The Hindu : National : Coast Guard needs to double its strength: Western Region IG

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Monday, Jan 23, 2006

National

National

Coast Guard needs to double its strength: Western Region IG

Arunkumar Bhatt

MUMBAI: The Coast Guard is required to double its strength as India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is expected to expand by 60 per cent in a year or two.

At present, the EEZ is 2.01 million square kilometres, extending 200 nautical miles from the baseline (shore). As per the provisions of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ratified by India in 1995, a country's EEZ could be up to outer edge of the continental shelf but that has to be established by physical survey.

"India has submitted the necessary data to the Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS) and its recognition of the Indian claim will add about 1.2 million sq km to the existing EEZ , extending its outer limit by about 100 more nautical miles. Therefore our strength must be doubled," said Inspector-General A. Rajasekhar, who commands the Western Region comprising the West Coast and Lakshadweep .

`Day at Sea'

He was speaking to reporters aboard "Sangram", an advanced Samar class patrol vessel during the Coast Guard's `Day at Sea' exercise. Advanced offshore patrol vessels, Chetak helicopters and fixed-wing Dornier aircraft showcased their abilities in search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching and marine pollution response tasks during the exercise.

The IG said the Coast Guard, which was operating 60 ships and 40 aircraft, would need 120 ships to effectively police the expanded maritime zone of over 3.21 million square kilometres, almost the size of the country — 3.28 square kilometres. Now it was able to patrol 50-60 per cent of the EEZ.

The personnel were concentrating on sensitive areas and sea-lanes and felt that 100 per cent coverage was not necessary. He said the Coast Guard was acquiring three dedicated pollution control ships, which would have huge tanks of oil dispersants and other chemicals besides pollution combat equipment and armament.

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