In an effort to plug loopholes in coastal security and beef up security arrangement, particularly along the Adam's Bridge, Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait, the Coast Guard plans to have a broader understanding with the Coastal Security Group (CSG) of the State marine police.
Additional Director-General of Police, Coastal Security Group, Lallawm Sanga, and Inspector-General A. Rajasekhar, Commander, Coast Guard, Region East, have held a round of discussion to chart out a plan of joint action.
As a sequel to it, the ADGP is currently on a two-day visit to the coastal areas of the district and seafront to take stock of the situation to identify places to establish watch towers, similar to the Navy's observation posts functioning in remote coastal places.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, Commander D.S. Saini, Commandant, Coast Guard Station, said the joint mechanism would cover aspects such as identifying patrolling areas, stepping up security in vulnerable places, deciding the mode of patrolling in different places and operational areas of Coast Guard and CSG and sharing intelligence. A field visit to the operational areas with the ADGP would be undertaken on Saturday. The mechanism would enable both agencies to mobilise men and material to prevent illegal entry and other banned activities in the sea close to the shore.
Mr. Saini said the idea of joint mechanism was to operate vessels and boats up to one-metre deep sea. It would identify the shallow waters and deep sea areas so as to deploy vessels, boats, rubber boats and others of both agencies. The difficulties over patrolling in the shallow water areas could be solved with the boats of CSG, which could land at seashore.
He added that the Adam's Bridge areas, a few points along the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait and uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar had been identified as grey areas, where effective patrolling had to be stepped up.
