HD Kumaraswamy hits out at CM Siddaramaiah for making tall promises in Telangana
Bengaluru, Nov 12: JD(S) Karnataka President H D Kumaraswamy hit out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly failing to implement key poll guarantees in the state, and yet making tall promises in poll-bound Telangana.
Kumaraswamy was referring to Siddaramaiah and the Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's election campaign in Telangana.
Addressing reporters here, the former chief minister said, "Temporary Chief Minister" Siddaramaiah and "Duplicate Chief Minister" D K Shivakumar became a laughing stock for promising five hours of power to the farmers there, when they already receive 24-hour power supply.
"The 'Duplicate Chief Minister' said in Telangana that they have been giving five hours power daily to the farmers in Karnataka and same would be given to the farmers there if Congress is voted to power. They became a laughing stock because the Telangana government is already giving 24 hours power to farmers," Kumaraswamy claimed.
He added that 2.5 lakh posts are lying vacant in Karnataka but Siddaramaiah and his deputy promised in Telangana that two lakh posts will be filled.
The JD(S) state chief claimed that these vacancies were the backlog from Siddaramaiah's previous tenure as chief minister from 2013 to 2018.
Stating that he was speaking from his personal experience, Kumaraswamy claimed, "I recently had a KDP (Karnataka Development Programme) meeting in my constituency. In place of 28 to 30 agriculture officers and personnel needed in just one taluk office, there were three people running the show. This is the situation in just one taluk.
With regard to the Shakti scheme offering free rides to Karnataka women in non-AC government buses, the former CM said the shortage of buses and staff makes him lower his head.
Speaking about the status of the Gruha Lakshmi' scheme offering Rs 2,000 to women heads of families having BPL/APL ration card, Kumaraswamy said the Congress is promising Rs 4,000 to women heads of families in Telangana.
"Why you did not give Rs 4,000 to women head of the family here? They (Congress) are expanding the scheme across the country. (Yet) they have not given even a single rupee to the 10 lakh (eligible) families, stating that computer server has crashed," he alleged.
Coming to the power scenario in the state where Gruha Jyothi scheme is offering 200 units of free electricity, Kumaraswamy claimed that there is frequent load shedding and that the Congress itself had to hold a public meeting using a mobile phone torch in a certain part of the state.
"This is the state of Gruha Jyothi scheme. Mahadevappa and Kaka Patil who were promised 200 units free power are now living in the dark. There are many police stations which are operating in dark," the JD(S) state chief alleged.
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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.
