Committed to restoring flood-ravaged Chungthang town, says Sikkim CM
Gangtok (PTI): Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday assured that the state government was doing everything to restore and transform flood-ravaged Chungthang into a model town.
Tamang said the Centre was also closely monitoring the situation and providing aid and support for the town's restoration.
"The state government is committed to restoring and transforming Chungthang into a model town," he said after conducting an aerial survey of the town in an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter.
The flash flood in Teesta river that hit the Himalayan state in the wee hours of October 4 left at least 78 people dead in Sikkim and northern West Bengal.
After the aerial survey, Tamang interacted with the disaster-hit families and distributed cheques of Rs 1 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to individuals whose houses were damaged in the flash flood. He also gave Rs 20,000 each to people living on rent after their houses were destroyed.
Tamang said more compensation will be given to the affected people on the basis of assessment of the damage by the district administration.
He also handed over Rs 10,000 each to students who had lost books and essential items in the flood.
The chief minister said the state government will pay 10 months' rent to people of Chungthang whose houses were damaged and are currently living on rent.
The CM said work on an alternate road between Mangan with Chungthang was underway on a war-footing. He added efforts are on to restore connectivity between Chungthang and Lachen.
Tamang thanked the Army, NDRF, ITBP, BRO, SDRF, district administration, local panchayats and people for their help in the aftermath of the flood.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army's Trishakti Corps, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), civil administration and locals are working on a war-footing to reconnect North Sikkim with the rest of the country, officials said.
While the BRO has deployed its men to reconnect the Mangan-Toong-Chungthang route, troops of Trishakti Corps, BRO, civil administration and locals are trying to open the alternate Mangan-Sankalang-Theng-Chungthang route, they said.
"This requires construction of two bailey bridges over Teesta river at the Mangan-Sanklang crossing. Working round-the-clock, the first bridge has been completed on October 22," a statement by the Indian Army said.
"As an immediate response, foot bridges and zip lines were constructed at Chungthang and Sanklang-Mangan crossing. These have enabled movement of people on foot and provision of relief materials through the zip lines established," it said.
"As an immediate relief to restore connectivity up to Chungthang via alternate route Mangan-Sanklang-Theng- Chungthang, troops of Trishakti Corps are undertaking construction of a bailey bridge at Mangan-Sanklang crossing, 200 metres upstream of where a bamboo bridge and zip line was constructed earlier," it added.
The statement said since the width of the river has increased to 600 feet and water running along two channels with a 160-feet island in between, decision was taken to construct two separate bridges.
"The troops of Trishakti Corps finished construction of the 150-feet-long first bridge on October 22. The second bridge is likely to be completed by October 27," the statement added.
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.
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.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"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.
