The Coastal Security Group will complete mapping of the entire coastline, from a security perspective, in another 10 days.
The expedition along the shoreline, which was flagged off from Chennai and is led by Rajesh Das, Inspector General of Police, Coastal Security Group, has reached Rameswaram and mapped the coastline till the island.
“We will take another ten days to reach Kanyakumari. By then, we will have a comprehensive map of the coastline from a security perspective,” said Mr. Das, who took an unscheduled break to attend a seminar on ‘Coastal security in India,’ organised here by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies (DDSS), University of Madras, and the Chennai chapter of the National Maritime Foundation.
He said the expedition had mapped all roads leading to the waterfront — both kuchcha and pucca — and all fish landing sites along the coast so far.
The expedition was also to test the durability and adaptability of some of the vehicles that would be pressed into service. All Terrain Vehicles had come out on top in all the tests.
Asked about induction of these vehicles into the force, he said this should take about six months. The CSG planned to purchase 175 ATVs, which would be done depending on budgetary allocations.
Mr. Das said the police functioned in close coordination with the Navy and the Coast Guard in the State. He opined that a land-based coastal security doctrine was best suited here.
Speaking about his experiences during the expedition, Mr. Das said that the biggest worry now for fishermen was dwindling catch. “Because of the nets they now use even the small fishes are not spared. At this rate, they will have nothing to catch after a few years.”
He said this would constitute a serious security problem.
The fishermen would be forced to work for anyone who paid them and it was imperative that all agencies involved in coastal security took the livelihood aspect seriously and worked on alternatives.
In his keynote address, Anurag G. Thapliyal, Commandant, Naval Academy, Ezhimala, said a comprehensive maritime security framework was required and steps were being taken in this direction.
The Ministries of Defence, Home, Road Transport, Shipping, Agriculture, Finance and many autonomous departments were coordinating on drawing up a framework. “This is not easy,” he added.
Gopalji Malviya, Head, DDSS, said coastal security had not been given the importance it deserved. Sensitisation to the concept should begin in colleges and universities.
S. Shekhar, convener, NMF, said that the outcome of the seminar would be shared with the State government too.
