By Praful Kumar Singh

Chennai, Feb 10 (ANI): The Coast Guard is coming up with four new stations in eastern region, which stretches from West Bengal to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, in order to cover the vulnerable security-related gaps along the coast and stop future terror attacks similar to the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

The coastal security and the Coast Guard have come to the centre stage post-26/11 in wake of the heightened maritme security scenario and the need for safeguarding India’s economic interests.

“Definitely we will try to ensure there is no more 26/11 with whatever resources we have,” said Inspector General A. Rajasekar, Commander Coast Guard region (East), when asked about protecting India’s entire exclusive economic zone ion the eastern coast.

“After 26/11 every organisation has been sensitised. There is coordination between the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Marine Police and with that I think we will be able to prevent any such attacks in the future,” he said.

“On the eastern coast, we have a coast guard station coming up at Karikal (Tamil Nadu), one each in Krishanapatnam and Nizamapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Gopalpur (Orissa). We also have Coast Guard air stations coming up at Bhubaneshwar and Vishakhapatnam,” Inspector General Rajasekar told ANI in Chennai.

The Coast Guard has been involved in a number of activities like intensifying patrolling with the help of advanced off shore patrol vessels (AOPVs), and the ICG personnel were making requisite efforts in the national interest to thwart any infiltration into the Indian Maritime Border Line.

“The government has sanctioned ships and aircrafts for the modernisation of the Coast Guard. Hopefully, by 2012 we plan to have about 100 ships and 100 aircrafts,” he said.

He said that number of boats deployed for patrolling the coastline has increased, and added that 37 radar fitted lighthouses are coming up in the future.

The Coast Guard at sea displayed combined operations involving two AOPVs, one IPV, one Chetak helicopter and two Dornier aircrafts.

On board AOPV Sarang, the Coast Guard displayed aerial firing, boarding operation, pollution response capabilities, SAR demonstrations and splash target firing with great precision and care. (ANI)