Centre reviews coastal security
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday carried out a detailed review of the Coastal Security Scheme, where critical issues like coastal policing, patrolling in territorial waters and security for assets along the coastline were discussed. Coastal security has been a major priority for the government ever since the 26/ 11 Mumbai terror attacks where militants had used the sea route to access the Indian territory.
he Centre has also convened a meeting of chief ministers of all coastal states on June 16 in Mumbai which will be chaired by the home minister. Sources said the meeting will primarily focus on putting in place a foolproof coastal security grid.
The meeting held on Monday, which was also attended by minister of state for home Kiren Rijiu and senior officials of various security agencies, discussed critical issues like coastal policing, patrolling in territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ), empowerment of coastal police stations to investigate crimes committed in EEZ, training of coastal police, setting up of Marine Police Training Institute in Gujarat and security of 12 major ports and 203 non- major ports in the coastal states/ UTs.
Issues including safety and security of fishermen, issuing cards to them and colour coding of fishing vessels were also reviewed.