Govt deliberately delaying Lokayukta appointment: G Parameshwar

March 12, 2012

Udupi, March 12: KPCC President G Parameshwar has alleged that the State Government was deliberately delaying the appointment of Lokayukta as the BJP is petrified with the inquiries done by Lokayukta institution against Yedyurappa and other ministers over mining issue.

Speaking to media persons, KPCC President said the government seems to be not in hurry to fill the vacant post of Lokayukta. It should come out with the justification for not appointing Lokayukta.

Moreover the government has failed to take action against the report given by the then Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde. Besides, it has neither accepted the report nor rejected it.

He demanded the government to immediately make it clear that whether Lokayukta report is accepted or not and also give reasons for accepting and if not accepted the reason for it.

The report had charged as many as 187 officials. The government has not taken action against any of the officials. Parameshwar also urged the government to announce its decision following the quashing of FIR by the High Court against Yeddyurappa.

He asked what would be the future action taken by the government on Lokayukta report.

He also demanded government to give an account of the funds assured by the government to institutions especially that of religious in nature. Yeddyurappa had given as many as Rs 397 crores during his tenure as CM and currently Sadananda Gowda has also assured a sum of Rs 3 crore to a religious institution. He said there should be debate in Assembly followed by the approval from financial department to release funds exceeding Rs 2 crores, he added.

He said the Centre has released as many as Rs 4,250 crores to Karnataka under natural calamity relief fund during last four years. However, the State government has released only Rs 250 crores, he alleged and demanded that the government should work on war footing to overcome the drought situation in123 taluks in the State.

He said the BJP candidate for Udupi-Chickmagalur Lok Sabha by-poll Sunil Kumar has unlawful background with the cases like Padmapriya's suspicious death, Dattapeeta and also his involvement in Bajarangdal.

He requested the voters to make a comparative study between the candidates and go for the candidate who is non-corrupt, non scandalous and people-friendly.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

Comments