The Indian government has decided to set up a high level committee under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to review the measures taken for coastal security at regular intervals. The committee will be headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The other members of the committee will include the Chief of Naval Staff, Secretaries of all concerned Ministries such as Defence, Home, Petroleum and Chief Secretaries of Coastal States.

The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting chaired by the Defence Minister AK Antony, today. It was attended among others by the National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrashekhar, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral RP Suthan, Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Secretary Petroleum RS Pandey and Senior Officials from the Departments of Fisheries, Ports, Border Management, etc.

While expressing satisfaction at the measures taken so far to bolster Coastal Security, Antony asked the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard to optimally use their assets and forces to enhance coastal surveillance. A number of measures have been taken by the Government to strengthen Coastal Security in the wake of the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. These include setting up of a joint operation centres, allocation of additional manpower, exercises among Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police and improved network for sharing of information among various agencies. MoD has also approved dry leasing of twin-engine helicopters and aircraft for the Coast Guard to add teeth for Air Surveillance. In addition more than 80 fast interceptor craft are being procured by the Indian Navy to supplement the efforts of other agencies including the Coast Guard. The meeting reviewed the progress made in the acquisition of systems and platforms already approved by the Government in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack.

Antony emphasised the role of both Indian Navy and Coast Guard in providing security to vulnerable ports as the local CISF force may not have complete wherewithal for maritime security.

The DG Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra gave a summary of measures taken so far such as registration of fishing vessels, their notification and the format in which such registration has to be done by the Coastal States. Issues such as fixing transponders in certain categories of vessels, a network of radars and other sensors along the coast for a foolproof surveillance were discussed. 38 stations will get the cover of foolproof surveillance in the first phase of the project by the end of next year. Rest of the stations will be covered in Phase 2. The issue of safeguarding the offshore installations were also discussed. The Ministry of Petroleum has been asked to procure the Intermediate Supply Vessels (ISVs), while the manpower will be provided by the Navy. The DG Coast Guard briefed about the Joint Exercises conducted with the Navy and State Police. The meeting also discussed issues relating to fixing transponders on certain categories of vessels.