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Indian Coast Guard opens new station
| Note: Pondicherry is a 'union territory' on the SE tip of India. Across from it, less than 75km, is Sri Lanka. |
The over 7,500 km-long Indian coastline needed more Coast Guard (CG) assets and stations for timely and better coordination of the agency's efforts in various fields, including coastal security, Director General of Indian Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Arun Kumar Singh said today. The CG which began its operations in 1978 with two old frigates seconded from the Navy and five patrol boats, now had 71 vessels and 45 aircraft. The CG was also involved in anti-smuggling, save and rescue activities, anti-poaching, Singh said after commissioning the Pondicherry Coast Guard station at Kakkayanthope near here.
The station here, the 20th unit of the Coast Guard, was installed to increase security on the south-eastern stretch of the coastline. The CG station would provide timely support to the fishermen and also ensure speedy relief operations during natural calamities besides providing necessary impetus to the coastal security requirements, Singh said. It would initially have one interceptor boat and one interceptor craft at its disposal for quick response to search and rescue works and the assets would be augmented from time to time.
Posted by: Pappy 2006-02-11 |
