announced a slew of measures for flood relief in Bengaluru, including strict clearing of stormwater drain encroachments.
A compensation of Rs five lakh will be provided from the BBMP to the family of two children who drowned in Kengeri lake on Tuesday, he said.
The Bengaluru development Minister also said that Rs 10,000 compensation has been announced for owners of homes which are flooded.
Temporary housing and food arrangements will be made for those who are displaced.
“We have instructed the officials to clear stormwater drain encroachments across the city without any mercy. We have also started desilting drainages for smooth flow of water, with a loan of Rs 1,000 crore from the World Bank,” he said.
Addressing reporters, he said, “Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda is working on desilting drainages in the city. We have also taken up desilting of many lakes under various schemes. We will shortly call for a meeting of Lake Management Committee.”
“Private individuals have got stay from the court to prevent action against encroachment of stormwater drain and they are not letting BBMP take action. Emergency situations allow us to clear encroachments," he added.
The Deputy Commissioner of BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) and Bengaluru Development Authority have been ordered to ensure all stormwater drain encroachments are cleared without any delay.
"At times like these, our priority is to save the lives of citizens and we will not let court cases come in the way,” he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
