Speed bumps on roads add to the pollution levels

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has indicated that introducing measures which stop vehicles from continually stopping and starting would go a long way in reducing harmful emissions from cars and will also help motorists to economize on fuel.
In its opinion, enforcing average speed checks and variable speed limits across the motorway network could help lower the levels of deadly air pollution.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 1 December 2016.

Air pollution accounts for 5% of all deaths in England - about 25,000 deaths a year. The health watchdog has proposed a number of measures and a series of initiatives that would help lessen the impact of pollution. These are -
(i) review the use of speed bumps on roads because some of these tend to cause drivers to accelerate and decelerate towards them
(ii) introduce "no-idling" zones around schools. Usually, parents leave their car engines running during drop-offs and pick-ups - this should be discouraged
(iii) explore possibilities of congestion charge zones in towns and cities worst hit by pollution problems - and launch public awareness initiatives such as "car free days"


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

New Town in Kolkata intensifies drive against stray cattle

At least 600 cows, buffaloes and goats have been injured in road accidents and rescued from New Town, Kolkata, in the past five years. These cattle are involved in road accidents almost every single day, hence the New Town authorities have declared war against the owners of stray cattle to spare motorists the risk of ramming into one on the township roads.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 14 September 2016.

Cows and goats grazing in fields between high-rise buildings is a common sight in the area and these animals often move into the path of speeding vehicles on Major Arterial Road resulting in accidents. Therefore, New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) plans to launch a drive against the cowsheds that have come up in the township encroaching on private and government land.
Owners of the illegal cowsheds will first be served a notice asking them to close their units and move their cattle out from New Town. Those not removed from the township would be seized by the NKDA and kept in a specially built enclosure for some time before being auctioned.
There is a proposal to levy a fine of Rs 5,000 for the owners of cattle that are found on the township roads. Such cattle would be treated as stray and kept in the enclosure and returned to the owner after they pay the fine.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

Clicking selfie with Ma Durga may be banned in Kolkata

Tackle the obesity crisis by outdoor activities like gardening

Cable cars stranded over Mont Blanc - 45 tourists had to spend the night suspended in air


Moody and the cow syndrome (satire)

Didi off to Rome in search of goodies (satire)

Lord Shiva and the auto hub that did not happen (satire)


At least 100 killed in airstrikes in Syria before ceasefire begins

Hillary Clinton reiterates that US will not put ground troops in Iraq and Syria

Abandoned car with gas cylinders found near Notre Dame cathedral


MTV's Video Music Awards in New York - Beyonce walked away with top honours

Sonakshi Sinha breaks bones and throws punches in Akira

Lindsay Lohan wants to participate in a Russian talk show with President Putin


Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan to star together in Thugs of Hindostan

Dwayne Bravo says Deepika Padukone is his favourite star

Hollywood inequality - women hardly get a chance to speak