The Hindu : Front Page : CSG to patrol with Navy, Coast Guard

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Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
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CSG to patrol with Navy, Coast Guard

S. Vijay Kumar

The exercise will start in a month
CSG acquiring 24 patrol boats

CHENNAI: The Coastal Security Group will commence joint patrolling exercises with the Navy and Coast Guard in a month’s time.

The move is to prevent unlawful activities in the territorial waters along the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu.

“We are working on a scheme for joint patrolling with the Navy and Coast Guard. While the Navy covers Nagapattinam, Kodiakarai, Adiramapattinam and Devipattinam as part of ‘Operation Tasha,’ the Coast Guard patrol covers Mandapam and Tuticorin. It has been proposed to deploy trained CSG personnel for joint patrolling. We hope to commence patrolling in a month,” Additional Director-General of Police (Coastal Security Group) Jagan M. Seshadri told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The schedule for the proposed joint patrolling is being worked out. About 120 CSG personnel were trained in special operations, including sea swimming. The exercise was part of the Coastal Security Scheme of the Centre. The joint patrolling would help in enhancing police presence in the territorial waters.

Mr. Seshadri said the CSG was in the process of acquiring 24 patrol boats that were being imported from Greece and assembled at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, and the Goa Shipyard Limited.

“It is expected that the delivery of boats will commence in January. The Director-General of Police has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking allotment of boats on priority to Tamil Nadu considering the preparedness.”

The CSG had also decided to work with the Forest department (Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park) as part of the intensified surveillance of 21 uninhabited islands located between Mandapam and the Tuticorin coast.

“These islands are strategically important…they are very close to the shore. It is important for us to have these islands under close watch.”

Mr. Seshadri said vigil had been stepped up on the 400-plus major landing points along the shoreline. While the government had sanctioned 72 technical staff, former Navy/Coast Guard personnel would be recruited to operate the patrol boats.

Besides the 8 marine police stations that started functioning since June 16, four stations would come up soon in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts. Modern equipment would be supplied to CSG personnel in a phased manner. “We are coordinating with the village vigilance committees in our operations. A database of fishermen hamlets has been created after an in-depth study,” he said.

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