Coastal Security

Indian Coastline 7516 km. 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and 2008 Mumbai attacks were a proof of
flaw in coastal security.

Threats and Challenges

 remoteness of these coastal areas makes them unguarded. Boats can easily land and
disappear in stealth and thus remains undetected.

 Creek Areas of Gujarat and Sunderbans (W.B.) are particularly vulnerable to clandestine
activities since they side by Pak and Bangladesh borders. Creeks are interconnected
through small islands and hence make border porous. Mangrooves and Sand Bars
provides shelters. No approach channel from Indian Side.e.g. harami nala is a channel
which originates from India enters Pakistan and then remerges in India is a major route
for terrorists

 Proximity to volatile countries. There is less than 2000 km distance between Gujarat and
UAE. Dhows –large wooden boats used for trade are involved in illicit trade and
smuggling from pakistan through Dubai. No mechanism to stop this trade.

 India’s proximity to Sri Lanka has undermined it’s security. LTTE and other migrants to
Tamil Nadu are involved in clandestine activity.

 Due to fencing of land borders, Bangladeshis have been creeping into through sea routes.
 Unsettled Maritime Boundary disputes e.g.

Riverine border along Sir Creek with Pakistan and with Bangladesh dispute over
maritime boundary and Islands that appear after cyclone i.e. New Moore in India and
Talpatti in Bangladesh. The Island disappear but dispute does not.
Bangladesh instituted arbitral proceedings for the delimitation of the maritime boundary with
India under Annex VII of UNCLOS,16 the verdict of which will be pronounced in 2014.

 Discovery of vast Hydrocarbons has complicated the situation. Neighbours are

claiming the territory under EEZ
 Strategic Installations although vital for security are high value targets for terrorists.

 Increasing Maritime traffic

Three tier structure of Coastal Security

Organisation Responsibility Flaws
Indian Navy Overall Maritime security (outer tier) Does not have power to control other
Organizations and their resources

Indian Coast Guard Territorial water till shoreline (Intermediate Not responsible for complete coastal security
Tier) Coordinates only Central and state agencies
Marine Police Patrolling Shallow and Inland water No responsible for Intrusion
 Other organization such as Custom department and CISF (Marine wing) uses the
interceptor boat for Patrolling without having the technical knowledge and manpower to
use it. Hence, either the national assets go waste or send for repair due to mishandling.
 Capabilities in terms of assets, manpower, presence, mindset and mind-set are poor. e.g.
Indian Navy only prepares for war time defence. Marine Police receives inadequate state
attention.
 Organisations do not share intelligence with each other and work reluctantly. Propels
only on saving their own goals.
 Measures such as Joint operation Centres, Coordination Committees and Joint coastal
security exercises prove inadequate

Why Indian Coast Guards should be given sole responsibility?

1. strong presence along entire coastline
2. has training, tradition and the mind-set.
3. functioned as the national authority for Offshore Security Coordination Committee
(OSCC), national authority for maritime search and rescue, lead intelligence agency
for coastal borders and the coordinating agency for coastal security.
4. established good working relationships with concerned organisations as well as with
fishermen.
Steps to take

1. the Charter of ICG should be amended and its forces should be enhanced and
Indian Navy should be freed to develop its wartime capabilities.
2. The ICG should be treated as a border guarding force and brought under the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). This will ensure administrative cohesion and
revenue flows.
3. MHA should concentrate on training of Marine Police
4. Include private players in Maritime security
5. Should recruite talented local fisherman in Marine Police.
6. Training should be conducted frequently
 7. State and Centre govt. should co-operate with each other.

News for coastal Security

Small boats a threat

Indian Coast Guard is wary of small vessels without masts in the seas with engines can be
operated with oars and are capable of mixing with fishing boats. But Human Intellingence is
applied to find the odd boat.
 A Pilot project for tracking vessels <20metres began.
 Difficult to put technology on small boats which do not have masts.
 But registration of fishermen completed and data has been shared with different units of
coast guards.
 Radio identification fingerprinting of boats will take place and the prototype model is in
place. Card readers are also being provided to monitor movement of the crafts.
 Floating armouries are cause of concern. Due to pressure on Somalian pirates they have
moved their operation east towards India. Merchant vessels no carry armed guards and since
they operate close to Indian waters these guards posed a challenge to us.
 It through ministry of shipping urged regulation of these merchant ships and recording of
data of their crew, armed guards and weapons carried by them.
 Patrolling has been increased by 75 percent.- vessels + chetak helicopters.
 Coast guard has already completed the first phase of the Coastal Security Scheme at Rs.600
under which 73 Marine Police Stations has been set up.

Name- Hunny Sharma