Six months after the Mumbai terror attacks, the authorities are still working on a comprehensive maritime security concept for India.
Six months after the Mumbai terror attacks, the authorities are still working on a comprehensive maritime security concept for India. This time they are taking a hard look at a 200-year-old concept of Napoleon Bonaparte.
As a group of naval ships from Mumbai reaches France towards the end of June, the fleet commander, rear admiral SPS Cheema, will be busy with more than just the proposed bilateral exercise. Cheema will intensively study French maritime security.
As the Indian Navy — responsible for overall maritime security after the Mumbai attacks — tries to bring sense in a sea of multiple authorities and petty ego battles, it is looking at the French concept of a single point authority for maritime security. The French technology solution, SPATIONAV, backs up this structure and provides a comprehensive, real-time picture of the waters around France.
“We have asked him [Cheema] to study the coastal security concept of France and submit a report,” a naval officer said. Cheema’s report will be studied in Delhi for evolving India’s comprehensive coastal surveillance programme.
That the navy is still “studying” concepts shows how knee-jerk reactions and haphazard purchases post-26/11 have not translated into a foolproof surveillance system. Despite several measures taken and the navy being designated as the authority in-charge of overall maritime security, there is confusion about command and control systems.
The navy is to be assisted by the coast guard, state marine police forces, and a host of agencies such as the customs.
The chiefs of the navy’s western (Mumbai), eastern (Vizag) and southern (Kochi) commands have been designated commanders-in-chief of coastal defence.
Despite the change in nomenclature, however, there is not much coordinated action taking place.
“Several steps are underway, but a comprehensive and clear concept is yet to emerge,” a defence ministry source said.
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