Karnataka Congress holds protest against move to shift ISRO's programme to Gujarat from Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 1: President of Karnataka Congress D K Shivakumar, along with the party affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI), staged what the party called a symbolic protest in front of the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) office here on Wednesday.
The protest, the Congress said, was against any move to shift the Indian Human Space Flight programme of the space agency from Bengaluru to Gujarat and called it a matter of State's pride.
Shivakumar recently shot off letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai opposing any such move amid some reports of such a plan being under consideration of the Central government.
NSUI members shouted slogans, held placards and posters which read "Stop Shifting ISRO to Gujarat '', "Stop Privatisation ''.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said human space flight programme should not be shifted out of the State for any reason.
"It is a matter of Karnataka's pride; they (Central government) are planning to shift the Human Space Flight programme out of Bengaluru, it should not happen. Let them start any other new project or programme there in Gujarat, but it is not right to shift the programme that began and is running here," he said.
"It (the move to shift) is purely political to please the bosses from Gujarat. They first wanted to shift the airshow out of Bengaluru, but withdrew only after Kannadigas protested...what is the scientific reason behind the plan to shift the programme from Bengaluru," he asked.
Also alleging attempts to privatise important national agencies and assets, the KPCC chief said ISRO should not get included in the list of organisations that have been sold to private hands after airlines, hotel and public sector companies, among others.
He urged the Central government to come clear on the issue.
Launched in 2007 by ISRO, the Indian Human Space Flight programme is aimed at development of technology needed to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into low earth orbit.
ಇಸ್ರೋ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ಸಂಕೇತ, ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನದ ಪ್ರತೀಕ. ಗಗನಯಾನ ಯೋಜನೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಕೈಬಿಡುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಯೋಜನೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲೇ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ ಅಂತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೂ ಈ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಿಡಲ್ಲ. ಇದು ರಾಜಕೀಯೇತರ ಹೋರಾಟ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) December 1, 2021
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ಬಾಹ್ಯಾಕಾಶ ಕುರಿತ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಸಿನಿಮಾಗಿಂತ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಬಜೆಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂಗಳಯಾನದಂತಹ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತ ಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಿದ ಇಸ್ರೋ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಭವಿಷ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ಕನಸುಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದೆ. ಇಂಥ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಖಾಸಗೀಕರಣಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು ಖಂಡಿತ ನ್ಯಾಯಯುತ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವಲ್ಲ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೂ ವಂಚಿಸಿದಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) December 1, 2021
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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.
