‘Surprise’ pollution check
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has decided to crack down on air pollution due to vehicle emissions in the city. It announced that it will conduct a four-day ‘surprise’ special drive to monitor and test vehicles that are flouting the emission rules. So far, so good.
But on Thursday, the pollution control board issued a press note with a full timetable of the ‘surprise’ special drive from June 21 to June 25, including the timings (11 am to 1.30 pm) and even the place on each day. All violators have to do is to find alternative routes that day.
The hapless Transport Department was left to request the press not to publish the places and time of the ‘surprise’ special drive.
Dress code
There is a certain decorum that is expected out of some professions, the most obvious among them being for the defence forces and the police. But what about a brand new cadre – the Tourist Mitras?
Tourism and Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande knows about this … or perhaps, he doesn’t?
“Be friendly, look clean. Your clothes needn’t be ironed, but let them be clean. And don’t grow a beard,” he said, before stopping abruptly, turning back to consult with his department colleagues on the dais: “Do they have to be clean shaven?”
Mr. Deshpande, known to speak his mind even when on stage, had further entertainment for the huge audience gathered at the certificate distribution programme for the Tourist Mitras and guides on Thursday. “The guides have been trained in foreign languages. How many of you learnt French? Stand up and tell me how do you say thank you in French,” he said.
As a chorus of ‘ Merci beaucoup ’ came, Mr. Deshpande retorted: “I don’t know what they say. But good.”
(Reporting by K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj and K.C. Deepika)
