‘Janata Curfew’ evokes good response in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi
Mangaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for ''Janata curfew'' to prevent coronavirus spread evoked a good response on Sunday in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Forgetting caste and creed, people in D.K district have been staying at home since 7 am to support the Janata Curfew. A week ago, the government had imposed restrictions on malls, theaters and public events.
Responding to the Prime Minister's call positively, all private and government buses, railways, rickshaws, taxis and air services have been shut down in the district. No vehicle is roaming on roads and petrol bunks did not open today. The Central Market, the State Bank locality, bus stops, railway stations in the city which always attracted attention from the people, have worn deserted look.
Similarly, Udupi roads are also deserted as there is no vehicular traffic. The bus stops are empty, auto rickshaws and cabs have remained off the roads. The mass Sunday prayers have also been cancelled in the churches as per bishop orders.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
