Other States - Puducherry   

Coast Guard suggests issue of photo ID cards for fishermen

Staff Reporter

Also wants compulsory registration of their boats

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

COASTAL SECURITY: District Collector G. Theva Neethi Dhas (left) chairing the district coastal security meeting on Friday. Additional Senior Superintendent of Police B. Srikanth (left) and Coast Guard Commandant N. Somasundaram (right) are also in the picture.

PUDUCHERRY: The Coast Guard (CG) has suggested the territorial administration to issue photo identity cards to fishermen and make registration of their boats compulsory.

The issue was taken up by the maritime agency at the first district coastal security meeting, held under the chairmanship of District Collector G. Theva Neethi Dhas on Friday, which was initiated by the CG Station here.

"We have requested the district administration to expedite the issuing of photo identity cards and registration of boats. The two things are necessary to thwart any infiltration attempt of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in the guise of fishermen," N. Somasundaram, Commandant CG Station, told The Hindu .

The coastal security off Nagapattinam had been tightened and the LTTE may look for other places as landing sites, he pointed out.

The tasks of issuing the photo identity cards and registration of fishing boats were given to the Fisheries Department. "We have asked the administration to closely monitor and regulate the supply of civil supply items such as rice and kerosene," he said.

The Coast Guard wanted to speed up the dredging work at the Pondicherry Port to allow its vessels to anchor and implement International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS). The code provides for a framework for cooperation between vessels and port facilities in terms of maritime security.

It was decided to have coastal security meeting every month. Another meeting would be held very soon in Karaikal, he informed.

Senior Police officers, representatives from IB and Special Branch, officials from the Excise, Civil Supplies, and Fisheries Departments also participated.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Coast Guard suggests issue of photo ID cards for fishermen
Joint meeting of legislators urged
Conversion of farmlands
Increase police strength, says CPI
Minister reviews Yanam food-poisoning incident
Handloom expo

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu