Rajnath Singh in Mumbai, to discuss coastal security

Expeditious implementation of the coastal security scheme, security of non-major ports, single-point mooring, coastal mapping, security of islands, distribution of biometric cards and colour coding of boats will be discussed in the first session

Union home minister Rajnath Singh, along with senior officers from the ministry and home minister of nine coastal states, will hold a review meeting on coastal security at the Sahyadri guesthouse on Thursday

Home minister Rajnath Singh is expected to hold a review meeting on coastal security in Mumbai on Thursday. (HT File Photo)

Expeditious implementation of the coastal security scheme, security of non-major ports, single-point mooring, coastal mapping, security of islands, distribution of biometric cards and colour coding of boats will be discussed in the first session. The Indian Coast Guard, coastal states and union territories will also give a presentation on the steps taken by them to ensure coastal security and their requirements.

The meeting will be attended by Kiren Rijiju, minister of state for home affairs, chief ministers or home ministers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and union territories, including Daman, Diu and Dadra, along with officials from the state and central security agencies. The inter-state council secretariat (ISCS), registrar general of india, ministry of defence, ministry of shipping, department of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, Indian Coast Guard are among the agencies participating in meeting.

“There will be a discussion on various coastal security issues. We review the coastal security every three months with officials from the Coast Guard, Marine Police and Indian Navy at state-level meetings. We will give our suggestions and recommendations in the meeting,” said Swadheen Kshatriya, chief secretary, Maharashtra.

Review meetings have become a routine affair in coastal states, after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, which exposed major security lapses along Mumbai’s coast.