Mumbai: With the changing security scenario post 26/11 commando-styled raid by fidayeens at multiple locations in Mumbai, a full-fledged coastal security plan is in place now. At the same time the cooperation of the fishermen had been sought to act as "eyes and ears" on the seas.
Meanwhile, all the coastal villages along the coast of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and union territory of Daman & Diu is being profiled. As far as Maharashtra is concerned, identification cards would also be issued to the fishermen in the times to come.
Following the directives of Cabinet Committee on Security, a Joint Operations Centre (JOC-West) have been set up at INS Angre, the headquarters of Western Naval Command (WNC) which is being manned round-the-clock.
The move assumes importance as the 10 fidayeens of Lashkar-e-Toiba who carried out the November 26-29, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks has used the sea route to launch the terror in Mumbai. Similarly, prior to the March 12, 1993 serial blasts, RDX was smuggled by the sea route.
Defence Ministry officials said that since the last couple of months several initiatives have been taken to beef up coastal security.
Hotlines between JOC-West and various stake holders have been set up viz, Mumbai Police, Maharashtra Police, Fisheries department, Customs, Mumbai Port Trust, Headquarters Offshore Defence Advisory Group (ODAG), Harbour Defence Control Centre of Indian Navy and the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (West).
A hotline will also be established between the NSG hub at Mumbai and JOC-West shortly. "Broadband facility capable of transferring tactical data of the western seaboard between Coast Guard Ops Centre and JOC-West has also been established. Nodes for availability of Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) with facility to communicate with ships and aircraft at sea and Vessel and Air Traffic Management System (VATMS) have been installed.
"A rapid messenger system to facilitate group messaging alerts to concerned personnel of State and Central agencies on any ‘developing’ situation, has also been installed," the officials said.
The JOC-West has been placed under the charge of the Commander-in-Chief Coastal Defence(West) who is also the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, WNC. It would be responsible for security on the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and the union territory of Daman and Diu. The JOC will serve as the command and control centre of Naval and Coast Guard forces during joint operations, besides monitoring the coastal security scenario on the West coast and serve as a repository of database on all issues pertaining to coastal security.
The cooperation of the fishing community is being sought to serve as "eyes and ears" on the seas towards enhancing coastal security. Navy and Coast Guard personnel are being deputed for profiling of all coastal villages and the coastline under the jurisdiction of JOC(W) for collating Data towards enhancement of coastal security.
Another step towards joint coastal operations has been the conduct of joint exercises. Based on intelligence inputs of terrorists likely to sneak in through the sea route, a joint operation code named ‘Raah Bandh’ was undertaken from 28 April 28-30. This was followed by operation ‘Raasta Roko’ held from June 8-10.
"With the cooperation of various states and central agencies and sharing of intelligence, the JOC-West with assets under its command will be in a position to thwart any threat as it develops, in real time," the officials said.
Towards strengthening Coastal security along the Western Seaboard, the Navy in conjunction with the Coast Guard and various State agencies has undertaken a number of initiatives. Naval personnel have been visiting Coastal Police stations for interaction at the ground level for collection of data pertaining to Coastal security and conducting Coastal security awareness campaigns in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka to educate the Coastal population on issues such as changed security scenario post 26/11 Terrorist attacks and the role of Navy and Coast Guard in Maritime and Coastal security.
As part of the beefing up of Maharashtra's coastal security, the state government will import 36 patrol vessels in a span of next three years, police sources said.
These high-tech state-of-the-art vessel would be imported because of delays in Indian ship building yards. "In the wake of the security scenario, there is urgency and hence we have in principle decided to import it after a proper bidding process," the sources said.
They also said that each year 12 patrol vessels, which would have sophisticated navigation systems, advanced communication systems and state-of-the-art weaponry.
Meanwhile, all the coastal villages along the coast of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and union territory of Daman & Diu is being profiled. As far as Maharashtra is concerned, identification cards would also be issued to the fishermen in the times to come.
Following the directives of Cabinet Committee on Security, a Joint Operations Centre (JOC-West) have been set up at INS Angre, the headquarters of Western Naval Command (WNC) which is being manned round-the-clock.
The move assumes importance as the 10 fidayeens of Lashkar-e-Toiba who carried out the November 26-29, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks has used the sea route to launch the terror in Mumbai. Similarly, prior to the March 12, 1993 serial blasts, RDX was smuggled by the sea route.
Defence Ministry officials said that since the last couple of months several initiatives have been taken to beef up coastal security.
Hotlines between JOC-West and various stake holders have been set up viz, Mumbai Police, Maharashtra Police, Fisheries department, Customs, Mumbai Port Trust, Headquarters Offshore Defence Advisory Group (ODAG), Harbour Defence Control Centre of Indian Navy and the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (West).
A hotline will also be established between the NSG hub at Mumbai and JOC-West shortly. "Broadband facility capable of transferring tactical data of the western seaboard between Coast Guard Ops Centre and JOC-West has also been established. Nodes for availability of Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) with facility to communicate with ships and aircraft at sea and Vessel and Air Traffic Management System (VATMS) have been installed.
"A rapid messenger system to facilitate group messaging alerts to concerned personnel of State and Central agencies on any ‘developing’ situation, has also been installed," the officials said.
The JOC-West has been placed under the charge of the Commander-in-Chief Coastal Defence(West) who is also the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, WNC. It would be responsible for security on the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and the union territory of Daman and Diu. The JOC will serve as the command and control centre of Naval and Coast Guard forces during joint operations, besides monitoring the coastal security scenario on the West coast and serve as a repository of database on all issues pertaining to coastal security.
The cooperation of the fishing community is being sought to serve as "eyes and ears" on the seas towards enhancing coastal security. Navy and Coast Guard personnel are being deputed for profiling of all coastal villages and the coastline under the jurisdiction of JOC(W) for collating Data towards enhancement of coastal security.
Another step towards joint coastal operations has been the conduct of joint exercises. Based on intelligence inputs of terrorists likely to sneak in through the sea route, a joint operation code named ‘Raah Bandh’ was undertaken from 28 April 28-30. This was followed by operation ‘Raasta Roko’ held from June 8-10.
"With the cooperation of various states and central agencies and sharing of intelligence, the JOC-West with assets under its command will be in a position to thwart any threat as it develops, in real time," the officials said.
Towards strengthening Coastal security along the Western Seaboard, the Navy in conjunction with the Coast Guard and various State agencies has undertaken a number of initiatives. Naval personnel have been visiting Coastal Police stations for interaction at the ground level for collection of data pertaining to Coastal security and conducting Coastal security awareness campaigns in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka to educate the Coastal population on issues such as changed security scenario post 26/11 Terrorist attacks and the role of Navy and Coast Guard in Maritime and Coastal security.
As part of the beefing up of Maharashtra's coastal security, the state government will import 36 patrol vessels in a span of next three years, police sources said.
These high-tech state-of-the-art vessel would be imported because of delays in Indian ship building yards. "In the wake of the security scenario, there is urgency and hence we have in principle decided to import it after a proper bidding process," the sources said.
They also said that each year 12 patrol vessels, which would have sophisticated navigation systems, advanced communication systems and state-of-the-art weaponry.
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