Mangaluru: Ever since Sandeep Patil took charge as the Commissioner of Mangaluru Police in late February this year, several changes were made in the traffic arrangements and regulations with the department looking for ways to improve the traffic management in the city.
In last two months several measures were undertaken, towing vehicles have been introduced for the first time in the city, vehicles checking at different points of the city has been beefed up and special instructions have been issued against several violations of traffic laws to curb the traffic menace.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati one month after taking the charge Patil had made it clear that it was “a very top-priority” for him to resolve the traffic grievances and had indicated that several measures would be taken in this regard in months to come.
According to the data provided by the Office of Deputy Commissioner (Traffic and Crime) to Vartha Bharati, over 18,000 cases of traffic violations have been booked and fine of over 23 lakh rupees have been collected in the month of April.
The data revealed that a total of 18,382 cases of traffic violation were booked in the month of April and fine collection in the month amounted to Rs. 23,20,150/-.
Nearly two thousand cases each were reported of violation of parking rules and driving two wheelers without helmet and fines worth nearly two lakhs were collected under each of the two categories. About one lakh thirty five thousand rupees were collected from the violators of speed limits of which 447 cases were reported.
The department has also initiated a crackdown on the drunken driving in the city over the last few months and in April 604 cases of drunken driving were booked.
Among other major violations reported in the month 2047 cases were reported when the pillion rider on the two wheeler were found not wearing helmet and 1174 cases were booked against violation of seat belt regulations. Over seven thousand cases were booked under “other traffic violation” categories reportedly resulting in 10,96,250 Rupees’ fines collection.
532 cases were also booked for vehicles stopping on Zebra crossing during red signal, causing inconvenience to the pedestrians. A warning was also issued by the department earlier urging motorist to keep the Zebra crossing clear for pedestrians on signals.
The crackdown on traffic violation to smoothen the traffic movement by the department has seen mixed reaction among the general public, a section of which is irked with the towing away of vehicles even if the vehicles are parked at a point for a few seconds. The section of the people believes the department is being harsh with towing away of vehicles, releasing which takes due process and time. On the other hand the section has appreciated the reforms and measures being introduced to ease traffic movement in the city and has lauded the efforts of the department.
The department however, looks resolved to sticking to their plans of curbing the traffic menace and grievances and to ease it for drivers and riders abiding by the traffic rules and regulation.
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Chikkamagaluru: Around 150 families from the Shillekytha fishing community (Scheduled Caste) in Menasuru Ravuru Camp, located near the backwaters of the Bhadra River in NR Pura Taluk, have reportedly been living without a burial ground for nearly two decades.
As a result, they are forced to bury their dead in an islet located a few kilometers away, often using traditional coracles to transport the bodies for the last rites, as reported by The New Indian Express on Friday.
One community member shared the struggles they face, particularly during the monsoon season. “We find water as we start digging a pit. We cover the pit with leaves to prevent water from seeping in before burying the body there,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
During summer months, when the Bhadra backwaters recede, the community members resort to burying bodies along the shore. However, even these temporary solutions come with their own challenges. In some cases, families have had to reuse burial spots where previous bodies were laid to rest.
Repeated appeals to local authorities, including the gram panchayat, taluk administration, local MLA, and other elected representatives, for a burial ground, housing, electricity, and other basic amenities have reportedly gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, a local leader stated that the members of the Shillekytha fishing community are nomads, frequently moving from place to place. He added that this nomadic lifestyle is the reason why the community has been deprived of basic amenities, including access to a burial ground and essential services.