The National Democratic Alliance(NDA) government wants a foolproof coastal security system for the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Monday here. Speaking to presspersons the meeting the consultative committee of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss coastal security, the Home Minister said that in order to strengthen India’s coastal security, one must first assume that the country’s coastline is vulnerable and work towards plugging existing gaps. Among others, the meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijuju. “We had a meeting with the parliamentary committee on coast related issues. Our government wants a foolproof coastal security system. Senior members of Parliament gave suggestions and our the Ministry will take a call on them after giving it serious thought,” Mr. Singh said.
“Though it is not, we should consider that all our coastline is vulnerable. We have ensured coastal security to a large extent, but we want to ensure that there is no loophole anywhere. Whatever loopholes are there, action will be taken to overcome them,” Mr. Singh added.
Earlier in the meeting, sources said that members expressed views on coastal security. Goa Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik raised the issue of illegal activities of some Russians and Israelis in Morjim and Mandre coastal villages of north coastal belt of Goa. He said that activities carried out by some of them were not in national interest and as such they should be seriously viewed from coastal security point of view. Issues like drugs manifesting the coastline, issue of Lamanis being used in drug trade, tar balls on Goan beaches were raised in the course of the meeting. Mr. Naik also insited on undertaking a coastal mapping of Goa pointing out that except for Kerala and Tamil Nadu no other State has done the exercise. The country has a coastline of approximately 7500 kms including the coastlines of island States.
