|
With cross border terrorism taking an entirely
new dimension, India is on a high alert to tackle
this new frontier of terror. And the force which
got catapulted to the centre of attention, is
the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). From being a backseat
second cousin to becoming a front seat driver,
the Coast Guard has now been given due importance.
The force is on a major expansion drive, informed
Director General Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Anil
Chopra, while addressing the media on the 33rd
Indian Coast Guard Day. He stated that the Cabinet
Committee on Security (CCS) – the highest security
institution of the Indian Government on defence
and security – had sanctioned 40 ships, 20 boats,
42 aircraft, nine stations, around 3200 manpower,
and new regional headquarters.
Stressing on the need to identify the gaps in
coastal security, assistance is being provided
to the coastal states by the ICG, to establish
131 additional Coastal Police stations in the
second phase of the coastal security scheme, informed
Vice Admiral Chopra.
ICG is looking for six Medium Range Maritime
Reconnaissance Aircraft (MRMR) and two aircraft,
the Russian Irkut’s Beriev Be-200 and the American
Bombardier Q400, have been short-listed for trials.
Along with the onboard radars, sensors and C4ISR
equipment, the deal could be nearly worth USD
one billion.
ICG is also looking for eight helicopters for
coastal surveillance and Search and Rescue (SAR).
These will also need some sensors.
Stressing the importance of securing India’s
entire coastline, Vice Admiral Chopra said that
in order to achieve real time coastal surveillance
from remote locations, a coastal surveillance
network is being established, to enhance the surveillance
capabilities and effective maritime domain awareness.
“This is a Rs 350 crore project which would be
in place by 2011, wherein there would be not a
single place on the Indian coastline which would
not be under the radar and surveillance.”
He said that there has been a plan to put radars
on tall infrastructures like light houses, which
were there all over the coastline, for the past
four-five years, but besides picking up contacts,
it was important to identify them. The radars
would pick contacts and the sensors would identify
them, the information from which would be used
centrally for coastal security, by sharing it
at different levels with maritime operational
authorities for responding to threats.
Coastal land-based and airborne sensors will
help strengthen the network. The process to increase
assets, infrastructure and manpoweris already
on. The idea is to minimize infiltration and threats
from the sea route, and confront and neutralize
them as required.
An intelligence-sharing mechanism streamlined
through the creation of joint operation centres
and multi agency coordination mechanism, with
the Indian Navy in the lead, was being put in
place.
In the past one year, following the 26/11 terror
attacks by Pakistanis in Mumbai, the ICG had conducted
14 coastal security exercises and 18 operations
jointly with the Indian Navy to check infiltration,
all of which were successful. These were based
on credible intelligence inputs.
The Coast Guard has indeed become the strongest
link in the security chain.
It is very active at sea in patrolling and surveillance.
A well-equipped air wing whose inventory includes
Dorniers, Chetak and Sea King helicopters, is
now tasked with keeping a constant aerial vigil.
All these are equipped with good maritime radars
and have reliable communication links with the
patrol vessels.
The year 2009 saw the commissioning of five ships
and setting up of five stations and one regional
headquarters.
The Director General agreed that the ageing fleet
was getting a new lease of life. Procurement for
the ICG will never face bureaucratic hurdles and
things will happen keeping their utmost importance
in mind, he observed, thanks to the importance
the Government had accorded to India’s maritime
defence.
Funding is no problem and both the Finance and
Defence ministries have graded it top priority,
informed Vice Admiral Chopra. A list off all the
necessary requirements have been handed over to
them and things are being looked into.
The Coast Guard gets regular inputs from Naval
Intelligence and from RAW and Intelligence Bureau.
Intelligence agencies keep sending the Government
advisories on Coastal Security which are acted
upon by Navy and Coast Guard expeditiously. In
view of the sensitivity of coastal security of
this region, an integrated approach has been put
in place to strengthen the coastal security. Synergy
between various agencies is a great force multiplier,
Vice Admiral Chopra said.
Inter-ministry coordination between Defence,
Shipping, Home and Petroleum ministries, as well
as Customs, state police forces and fisheries
is very good and it is helping the Coast Guard
to work better. The Aviation arm of the Coast
Guard undertakes coordinated operations in support
of the surface assets towards protection of our
vast EEZ, extend assistance to fishermen and mariners
in distress, preserve and protect marine environment
and assist the local authorities during natural
calamities.
India has the largest fishing fleet in the world
and ICG helps protect fishermen in the high seas.
Vice Admiral Chopra said that 96 coastal police
stations would be established along the coast
in the first phase followed by 131 police stations
in the second phase. Approximately 1700 police
personnel have also been imparted training by
the Coast Guard in seamanship and boat handling
aspects.
“A coastal road along the coastline, as in other
countries, is also under construction to help
in patrolling. About 204 boats have to be supplied
to these coastal police stations. It (security
measure) is being monitored at the (highest) level
of the Cabinet Secretary,” he informed.
The Defence Ministry, in the wake of 26/11, had
proposed the setting up of a Maritime Security
Advisory Board with a three-star Admiral as Maritime
Security Advisor (MSA) on the lines of a recommendation
made by a post-Kargil Group of Ministers on Border
Management. On being questioned on this, Vice
Admiral Chopra said that the government had not
made any announcement in this regard so far, and
that, if it is done, it will be in coordination
with the Navy.
With all eyes on the maintenance of maritime
security in India, Coast Guard is in the process
of sharpening its teeth.
But one needs to ponder: Did we need a 26/11
to wake up?
|
