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ShareKarwar: Security measures at the Kaiga nuclear power station has been beefed up, following a caution from central intelligence agencies about a possible terror attack on India's Western coast from across the border.
Located 51 km away from the coastal city of Karwar in Karnataka, India's prestigious nuclear plant has now been given extra security cover apart from the regular Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The Kaiga township is a bustling establishment, and is a top security installation of the state and the country. The core plant area is under the watchful eyes of 200 CISF men guarding the facility 24x7 hours, with an officer of the deputy commandant's rank leading them. The coastal police and state police too have put in place their circles of security around the Kaiga plant.
Speaking to DNA, superintendent of police Ramana Gupta said, "It is a general alert; we have had a tight security cover since the Mumbai attacks and we have erected three check-points on the way to the Kaiga plant. We also hold weekly meetings with the CISF on the security concerns to the plant."
Only those with special prior permission from the Centre are being allowed entry into the plant's premises. On condition of anonymity, sources told DNA that a couple of weeks ago, two MLAs who wanted to visit the installation were refused admission.
Gupta said that higher officials, including four deputy superintendents of police and Armed Reserve Police inspectors have been making rounds of the outer security rings of the plant every day.
Deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada, Chennappa Gowda, said, "The general alert has been taken seriously by the district administration and every month there is a review meeting held with the CISF, Coastal Police, Coast Guard, Navy and the state police which helps us continuously monitor the safety of the nuclear facility."
In addition, the state police have also given additional security cover. A three-point security check-post around the perimeter wall of the installation is being manned by the District Armed Reserve Police.
A special mobile squad has been put into action which checks vantage points in the city every four hours. Homes of the director of Kaiga Nuclear Plant and other top officials and scientists of the installation also come under periodical checks. The Seabird naval base also conducts helicopter sorties regularly during the day and night.
