In the backdrop of the Mumbai terror attacks exposing the chinks in coastal security, government today designated the navy as the central authority responsible for the country's overall maritime security.
"The Navy will be assisted by Coast Guard, state marine police and central agencies for the coastal defence of the nation," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters here.
Observing that the 26/11 attacks have shaken the entire nation and brought out the need for strengthening coastal security, he said the government has approved certain important measures for strengthening maritime and coastal security against the threat from the sea.
"Against the backdrop of multiple agencies involved in coastal security, and the resultant problems of coordination, the Navy has been designated as the authority responsible for maritime security," he said.
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The government has also decided that it will set up joint operation centres (JOCs) at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair under charge of Naval commanders-in-chief.
"The JOCs will be jointly manned and operated by Navy and Coast Guard with inputs from diverse agencies including Coast Guard, Navy and concerned Central and state agencies," he added.
Accordingly the Naval and commanders-in chief would be designated as commanders-in-chief of coastal defence, Antony said.
The Navy would get a specialised force called "Sagar Prahari Bal" consisting of 1,000 personnel for protecting naval assets and bases on both east and west coasts and island territories.
Antony said that a national command control communication and intelligence network, for real time maritime domain awareness between the operations rooms of Navy and Coast Guard, both at the field and the apex levels, will be established.
"The Navy will control all Navy and Coast Guard joint operations. This will ensure that the assets are optimally deployed and there is synergy between the two organisations," he added.
"With these measures, the government expects that a new focus would be given for effectively managing threats from the sea and security for our over 7,500 km long coastline," the minister said.
The government has also decided to enhance the assets of Navy and Coast Guard by increasing the number of ships, boats, helicopters and aircraft besides manpower.
The Navy would also get 80 fast interception crafts for sea-front patrolling.
The Coast Guard would get a new regional headquarter in Gujarat, which would be designated as 'north-west region' and a new post of Commander Coast Guard to look after surveillance of the state's coast.
