Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said coastal security has been strengthened in the country since after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

He also said that there was “no proposal to entrust coastal security to the Border Security Force or raise another central force for the purpose”.

“Significant progress has been made since the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai to strengthen coastal security of the country,” he said while addressing the parliamentary consultative committee of the ministry.

Ten heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai via the sea route and held guests at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels hostage during a 60-hour carnage in the city which left 166 people dead and brought the state government to its knees.

Chidambaram said the government has identified all the gaps and will plug these in a phased manner through the coastal security scheme.

The scheme aims to provide assistance to nine coastal states - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal and four coastal union territories of Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The first phase of the scheme, operational since 2005, will end March next year.

“Phase-II which will be launched thereafter will considerably strengthen infrastructure in terms of boats, police stations, jetties, vehicles, equipment and trained personnel,” the home minister added.

The scheme also provides for setting up 73 coastal police stations, 97 checkposts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks.

So far, 71 coastal police stations have been operationlised and construction of 75 checkposts, 54 outposts and 22 barracks completed, while 158 boats were delivered to coastal states up to the end of last month, he added.