Congress government trying to delay Punjab AIIMS project
Chandigarh, Aug 4 : Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Saturday said the Congress government in Punjab was deliberately delaying commissioning of the Rs 925 crore AIIMS project at Bathinda by refusing to give statutory approvals and making the site encumbrance free only because of petty political considerations.
In a statement here, the Union Minister said the Congress government, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, got jittery when the Union Health Ministry recently announced that it would start construction on the site in June this year and start an OPD (out patient department) for diagnostics in February, 2019.
"It seems start of medical facilities for the people of the region was not to the liking of the Congress government which felt the SAD-BJP alliance would get political credit for the same (before the 2019 general elections). It is a shame that the people of the Malwa region are being denied advanced medical care, including much needed cancer treatment, because of such despicable anti-people thinking of the Congress party," Badal, who is the Lok Sabha MP from Bathinda constituency, said.
The centre had earlier sanctioned the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Bathinda, around 230 km from here.
"There could be no other reason for the deliberate go-slow tactic of the Congress government despite the fact that I had repeatedly written letters detailing approvals and civil works needed to start construction on the 177 acre AIIMS project site. Now, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has also again written a letter to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asking him to personally intervene to make the AIIMS project a reality," she pointed out.
Badal said that despite the follow-up by the health ministry, the Punjab government was not according the necessary approvals which would lead to delay in completion of the prestigious project for the Malwa belt, which was affected by cancer and other diseases.
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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.
