The Hindu : National : More powers for Coast Guard planned

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Saturday, Sep 18, 2004

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National

More powers for Coast Guard planned

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 17. The Government is considering a proposal to give more powers to the Coast Guard, to beef up national security and curb environmental pollution. The proposal relates to interception and inspection of ships within the country's exclusive economic zone, official sources said here today.

Under the proposal, initiated by the National Democratic Alliance Government, the Coast Guard would be allowed to act on the basis of ``credible intelligence'' and intercept ships. ``Even if we check one out of 1000 vessels, the message will go out that many types of illegal activities currently going on will not be tolerated in Indian waters,'' the sources said. They pointed out that Coast Guards in many other countries had these powers.

The Coast Guard's present charter is to protect maritime and other national interests in Indian maritime zones, by ensuring the safety of artificial islands, off-shore terminals and installations, providing protection and assistance to fishermen, protecting and preserving maritime environment and preventing and controlling marine pollution. They also assist Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.

Sinking of vessels

However, the power to intercept and inspect foreign ships vests with another authority — the Director General of Shipping. This dilutes the Coast Guard's ability to check sinking of foreign vessels in Indian waters to claim insurance, illegal exchange of fish for diesel on the high seas — thereby avoiding taxes — and intelligence-gathering by trawlers. Sources said 60 foreign vessels were sunk in Indian waters in the last seven years to claim insurance, leading to pollution through oil spills. This year, eight ships are suspected to have been sunk.

``The environmental damage that is caused highlights the need for preventing the entry of un-seaworthy ships into Indian waters. These ships are operated with substandard crew and questionable safety standards. Besides contributing to pollution, they also become a navigational hazard. The DG Shipping's Mercantile Marine Department does not have the infrastructure to inspect ships. The Coast Guard can provide a helping hand,'' the sources said.

Because of their high endurance in the seas, trawlers are ideal for gathering intelligence. The Coast Guard could play a vital role in thwarting such attempts.

10 new stations

The new powers could add a punch to the Coast Guard's plans to set up 10 new stations in areas where maritime activity is increasing and the coastline is vulnerable. Five stations will be set up in the first phase during the Plan period that ends in 2007 and the rest during the 2007-2012 Plan period. The stations are expected to be located at Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), Beypore (Kerala), Kavaratti (Lakshadweep Islands), Pondicherry, Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Vadinar (Gujarat), Jafrabad or Pipavav (Gujarat), Gopalpur (Orissa), Kamorta (Andaman and Nicobar islands) and Bhatkal/Malpe (Karnataka).

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