Nationwide transport strike tomorrow
Bengaluru, August 06: Various organizations extended their support to the nationwide transport workers strike on August 7 demanding withdrawal of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill-2017. But the KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation does not support the strike. So, KSRTC, BMTC and other transport corporation buses will be on the roads. Schools and colleges are not declared holiday. Namma Metro service will be as usual tomorrow.
However, auto and taxi drivers, Ola and Uber drivers and owners associations have extended their support. App-based auto, Ola, Uber taxis would be off the roads and this might affect the normal life.
Transport Employees Federation has called for the strike demanding withdrawal of the Motor Vehicles (amendment) Bill, protection to auto and taxi drivers and owners and social security scheme for unorganized workers.
The amendment bill proposed by the central government has become a detrimental to the transport organizations, auto, taxi drivers and owners. So, his organization has extended its support to the strike which demanded the withdrawal of the Bill. But the strike would go on peacefully, said Tanveer, Ola and Uber Drivers Association president.
B Narayana Reddy of the KSRTC Staff and Workers Federation said that his federation is not taking part in the strike called by a few organizations. But the AITUC has called for a fight with a slogan ‘Protect workers, protect country and oust Modi government’ from August 9 to September 18. But some vested interests have been misleading the people which is condemnable, 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.
