The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naval Enclave will enhance maritime security: Pallam Raju

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Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naval Enclave will enhance maritime security: Pallam Raju

Staff Reporter

Amphibious Warfare Training School to be set up at Vakalapudi

Naval enclave will have an exclusive operations area and other facilities
Brief operational display by naval personnel at Vakalapudi beach

- Photo-S. Rambabu

mighty impressed: Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju going through the Navy exhibition at Naval Enclave in Kakinada on Tuesday. Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma looks on.

Kakinada: Indian Navy has taken a major step in increasing its presence on the east coast by clearing the proposal to set up an Amphibious Warfare Training School (AWTS) in the Naval Enclave at Vakalapudi, which was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Defence and Kakinada MP M.M Pallam Raju on Tuesday.

In addition to AWTS where the concepts of amphibious warfare will be evolved and practiced, the Naval enclave will have an exclusive operations area, a fleet support complex to meet the logistical requirements of warships, a helipad and other associated facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Pallam Raju said the Naval enclave would enhance maritime security in and around the hinterland of Kakinada and act as a catalyst for industrial development of the region. He promised to make all efforts to accommodate the Navy’s needs for security of the upcoming operational facilities.

Decommissioning

Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma said the Navy’s association with Kakinada was not new as a full-fledged Naval training establishment existed in this port city in the 1940s about six years after the opening of Naval base at Visakhapatnam in December, 1939.

The economic downturn that followed Second World War and the concomitant downsizing of Royal Indian Navy, brought about decommissioning of the training establishments located at Kakinada, of which the then Naval base was one.

Vice-Admiral Verma said there could be no better location than Kakinada beach and the waters off Hope island to hone the skills required for amphibious warfare, which was essential not only in times of any military confrontation but also to carry out relief and rehabilitation activities during natural calamities.

That’s the reason why Indian Navy had decided to set up AWTS at Kakinada.

Later, Naval personnel gave a brief operational display at Vakalapudi beach with ships, helicopters and landing craft drawn from Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Fleet. Eleven warships including INS Jalashwa (Indian Navy’s second biggest ship after the aircraft carrier INS Viraat), Kamov, Seaking and Chetak helicopters and MARCOS (Marine Commandos) and members of Indian Army’s 9th Sikh Regiment participated.

Eastern Fleet Flag Officer Commanding Rear Admiral Satish Soni, district Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi, Superintendent of Police Y. Nagi Reddy, Kakinada Mayor K. Saroja, Sampara MLA A. Bullabbai Reddy and others witnessed the Naval display.

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