Youth Congress activists cane-charged outside Himachal assembly
Shimla, Aug 24: Agitating Youth Congress activists were cane-charged outside the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday over deteriorating law and order in the state, including drug-related incidents. At least 10 of them sustained injuries.
The protesting activists, who were joined by their party leaders, including legislative party leader Mukesh Agnihotri and state president Sukhwinder Sukhu, were lathicharged by the police after the protest turned violent outside the assembly premises.
The police also used water cannons to disperse them.
Earlier, the Assembly could not take up the question hour due to protests by the Congress. The opposition legislators were demanding debate on law and order.
As soon as the question hour started, the Congress members shouted slogans against the government when Speaker Rajeev Bindal refused to accept their demand at that point.
Later, Congress lawmakers walked out of the assembly.
In the post-lunch session of the assembly, the opposition legislators again staged a walkout when they came to know that the police used water cannons to disperse the Youth Congress activists.
They staged a sit-in outside the Assembly gate.
The assembly session, however, continued despite the Congress walkout.
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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.
