Significant progress on coastal security: Chidambaram

The government today said significant progress has been made since the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai in strengthening the country's coastal security.

Home minister P Chidambaram also said the identified gaps which remain to be filled up would be plugged through Phase-II of the Coastal Security Scheme which is to be launched next year.

Addressing the Consultative Committee of the ministry of home affairs in New Delhi, he said coastal police stations and boats are well-equipped and around 2,000 police personnel have been imparted specialised training so far.

"To ensure better coordination among different agencies, Coastal Command and Joint Operation Centres have been set up," he said.

Phase-I of the Coastal Security Scheme which has been in operation since 2005-06 will come to an end in March.

Phase-II, to be launched thereafter, will considerably strengthen infrastructure in terms of boats, police stations, jetties, vehicles, equipment, trained personnel, etc.

Responding to a query by the members, Chidambaram said that Kalpakkam and other key installations on the country's coast are well-protected and there need not be any apprehension in this regard.

The home minister said there was no proposal to entrust coastal security to the Border Security Force or raise another Central force for the purpose.

Taking part in the deliberations, members appreciated the steps taken by the home ministry for strengthening coastal security. They also stressed the need to augment availability of funds for coastal security.

Some members pointed out the need not to transfer police personnel specially trained in coastal security to other areas. Members also stressed the importance of enlisting cooperation of fishermen and other local groups to ensure coastal security.

The Coastal Security Scheme aims at providing assistance to nine coastal states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal and four coastal Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands to strengthen their infrastructure for marine policing.

The Scheme provides for setting up 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks. So far, 71 coastal police stations have been operationalised and construction of 75 check posts, 54 outposts and 22 barracks completed. 158 boats were delivered to coastal states/UTs up to the end of last month.

Those parliamentarians who attended today's meeting included K Keshava Rao, Rishang Keishing, HK Dua, Mohd. Ali Khan, Vinay Katiyar and Ram Gopal Yadav from the Rajya Sabha and Ratan Singh Ajnala, Thokchom Meinya, Kalyan Banerjee, Khagen Das and Ismail Hussain from the Lok Sabha.