DCM stresses for a stringent law to control pollution
Bengaluru, July 31: Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar said that though the city was not in the list of ten most air polluted cities, there was a need to bring in a stringent law to control the air pollution in the city.
Speaking at a symposium organized by the C-40 City Global Air Quality Forum and BBMP here on Tuesday, the DCM said that the scenario of the entire world has changed drastically in the last 30 years. After globalization, the country has witnessed a lot of development. Along with development, the country also witnessed air and environmental pollution. The pollution level should not cross beyond 60 units in the country. But it was 292 in New Delhi, 272 in Faridabad, 262 in Varanasi. Those cities have been facing the problem due to highest air pollution. But the happy news is that Bengaluru was not in the list of top 10 polluted cities. The city is below 60-70 units. But the concern it was not in the list of safest places, he said.
Cities like Mandya, Mangaluru and Bhadravati were placed in the list of cities which have below 60 units. But the Bengaluru city has developed a lot in the last ten years. The population has increased from 23 per cent to 36 per cent. As the basic infrastructure was also increased considerably, the pollution level was also increased, he said.
“When I was the student, there were trees around Bengaluru city. There was a clean environment. The temperature was just 27 degree Celsius. The normal temperature in the city was just 23 degree Celsius. Because of this reason, people from other places migrate to Bengaluru and settle here. But the city has changed a lot in the last ten years. The population is 1.3 crore and 72 lakh vehicles are plying in the city. In a hurry to provide basic facilities, the city is being polluted and it should be controlled with effective implementation of a stringent law. Otherwise, the city will have to face worse days ahead”, he warned.
There was a need to bring in a suitable law to control the pollution. Awareness should be created among people and students. The government has planned various programmes to ease traffic congestion. This would also control the pollution. So, it was the responsibility of every individual to create peaceful and pollution-free city for the next generation, he said.
Mayor Sampath Kumar, deputy mayor Padmavathi, Education Department Principal Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and others were present.
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.
MK Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene after Saudi cancels 52,000 private Hajj seats
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene after Saudi Arabia abruptly cancelled approximately 52,000 Hajj seats allocated to private tour operators. The move has triggered widespread anxiety among Indian Muslim pilgrims preparing for the upcoming pilgrimage.
In his letter, Stalin expressed deep concern over the “sudden reduction” in India’s Hajj quota for private operators, describing the development as a matter of urgent concern. He emphasized that many pilgrims, including those from Tamil Nadu, had already made full payments and were left in distress due to the uncertainty caused by the cancellation.
"I request that the matter may be taken up with the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urgently and seek an expeditious remedy,” Stalin wrote, expressing hope that PM Modi’s intervention would help restore the cancelled quota and provide reassurance to affected families.
India had signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia in January 2025, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Hajj 2025. This was split in a 70:30 ratio between State Hajj Committees and private operators—allocating 1,22,517 seats to the former and 52,507 to the latter.
However, Saudi Arabia has now reduced the private Hajj quota by nearly 80 per cent, affecting close to 52,000 Indian pilgrims. The decision reportedly stems from revised policies and stricter timelines for private tour operators, which several failed to meet despite repeated reminders.
In a partial relief, the Saudi government has agreed to India's request to reopen the Hajj Portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), allowing an additional 10,000 pilgrims to register under the private category.
