Wary of the maritime terrorism threats it faced, India will put in place a single-window federal agency to tackle security challenges faced by all ministries handling sea-based activities such as shipping, fisheries, ports, navy and the coast guard.
The apex body is aimed at bringing about uniformity and co-ordination among ministries on all matters of safety and security of maritime assets, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said today while delivering a lecture on "Vision of Indian Navy".
Explaining the need for quick co-ordination in an emergency situation concerning several bodies, Mehta said, "the constitution of an apex body for management of maritime affairs is an important step, which would facilitate quick decision-making and rapid response."
The idea was the do away with multiplicity of responses and the inherent delays in countering the threats.
Explaining the concept, the Navy chief pointed out that there were currently many ministries - such as agriculture, shipping and transport, defence — handling various aspects of maritime activities, including policies and enforcement.
"This we think is not the right thing to do," he said, adding, "we need to have an organisational structure in which representatives of these ministries sit together to take action required when there is an emergency."
Emergencies include maritime terrorism from platforms on the sea that could be directed against our assets, both on-shore and off-shore.