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UDUPI: The temple town is gearing up for the upcoming Paryaya Mahothsav on January 18. Preparations are going in full swing as just 13 days left for the biennial transfer of the privilege of worship of Lord Sri Krishna from Sri Vishwavallabha Thirtha of Sri Sode Mutt to Sri Vidyavallabha Thirtha of Sri Kaniyoor Mutt.

 All hotels have been asked to earmark 20 per cent of the rooms to the mutt for Paryaya guests. Schools and marriage halls will also be utilized for accommodation purposes. Police personnel will be given accommodation at schools as the schools in Udupi will declare a holiday on the day.

Office bearers of the Paryaya festival committee have been given responsibilities of organizing cultural programmes, shobhayatre and food arrangements. Police have instructed the committee to install CCTV cameras in major areas like bus stand, Car Street and Sri Krishna Mutt premises.

 Artistes will perform during the cultural programmes which are scheduled post the Mahothsav from January 18 to January 24 at Rajangana. About 15 tableaus are being prepared for the procession. Five chande sets will be in place during the procession to add grandeur to the festivities.

 A large number of tourists from Europe and other countries have already arrived in Udupi. M Laxminarayan Rao, joint secretary of Paryaya festival committee, told STOI that Horae Kanike processions will start from January 7.

More police outposts, CCTV cameras to ensure students’ safety

MANGALORE: To ensure safety of citizens, especially students, police outposts and close circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be set up in main junctions in the city.

 After a meeting with the city police commissioner and authorities of medical and engineering colleges in Ullal regarding security concerns in the wake of the recent kidnap and blackmail of two students, minister for health and family welfare U T Khader said on Saturday that city police will prepare an action plan on measures to be taken to ensure security for students.

CCTV cameras will be installed at areas like Natekal Circle between the city and Mangalore University, Konaje. Additional 10 police personnel will be deputed in Konaje police station and police outposts will be set up. Police will patrol at nights in sensitive areas, he said. He also admitted that there is shortage of police personnel for regular patrolling.

 The minister directed police to take stringent action against culprits involved in the kidnap and blackmail case. Stating that a few culprits are happy to be in jail as they feel safe, he directed the police commissioner to hold a meeting with jail authorities to act on these undertrials.

 "The college authorities have promised their support for various plans to be implemented for the security of students. If the hostel is located away from the college campus, the institution should take care of students on their way," he said and asked the authorities to prepare a list of outstation students and submit it to the local police.

 It is the collective responsibility of people representatives, the police department and educational institutions to ensure safety of students. Every institution should set up a security department and the personnel should update police regularly, he suggested. Police should act immediately on incidents of attack against students without waiting for complaints.

Khader observed that many students roam around till late night and institutions cannot control them, and this should be avoided.

 He also asked police to collect all the details of shopkeepers in the area and issue identity cards to them.