Coalition government's budget: Countdown begins
Farm loan waiver expected
Bengaluru: The countdown has begun for the presentation of the most expected coalition government's budget which can bring in the farm loan waiver, free bus pass for all students, and increase in aid of pregnant women and widows.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, who is also the Finance Minister of the state, will be presenting the budget at 11: 30 am on Thursday. Since this is the first budget of the coalition government, the expectation of the common man and farmers are high.
Kumaraswamy is expected to reveal the fact about the criteria of Rs 53,000 crore of farm loan waiver along with the clear picture of the alliance government's future and popular schemes in tomorrow's budget session. Along with the common minimum programme, the budget would also reveal how much budget has been allocated for the continuation of the Siddaramaiah-led government's projects.
The budget would also throw light on how Rs 1.25 lakh crore aid for irrigation sector in the next five years, completion of pending irrigation projects, implementation of Israel-model schemes, housing schemes for poor, one crore job creations along with training scheme for employment generation skills would take place. It is interesting to know that which all areas will be preferred including the continuation of 'Health Karnataka' scheme without the discrimination of BPL-APL, education, SC and ST, the welfare of backward classes, industrial development, etc.
All are eying at the budget session to see what would be the plan of the Congress-JDS coalition government which has decided to set up the state of Karnataka as a model state in the country. People also may find the answer to what steps Kumaraswamy would take to reduce the gap between the urban and rural areas.
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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.
