ALAPPUZHA: The district police have made elaborate security arrangements for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Saturday.
CCTV cameras are set up in various parts of the city including Punnamada, District Court bridge, KSRTC bus stand and other parts of the town.Punnamada and other parts of the town are divided into 17 sectors and 2000 police personnel including 21 dySPs, 36 circle inspectors and 350 sub inspectors are deployed for security arrangements, said district police chief K K Balachandran. Striking police teams are set up in 8 boats to conduct surveillance in the Punnamada backwaters.
Shadow police and special branch police will be in the venue and near by areas to nab pickpockets and prevent anti-social activities. Police posts are set up on the both sides of the starting point. If participants violate the directive of starters and officers, the bonus to the violators will not be distributed, said organisers of the boat race.The boat race will also be recorded in video cameras and the rowers who violate the norms of the Boat Race Society will be barred from the upcoming boat races. The police will start patrolling in the pavilion from 6 am to prevent the illegal entry of viewers into the pavilion, DPC said.
DPC said that speed boats and other boats will not be permitted in the race course after 1.30 pm on Saturday.
Boats that violate the rules will be confiscated by the police and the permit of the boat and license of the driver will be suspended.
Announcement and advertisement boats will be denied entry in Punnamada after 1 pm. A special police team has been appointed to prevent the consumption of alcohol in Punnamada and adjoining areas, DPC said.
The shadow police will book offenders who consume liquor openly or if they venture in public areas in an inebriated condition, DPC said. Boat services from DTPC Jetty to Punnamada will be blocked after 12 noon, Balachandran said.
Police have arranged 7 ambulances at the starting and finishing point at Punnamada, Matha Jetty, Rajeev Jetty, North police station and Police control room to handle emergencies.