KOCHI: At a time when high-level coastal security review meetings are frequently taking place in the country’s capital, the security scenario down Kerala’s coastal belt has gone haywire due to the inefficiency of the Navy and the Coast Guard.The latest incident of intrusion by a foreign yacht off the Kochi coast on Friday night has cast shadow over the existing coastal surveillance system and has brought to light the inefficiency of the Coast Guard and the Navy.According to the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) officials, the French yacht with two foreigners onboard managed to come close to the Cochin Port from the high seas without being noticed by the coast guard, the Navy and the other security agencies.The Coast Guard and the Navy came to know about the incident only after officials of the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) at Cochin Port noticed the yacht which was anchored near the Port. Subsequently, CISF officials took the two foreigners into custody.Ironically, it was only a month ago that the Navy, the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Kerala Police, the security wing of the shipyard, the CISF and the Customs Department jointly conducted a two-day coastal security exercise, styled `Triton’ off the Kochi coast to prepare themselves to meet any eventuality if an incursion takes place.When enquired about the incident, senior Coast Guard officials said that they do not have the required manpower and vessels to monitor the entire coastal belt of the State.“We have only two vessels, which are currently engaged in rescue operations after around 150 fishing boats went missing in the Arabian sea. We have been doing our best with the limited facilities we have for coastal surveillance.At times we have to devote ourselves more on rescue operations,” a Coast Guard official said and added that as far as Kochi was concerned, a lot of foreign yachts visit the Part and it was impossible for the Coast Guard to check each and every yacht.Highly placed sources in the Police Department said that coastal surveillance would get a short in the arm once the coastal police station comes up in Kochi.They said that construction of the coastal police station in Kochi had been completed and it was likely to be inaugurated on November 21.“We have received two hightech interceptor boats. Coastal security will be enhanced once the police starts patrolling, in coordination with the other agencies concerned,” the officials said.
Monday, November 16, 2009
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