Uttara Kannada administration declares Medical Emergency in Bhatkal until further orders
All essential shops including medical stores to remain closed
Bhatkal: With the number of cases of Corona Virus in Bhatkal Taluk slowly climbing up, Uttara Kannada District Administration on Friday declared medical health emergency in Bhatkal Taluk. The order was issued by Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar using his special powers under section 34 of Disaster Management Act 2005.
The emergency has been declared under the limits of Bhatkal Town Municipal Council, Jali Patan Panchayath, Shirali Gram Panchayath, Heble Gram Panchayath, Mavinkurve Gram Panchayath, Mundalli Gram Panchayath, Yalvadikavoor Gram Panchayath and Mutalli Gram Panchayath with immediate effect until further orders, the official release from the office of the Deputy Commissioner stated.
The order also added that the District Disaster Management Authority was satisfied that the District was threatned by the spread of Corona virus and it was necessary to take effective measures to prevent the spread across the district and for the mitigation of the threatening disaster situation.
All the shops including the essentials like food, vegetables and medical stores have been asked to remain closed as the town witnessed a deserted look on Friday afternoon. The administration has informed that in cases of extreme emergency, the authorities will arrange the supply of medicines to the people and that they can contact the helpline number 104 for assistance.
Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner, Bharat also added that strictest action will be initiated against those who fail to follow the orders of the lockdown and section 144 along with the latest medical emergency that has been declared in the Taluk.
Earlier, reports of Police lathi charge of people on the streets were also doing rounds on local social media groups.
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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.
