9 years after 26/11, special marine force in the making
KEEPING DANGER AT BAY Proposed by CM, the force has an inprinciple nod from Union home minister
Nine years after the November 26 terror attacks, guarding Mumbai’s 114-km coastline – used by the Lashkare-Taiba terrorists to enter the city – may become the responsibility of a police force under the Central government.
The government plans to form the central marine police force (CMPF) to exclusively patrol India’s 7,000-km coastline.
Although the Maharashtra police beefed up the security after the attacks by upgrading infrastructure and deploying more staff, policing the state’s 700-km coastline is an additional burden on the state force.
Taking this into account, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis came up with the suggestion, which has got an in-principle nod from Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
The loopholes in the security came to light in 2008 after 10 LeT terrorists came from Pakistan to Mumbai in a boat, using the porous coastline. The terror attacks killed 166 people.
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Deven Bharti said, “There has been a lot of advancement in manpower and quality infrastructure has been put in place on all fronts since the 26/11 attacks.”
Currently, the Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Thane rural, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg police have to man the sea.
The state has more than 50 police stations and 70-odd boats of various types, including patrol boats and interceptors.
For long, senior officials in the state police have raised several issues – from sea sickness and lack of expertise in swimming to spare parts for boats – over patrolling the seas.
The police tried to overcome some of them by reducing the height of the constabulary by a few centimeters for coastal policing to suit the local koli community.
While the police got the spare parts for boats from vehicles, they tied up with Navy and coast guards for training in swimming. A senior official of the state police said the actual implementation of the proposal could take years, and till then the coastal policing will remain with the state police.
“The formalities over the jurisdiction and the powers of the central force could become tricky, with the state not wanting to give away power,” said the official. THE NATIONAL COASTAL SECURITY SCHEME Gorai Length of the city’s coastline. It is under the jurisdiction of the police MUMBAI SAGARI (II) AT GORAI :It operates from a bungalow MUMBAI SAGARI (I) AT MAHIM: It falls under the port zone of Mumbai police. It covers the western shore up to 12 nautical miles Maharashtra’s coastline GIRGAUM CHOWPATTY Khar Bandra
CAMA HOSPITAL THE TRIDENT COLABA Worli Santacruz Sewri CST Borivli Andheri Wadala
TAJ MAHALPALACE AND TOWER NARIMAN
HOUSE proposal to start two more coastal police stations – Santacruz and Madh Island – in the city. Once they come up, jurisdictions will be redrawn
MUMBAI:
Falls under the Coast Guards. Beyond that the seas are secured by the Indian Navy,till the international waters WADALA POLICE: Covers land, some part of sea SEWRI POLICE: Covers land and part of sea YELLOW GATE POLICE: It falls under the port zone of Mumbai police and covers the eastern shore up to 12 nautical miles Interceptor boats Interceptor boats are on duty at Dahanu and Murud ELEPHANTA URAN KARANJA
MUMBAI More police stations are needed. Boats need to be maintained well. The status of the marine academy is not known yet. The police have made investments, but they need to be maintained and revived.
D SIVANANDHAN, former director general of police, Maharashtra
1 . Coastal patrolling has improved, but a lot more vigilance is needed. We need to use drones for marine policing and patrolling.”
The government needs to focus on smaller creeks and isolated areas, said former director general of police (Maharashtra) Praveen Dixit.
“We need to link Mumbai to Goa via a coastal road so that it becomes more vibrant, active and is under observation,” he said.