Mumbai police fail to procure enough speed boats

Over two years after terrorists entered Mumbai via sea, city police’s coastal security preparedness still seems to be on the weak leg as the department is yet to procure the required boats.

After the 11/26 attack, the police decided to buy 10 speed boats. However, in a response to an RTI query, filed by activist Chetan Kothari, the police stated that as on December 14, 2010 it had four boats and six more were on the process of being procured.

Though the RTI was filed in October 2009, the police declined to give information citing confidentiality. When the matter reached the second appellate authority, it ordered to give the details as some information had already appeared in newspapers.

It was directed to give the information in May and June but the police did not give. After another complaint, the officers revealed the information.

The ones procured by city police are sea-leg speed boats, better known as amphibians that can move on both land and water. These were bought by the police as improvisation and strengthening plan of the coastal security. Around Rs8 crore was sanctioned for the same and Rs1.6 crore has been spent to buy the four.

However, of the procured four, two boats are not working. Though the police has 17 boats, nine are fibre boats, which do not qualify as speed boats, crucial for monitoring coastline. The state government has given four speed boats to police. The police boat department looks after their servicing.

Meanwhile, police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said, “I will have to look at the documents before I comment, but we are to get five more boats soon.”

(With inputs from Divyesh Singh)