Mangaluru airport parking contractor fined Rs 2.58 lakh for charging Rs 5 extra
MANGALURU: The parking contractor at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) has been slapped with a fine of Rs 2,58,500 after a video clip of a customer being charged Rs 5 in excess went viral. The contractor was also made to offer the service by not charging any parking fee on Tuesday.
In the video clip, a customer questions a parking lot staffer for charging him Rs 60 for parking his car while the actual fee is Rs 55 and threatens to complain. The staffer dares him to complain by showing him his ID card. The incident triggered an outrage in social media with people slamming the MIA authorities for their failure to check such incidents.
MIA Director V V Rao slapped the fine on SS Enterprises — the parking contractor. He told reporters that the incident took place about two months ago. It was for the third time that they have received such a complaint. “On first two occasion, the operator was let off with a fine of a few thousand rupees. This time, we decided to fine him 10% of the monthly licence fee,” he said.
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Karnataka govt takes steps to prevent drinking water shortage in rural areas during summer
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Bengaluru (PTI): The state government has initiated proactive measures to ensure that rural communities do not face drinking water shortages during the upcoming summer season, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday.
The district administrations have been instructed to closely monitor the situation and take immediate measures, including hiring private borewells on a rental basis and supplying water through tankers wherever required.
To strengthen water availability, dried borewells will be restored through flushing and deepening, while new borewells will be drilled in unavoidable cases based on technical recommendations from geologists, said Kharge, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, and Information Technology & Biotechnology.
"Along with restoring dried borewells, we have directed Gram Panchayats to conduct water quality testing and ensure proper cleaning of overhead tanks so that safe drinking water is available to rural communities," he added.
An official statement issued by the minister's office said that as several parts of the state experience dry conditions during summer, many existing rural water sources tend to run dry, leading to potential shortages.
To address this, the government has put in place daily monitoring mechanisms and directed officials to take immediate action wherever shortages arise, it said.
To ensure the supply of safe drinking water, Gram Panchayats have been instructed to collect samples from all drinking water sources, conduct water quality testing from at least three tap connections in each village and ensure the cleaning of all overhead tanks as per prescribed guidelines, it added.
According to official data, drinking water shortages have already been reported in 183 villages across 144 taluks in 21 districts of the state.
"Currently, 183 villages are facing drinking water shortages. Of these, 31 villages are being supplied water through 96 tankers, while 152 villages are receiving water through 154 rented private borewells. District administrations have been directed to address the situation on priority," the minister said.
According to him, during March 2026, approximately 1,053 borewells are expected to be repaired through flushing and deepening. In emergency situations, new borewells will also be drilled wherever necessary.
To ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer of 2026, funds for emergency works will be mobilised from the Central and State Drought Relief Funds as well as the department's Task Force funds, he said.
The minister also directed Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, and district administrations to work in close coordination to effectively manage and maintain drinking water supply across rural areas.
