DEFENCE MINISTER ADDRESSES
COAST GUARD COMMANDERS CONFERENCE
The Defence Minister
Shri George Fernandes has expressed Government’s determination
to protect the sea frontiers of India and stressed the need to
create more infrastructure for the Coast Guard. He was addressing
the Coast Guard Commanders Conference here today. Shri Fernandes
said that unfortunately during the last fifty years after independence
scant attention was paid to the issue of protecting the coastal
frontiers of the country. He said now there is an urgent need
to address this issue with greater speed.
Referring to the
various points raised by DG Coast Guard Vice Admiral OP Bansal
in his presentation the Defence Minister said that he is hopeful
to sort out most of these issues during the current financial
year itself. Most of these issues were related to the expansion
of Coast Guard Stations, disparity in pay scales of Pradhan
Naviks, selection of officers after 10 + 2 and share for Coast
Guard in the distribution of Canteen Stores Department surplus.
Shri Fernandes said
that the Group of Ministers (GOM) in their recommendations had
said that guarding of the maritime borders should be given more
emphasis. He said that all necessary steps would be taken to implement
the recommendations in a time-bound manner. The Defence Minister
said that work on a new Coast Guard Station at Jakhau is underway
to enable the Coast Guard to perform its function efficiently
and be equipped to fulfil its multifarious responsibilities in
the management of maritime zones. He also underlined the need
to set up a full-fledged Coast Guard Station at Bhatkal in the
Western Coast at the earliest. Referring to the discussion about
the fifteen year perspective plan of the Coast Guard the Minister
said that most of the country’s defence requirements are not decided
by us but by the attitude of our enemy. Shri Fernandes said that
there is a serious threat to the Western Coast of the country
and every effort should be made to protect it from the evil designs
of the enemy forces.
Shri Fernandes assured
the Officers and personnel of the Coast Guard that all the necessary
welfare measures and facilities sought by them will be provided
at the earliest.
Lauding the work
of the Coast Guard, Shri Fernandes said that its anti-piracy operations
and other work, particularly recent restoration of pirated Ship
MV ALONDRA RAINBOW to its original owner has earned reputation
in the International arena.
He complimented the
officers and other staff of the Coast Guard for their excellent
work during the last one year and urged them to continue this
with the same zeal and dedication their work with the same zeal
and dedication.
Earlier in his brief
presentation the DG Coast Guard gave a brief account of the achievements
of the organisation during the last one year and its futures plans
and actions. He said that induction of Dornier aircraft has given
a boost to the extensive sea-shore air surveillance capability
of the organisation. Vice Admiral OP Bansal said that Coast Guard
responded to the 65 distress calls during the past one year and
saved the lives of more than 100 persons.
The Coast Guard,
which keeps India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) measuring over
2.02 million square kilometers under surveillance, is entrusted
with the task of preventing smuggling and other illegal activities,
pollution control at sea, search and rescue and protection of
the maritime environment.
