Mangaluru: A total of 804 personnel will be deployed by Mangaluru City Police across the city to ensure peaceful new year celebrations on Tuesday night.

In a press release, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal said police permission has been taken for 49 New Year events in the city. Three Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), eight Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), 20 police inspectors (PIs), 57 police sub inspectors (PSIs), 76 assistant sub inspectors (ASIs), 570 head constables/police constables (HCs/PCs) and 70 home guards will be deployed from Tuesday afternoon till 6:00 a.m. on January 1.

To ensure the safety of citizens and deter anti-social elements, 103 picket points have been set up at vital locations and 19 barricade points will monitor and regulate vehicle movements while keeping an eye on notorious activities. A total of 22 emergency response patrol vehicles will also be on rounds.

Agrawal emphasised that all celebrations must conclude by midnight. He warned that any incidents of misbehavior or harassment of women will be dealt with severely. He also stated that drunken driving, as well as dangerous stunts such as wheeling and drag racing, are strictly prohibited. Use of loudspeakers will require prior approval, and the playing of DJs is banned. Additionally, people are also prohibited from bursting crackers or engaging in any activities that disturb the peace.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.

Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.

In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.

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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.

According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.

"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.

The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.