Navy to be responsible for overall maritime security: Govt

Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran today said that the government of India has designated Indian Navy as the authority responsible for overall maritime security which includes coastal and offshore security.

The Indian Navy will solely be responsible for overall security of the coastal zones, the government said on Tuesday.

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Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran said the Director General of Coast Guard will also assume the role of Commander Coastal Command.

"The government of India has designated Indian Navy as the authority responsible for overall maritime security which includes coastal security and offshore security," the minister said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

"The Director General Coast Guard has been designated as Commander Coastal Command responsible for overall coordination between Central and state agencies in all matters relating to coastal security. These decisions are being implemented by the Ministry of Defence," he said.

While replying to a question on instances of infiltration through the coastal areas, Ramachandran said, "as per the information available, there has been no case reported or encountered during the last three years, except a case regarding infiltration by sea route on November 26 last year leading to Mumbai attacks. The matter is under investigation and sub-judice".

Joint coastal patrolling is also being carried out along the coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra under operation SWAN by Coast Guard, Navy and other agencies, the minister said.