Construction of Konappana Agrahara Metro Station
MoU inked with Infosys Foundation
Bengaluru, July 19: The Metro Corporation on Thursday signed an MoU with the Infosys Foundation to construct Metro station at Konappana Agrahara near Electronic City in Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore being invested by the Foundation.
Speaking at a programme organized at the Vidhana Soudha Conference Hall here, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that if all the private companies reserved just 2 per cent of their profits for the development of the city just like Infosys Foundation, Bengaluru city could be developed. Metro train was very necessary for Bengaluru city to ease the traffic burden. In the first phase, 47 km work was completed and the second phase work was also started. It was commendable that the Infosys Foundation has joined its hands with this work, he said.
“Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy has decided to construct the Metro station and maintain it for next 30 years and it shows her commitment and love towards the land. The Infosys has contributed for the development of the state in its own way. The government would support the Infosys programmes. Through Infosys Foundation, the Infosys has been funding a portion of its profit for cancer hospital, education sector and other social works. It has a lion share in the development of the state”, the CM recalled.
Sudha Murthy a model to country: DCM
Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar said that by contributing to the development of the city, Sudha Murthy has become a model to the country. There were big industries and software companies in the city. As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility funds, if the companies reserved just 2 per cent of their profits and join hands with the government, Bengaluru city would become more safe, developed and peaceful in coming years, he said.
Ministers RV Deshpande, DK Shivakumar, KJ George, HD Revanna, Dr Jayamala, UT Khader, Sa Ra Mahesh, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Mayor Sampath Kumar, Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar, Urban Development department additional chief secretary Mahendra Jain, BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Sheit and others were present on the occasion.
“I am doing a little service to the state. I feel my Karnataka is my country. If I do something to my Karnataka, it means I have served my mother. I am doing this service to my mother. Metro is the best transportation means to Bengaluru city. The Foundation is constructing the station and it will help the people if the train service resumed on this route shortly”.
- Dr Sudha Murthy, Infosys Foundation Chairperson
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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.
