Coast Guard Station at Karwar to be commissioned on Wednesday

The Coast Guard station at Karwar in Karnataka, established as part of the Government's efforts to strengthen maritime and coastal security, will be commissioned by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Director General Coast Guard, tomorrow.

An official press release said the station would function under the operational command of Inspector General S P S Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West).

Commandant (JG) Anil Sharma has been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the station, the release said.

According to the release, 14 more stations would be established in different states to address the security gap along the coastline.

The station at Karwar will have two fast speed boats to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls on as required basis.

The Indian Coast Guard is entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the maritime interests of India. It includes ensuring the safety and protection of offshore assets such as oil rigs, platforms and terminals within India's maritime zones, providing protection to fishermen in distress, taking necessary measures to preserve and protect the maritime environment, assisting the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations, measures for the safety of life and property at sea; and for collection of scientific data. In addition, the Coast Guard is also tasked with providing humanitarian assistance of search and rescue at sea.

After the November 26, 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, the responsibility of the coastal security from shoreline up to territorial waters has also been entrusted to the Coast Guard. In addition, the Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Commander Coastal Command, with the responsibility for overall coordination between various Central and State agencies, in all matters relating to the coastal security.

The release said that, in response to the enhanced responsibilities, the Coast Guard was pursuing urgent enhancement of its surveillance capabilities so as to meet its tasks and responsibilities effectively.

The present force-levels and manpower are projected to be doubled in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower. The setting up of the dditional stations is part of this effort, it added.

NNN