Home Minister chairs meet on coastal security

New Delhi, Oct 28: Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry where Coastal Security was discussed.
An official statement from the Home Ministry said a meeting will soon be held with different stakeholders under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening coastal security.
In the meeting, suggestions were made to form a separate Coastal Police, and commencement of third phase of Coastal Security plan was discussed.
Addressing the meeting, the Home Minister said that as per the guidelines by Prime Minister, the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs has been working over the last few years in the direction of further strengthening of coastal security and more can be done with suggestions received from all.
Shah said that the Home Ministry is seriously assessing the challenges being faced in coastal security. He said that in view of the suggestions given in the meeting, appropriate and adequate steps would be taken to make coastal security impenetrable along with the states.
Shah said that for the first time all the islands of the country have been surveyed and many important decisions are being taken on the basis of reports received in this regard.
“He said that many ministries and agencies have a role in coastal security and by establishing mutual coordination amongst them, coastal security will be further strengthened after a meeting with stakeholders very soon under the chairmanship of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,” an official statement said.
Members present in the meeting suggested that a separate Coastal Police Cadre be formed in all the states and technology should be used for monitoring of islands and coastal areas.
Apart from this, proper allocation of budget for all round development of coastal areas and effective operation of Coastal Police Stations was emphasized.
“For this, the need for proper training of policemen and training of fishermen from the point of view of safety was also emphasized. Using technology to prevent collisions between ships and fishing boats at sea was also discussed. Members also stressed on increasing maritime trade and the Blue economy along with coastal security,” the statement added.
During the meeting, a detailed presentation was made by the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs on the steps taken to further strengthen coastal security, in which the completion of Phase-I and Phase-II of the Coastal Security Plan and commencement of Phase-III were discussed.
Ministers of State for Home Nityanand Rai and Ajay Mishra, Union Home Secretary, Fisheries Secretary, Indian Coast Guard officials and officials of the Home Ministry were present in the meeting.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of heightened security concerns after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and disturbances along both western and northern borders of India. UNI