Commuters, ambulances face inconvenience as heavy rains pile up traffic on Mangaluru roads
Mangaluru: Heavy rainfall in Mangaluru on Monday evening resulted in the submergence of Pumpwell Circle, one of the city's main junctions, leading to traffic disruption and inconvenience for the public. With coastal districts already on an orange alert, the City Traffic Police took the necessary measure of halting the traffic moving towards the city and other areas from Pumpwell.
As a consequence of the flooding at Pumpwell circle, vehicles that were stranded at the junction, as well as those intending to take the Pumpwell route, sought alternative routes towards Valencia and Jeppinamogaru, exacerbating the congestion on the roads. The situation became more challenging as ambulances, trying to navigate through the traffic were inconvenienced due to the traffic congestion.
ALSO READ: 24-year-old youngster in Bantwal commits suicide by hanging himself in his room
Eyewitnesses reported that the heavy traffic caused ambulances entering the city to face difficulties and, in some cases, become scattered due to the congestion. This added to the overall inconvenience caused by the flooding and traffic disruptions at Pumpwell junction.
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.
