Govt directs coast guard to start patrolling near shoreline

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) In a bid to prevent use of the
sea route by terrorists as in case of the Mumbai strikes, the
Coast Guard has been asked by the Indian government to patrol
the shoreline with locally hired fishing boats or trawlers.

Coastal states have also been told by the government to
speed up implementation of the Coastal Security Scheme.

"The coastal states and UTs have been directed to
immediately start coastal patrolling by locally hired fishing
boats or trawlers, charges for which will be reimbursable by
the Ministry of Home Affairs," Minister of State for Home
Affairs Radhika V Selvi said here.

"The task of guarding the Indian coastline right from the
shoreline (High Tide Line) has been entrusted to the Coast
Guard. However, the responsibility of overall maritime
security rests with the Indian Navy," she said in a written
reply in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.

Coastal States/UTs have also been directed to expedite
the implementation of the approved Coastal Security Scheme
such as early completion of construction of coastal police
stations, check posts, out-posts and barracks apart from
sanctioning, recruitment and training of executive and
technical manpower, the minister said.

"The coastal States/UTs have been directed to carry out
vulnerability/gap analysis on their coasts in consultation
with Coast Guard and furnish their additional requirements for
formulation of a comprehensive proposal for further approval
of the Government of India," Selvi said.

Several meetings were held in Ministry of Home Affairs,
Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport &
Highways and Ministry of Agriculture to review, upgrade and
strengthen the coastal security of the country, she said.

According to the minister, Ministry of Shipping, Road
Transport and Highways has been directed to streamline the
process of registration of all types of vessels, i.e. fishing
as well as non-fishing vessels, and also to ensure
fitting/provision of navigational and communication equipments
on these boats.

Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry,
Dairies & Fisheries is taking steps to issue ID cards to all
the fishermen. The Registrar General of India (RGI) is also
issuing ID cards under Multi-purpose National Identity Card
(MNICs) Scheme to all the population in the coastal villages
including fishermen, Selvi added. PTI