‘Hefty fare collected from Hajj pilgrims’
Minister Zameer Ahmed apprises centre
Bengaluru, July 02: Minority Welfare and Hajj and Wakf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan said that he has apprised the central government that hefty flight fare was being collected from the Hajj pilgrims of the state.
Speaking to Varthabharati on the sideline of the Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha in the city on Monday, the Minister said that he noticed that all fares like travel expenses, accommodation in Mecca and Madina, and luggage expenses were increased. After he had become the Minister, he had discussed those issues with the officials. Instead of the government of India and Hajj Committee, if the state government made all arrangements for the Hajj pilgrims, each pilgrim would save minimum Rs 70000, he said.
Compared to the fee being charged to the pilgrims by the Indian Haj Committee, the accommodation facility being given to Azizia category was not good. Accommodation could be made near the Kaaba Bhavan. But the Indian Haj Committee has been providing accommodation far away, he said.
There was no need to get any subsidy from the Centre. If the government allotted the share in the quota being allotted to India by the Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrims, it would be enough. He brought to the notice of the central minister that the state government was capable of providing all facilities to the Hajj pilgrims.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi responded positively and asked him to come to Delhi again after completing the Hajj pilgrimage of this season. Total 18000 applications were filed from the state for Hajj pilgrimage. Among them, 6624 persons were selected through lottery and 11500 applications were in waiting list. So, he has urged the central minister to hike 2000 seats more for the state, he added.
But Naqvi said that ‘You have come for the first time after becoming the minister. If you had come two months earlier, something could have been done. But a meeting would be held within a week and after that, I would try to increase at least 1000 quota’, he added.
From Bengaluru airport, the first team of Hajj pilgrims would start on August 1. On July 31, the flight travel would be inaugurated officially, he said.
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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.
