PMO pressurised officers to cancel ration cards: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that the Prime Minister's Office has "pressurised" its officers to cancel around 3 lakh ration cards in the national capital because of which poor are struggling for food.
On his Twitter account, Kejriwal shared a video report by AajTak news channel, which showed families, whose names were struck off the ration list.
In the video, Harjeet Kaur, who has been living in South Delhi's Savitri Nagar village with her family for the past eight years said on many occasions, the children in her house had to sleep hungry because they had no food in their home.
"I have been taking ration for many months now but ever since the fingerprint scanner system came in, I have not been able to avail my share of ration. Now, suddenly, they (the central government) sent me a notice that my ration card has been cancelled," she said.
On Twitter, Kejriwal wrote: "Despite strong objections by the Delhi government, the Prime Minister's office (PMO) created pressure on the officers to cancel ration cards. Now, look how the poor are suffering. The PMO should not have cancelled the ration cards."
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj had flayed the BJP government for "defending officers responsible for large-scale corruption in ration distribution system in Delhi."
"It was the responsibility of Food Commissioner's officials to conduct a door-to-door survey to ensure genuine ration card beneficiaries were not denied their right," he said.
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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.
