In a major overhaul of the country's coastal security, the Union government plans to provide nearly 200 patrol vessels to the police forces of 10 coastal states.
Maharashtra will get nearly 40 patrol vessels, 12 marine police stations
NEW DELHI: In a major overhaul of the country's coastal security, the Union government plans to provide nearly 200 patrol vessels to the police forces of 10 coastal states. Maharashtra is likely to get the maximum number of these ships, say Coast Guard officials.
The coastal states will also set up dedicated police forces to monitor the 7,500-km coastline. While Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu will have 12 marine police stations, 10 stations will be set up in Gujarat and eight in Kerala. Other states that will get the marine stations are Goa, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal.
Each of these marine stations will be provided with two big patrol vessels of 12-tonne displacement, and at least one minor patrol vessel of five-tonne displacement. Coast Guard director general vice-admiral RF Contractor said these vessels would significantly boost the coastal security.
While Maharashtra will get 24 of these large vessels, and about 15 smaller boats, coast guard officials say 35 will be allocated to Gujarat.
The vessels will form the first comprehensive fleet with the Indian police forces — some state forces like Kerala already use them.
According to vice-admiral Contractor the ministry of home affairs has already placed the orders for these boats and they are expected to be given to the police forces within a year. "We are working with the coastal states to build a robust security plan," he added.
While Kerala and Tamil Nadu already have a strong coastal security system in place, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the weak spots.
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