Senior IAS officer L K Atheeq conferred 'Great Son of Karnataka Award'
Atheeq started his administrative career in Mangaluru
Bengaluru: Senior IAS officer L K Atheeq, who has a close connection with coastal city of Mangaluru, has been conferred the 'Great Son of Karnataka Award' instituted by All India Conference of Intellectuals, in recognition of his contribution to the society and to the development of the state in various capacities over the course of his career.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at Hotel Radisson Blu Atria in Bengaluru on April 12 in the presence of former Supreme Court judge and chairman of the Press Council of India Justice Chandramouli Kumar Prasad as Chief Guest. A conference on the theme 'The freedom of expression - The Constitution' was also organised on the occasion.
In his current position as Secretary of Rural Development in Government of Karnataka has brought in several changes and has initiated various projects for the Rural Karnataka. His tenure has seen drinking water, sanitation and other basic amenities accessible to people in rural Karnataka.
Atheeq, who is now serving as the Principal Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayath Raj for Government of Karnataka, has previously worked as the Director at Prime Minister’s Office and also as Joint Secretary to Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Atheeq has also served as the executive director of World Bank for three years’ tenure in Washington DC, USA during the course of his glorious career. Upon his return from the US, he was appointed principal secretary to the then Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah.
An upright officer known for his integrity, work ethics and people-friendly approach to bureaucracy, Atheeq hails from a agricultural family from Pavagada, Tumakuru, and is married into a Mangalorean family. He also began his administrative career as assistant commissioner of Mangaluru.
About the Award
All India Conference of Intellectuals is an organization championing the cause of humanism, and was inaugurated in the year 1980 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Former Election Commissioner of India Dr G V G Krishnamurthy is the president of the organization.
Previous winners of the award include eminent personalities such as former Chief Justice of India Padma Vibhushan Justice M N Venkatachalaiah, Kapil Sibal, former governor Justice Anshuman Singh and others.
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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.
