Govt directs coast guard to start patrolling near shoreline

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 to patrol the shoreline with locally hired fishing boats or trawlers.

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 to patrol the shoreline with locally hired fishing boats or trawlers.

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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 in New Delhi.

“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 on 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.