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New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard is all set to grow into one of the world's largest forces for protecting territorial waters by the end of 2018 with the government approving augmentation of its capabilities, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said here Tuesday.
"By the end of 2018, the Indian Coast Guard will be one of the biggest in this sector in the world," Antony told reporters after addressing a conference of its commanders here.
He said the Coast Guard was the country's youngest paramilitary force but also the fastest growing, with its responsibilities increasing to include coastal security, search and rescue, pollution response and anti-piracy operations.
"After 26/11, the Coast Guard has become the nodal agency for ensuring coastal safety and security. But that is not an exclusive domain of the Coast Guard, other agencies such as the navy, the governments of the coastal states, marine police, the shipping ministry," the fisheries department and the ministries of home and petroleum and natural gas are also responsible, he said.
"So it is team work, though...it seems like a navy and Coast Guard job," he said.
Antony said since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the government sanctioned an additional manpower of 4,360 to the force, which had a strength of about 8,000 personnel at that point of time.
"Also within three years, the assets have increased by 50 percent. From 22 stations, the number will almost double, with another 20 stations being sanctioned, along with a regional headquarters at Gandhinagar in Gujarat," he said.
A district headquarters has also come up in the Lakshadweep Islands. The total number of Coast Guard stations now stands at 31, he said.
"Indian shipyards are building 156 ships, boats and other craft for the Coast Guard. Twelve more Dornier maritime patrol aircraft will join the force within two years," he added.
In order to plug the gaps in coastal radar coverage, the government was speeding up the implementation of a radar chain along the over 7,500-km-long coastline, with 36 radars along the mainland's coast, six radars in Lakshadweep Islands and another four radars in the Andaman and Nicobar Islandsby 2012, Antony said.
"An important project to tighten our coastal security is the establishment of a chain of 46 static sensors atop the lighthouses along our coastline. Once the coastal security network system is in place, it will surely boost our real time maritime domain awareness," he said.
The first phase of the radar chain project will be completed by 2012. The second phase would begin soon after.
Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!
---------- Post added at 07:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------
27-September, 2011 16:56 IST
Network of Radars Soon to Monitor India's Coastline : Antony
Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has said that all efforts are being made to secure the country’s vast coastline with a network of Radars. Addressing the 30th Annual Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference here today, Shri Antony said that the project has been taken up on priority.
“An important project to tighten our coastal security is the establishment of 46 Chain of Static Sensors atop the lighthouses along our coastline. Once the Coastal Security Network System is in place, it will surely boost our real time Maritime Domain Awareness”, Shri Antony said. “36 such radars will be installed in the mainland in the first phase that would be completed by 2012”, he added, later interacting with the media.
Pointing out that though the Coast Guard might be the youngest of the Forces under the Defence Ministry, Shri Antony said that it is the fastest growing force. “On the infrastructure front, the establishment of District Headquarters at Kavaratti and commissioning of three stations at Minicoy, Ratnagiri and Mundra has taken place since last year. The total number of Coast Guard stations now stands at 31. There are plans to establish Regional Headquarters (North-East), along with a station at Kolkata. Three more stations at Dahanu, Androth and Krishnapatnam are planned to be established soon. On the aviation front, there is a need to establish more air stations and air enclaves on a priority basis”, Shri Antony said. “156 boats are being built at various shipyards, both public and private, while the Coast Guard will get 12 more Donier aircrafts soon”, he later said.
The Defence Minister also assured that the manpower needs of the Coast Guard were also being simultaneously raised. “Since 2009, our government has sanctioned more than 4,300 posts to further strengthen the Coast Guard. There has been a 27% increase in the recruitment of personnel in the last three years. The Coast Guard too has taken steps to increase the intake of officers and personnel. It has also taken several other steps, such as increasing the number of selection centres, Short Service Appointment of CPL holders & women officer, and Fast Track Selection for Officers and Yantrikis.”
The Defence Minister also called upon the Coast Guard Commander to achieve synergy with other stakeholders in tackling piracy. “The increasing incidences of piracy off Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands call for a heightened security consciousness. The Coast Guard in coordination with the Navy has aptly responded to such situations. However, there is a need to build upon and further strengthen the synergy between Navy, Coast Guard and all other organizations in charge of coastal security”, Shri Antony said. “The Cabinet Committee on Security will soon take a decision on finalizing a new policy on fighting piracy”, he later said, in reply to a query.
The Defence Minister also underlined the need for an effective mechanism to check environmental pollution in the seas. “The proactive efforts and response of the Coast Guard in containing Oil Pollution and assistance in removal of the stranded ships from the shores have been appreciated. There is a need to put in place an effective mechanism to ensure maximum environmental protection by all the concerned Ministries, in coordination with the Coast Guard.”
The Conference was also attended by Defence Secretary Shri Shashikant Sharma, Special Secretary Shri RK Mathur and Director General Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra.
Press Information Bureau English Releases
"By the end of 2018, the Indian Coast Guard will be one of the biggest in this sector in the world," Antony told reporters after addressing a conference of its commanders here.
He said the Coast Guard was the country's youngest paramilitary force but also the fastest growing, with its responsibilities increasing to include coastal security, search and rescue, pollution response and anti-piracy operations.
"After 26/11, the Coast Guard has become the nodal agency for ensuring coastal safety and security. But that is not an exclusive domain of the Coast Guard, other agencies such as the navy, the governments of the coastal states, marine police, the shipping ministry," the fisheries department and the ministries of home and petroleum and natural gas are also responsible, he said.
"So it is team work, though...it seems like a navy and Coast Guard job," he said.
Antony said since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the government sanctioned an additional manpower of 4,360 to the force, which had a strength of about 8,000 personnel at that point of time.
"Also within three years, the assets have increased by 50 percent. From 22 stations, the number will almost double, with another 20 stations being sanctioned, along with a regional headquarters at Gandhinagar in Gujarat," he said.
A district headquarters has also come up in the Lakshadweep Islands. The total number of Coast Guard stations now stands at 31, he said.
"Indian shipyards are building 156 ships, boats and other craft for the Coast Guard. Twelve more Dornier maritime patrol aircraft will join the force within two years," he added.
In order to plug the gaps in coastal radar coverage, the government was speeding up the implementation of a radar chain along the over 7,500-km-long coastline, with 36 radars along the mainland's coast, six radars in Lakshadweep Islands and another four radars in the Andaman and Nicobar Islandsby 2012, Antony said.
"An important project to tighten our coastal security is the establishment of a chain of 46 static sensors atop the lighthouses along our coastline. Once the coastal security network system is in place, it will surely boost our real time maritime domain awareness," he said.
The first phase of the radar chain project will be completed by 2012. The second phase would begin soon after.
Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!
---------- Post added at 07:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 PM ----------
27-September, 2011 16:56 IST
Network of Radars Soon to Monitor India's Coastline : Antony
Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has said that all efforts are being made to secure the country’s vast coastline with a network of Radars. Addressing the 30th Annual Coast Guard Commanders’ Conference here today, Shri Antony said that the project has been taken up on priority.
“An important project to tighten our coastal security is the establishment of 46 Chain of Static Sensors atop the lighthouses along our coastline. Once the Coastal Security Network System is in place, it will surely boost our real time Maritime Domain Awareness”, Shri Antony said. “36 such radars will be installed in the mainland in the first phase that would be completed by 2012”, he added, later interacting with the media.
Pointing out that though the Coast Guard might be the youngest of the Forces under the Defence Ministry, Shri Antony said that it is the fastest growing force. “On the infrastructure front, the establishment of District Headquarters at Kavaratti and commissioning of three stations at Minicoy, Ratnagiri and Mundra has taken place since last year. The total number of Coast Guard stations now stands at 31. There are plans to establish Regional Headquarters (North-East), along with a station at Kolkata. Three more stations at Dahanu, Androth and Krishnapatnam are planned to be established soon. On the aviation front, there is a need to establish more air stations and air enclaves on a priority basis”, Shri Antony said. “156 boats are being built at various shipyards, both public and private, while the Coast Guard will get 12 more Donier aircrafts soon”, he later said.
The Defence Minister also assured that the manpower needs of the Coast Guard were also being simultaneously raised. “Since 2009, our government has sanctioned more than 4,300 posts to further strengthen the Coast Guard. There has been a 27% increase in the recruitment of personnel in the last three years. The Coast Guard too has taken steps to increase the intake of officers and personnel. It has also taken several other steps, such as increasing the number of selection centres, Short Service Appointment of CPL holders & women officer, and Fast Track Selection for Officers and Yantrikis.”
The Defence Minister also called upon the Coast Guard Commander to achieve synergy with other stakeholders in tackling piracy. “The increasing incidences of piracy off Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands call for a heightened security consciousness. The Coast Guard in coordination with the Navy has aptly responded to such situations. However, there is a need to build upon and further strengthen the synergy between Navy, Coast Guard and all other organizations in charge of coastal security”, Shri Antony said. “The Cabinet Committee on Security will soon take a decision on finalizing a new policy on fighting piracy”, he later said, in reply to a query.
The Defence Minister also underlined the need for an effective mechanism to check environmental pollution in the seas. “The proactive efforts and response of the Coast Guard in containing Oil Pollution and assistance in removal of the stranded ships from the shores have been appreciated. There is a need to put in place an effective mechanism to ensure maximum environmental protection by all the concerned Ministries, in coordination with the Coast Guard.”
The Conference was also attended by Defence Secretary Shri Shashikant Sharma, Special Secretary Shri RK Mathur and Director General Indian Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra.
Press Information Bureau English Releases
