Indian Coast Guard Apprehends 1,683 Intruders at Sea in a Decade
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Synopsis
In the past decade, the Indian Coast Guard has seized 179 boats and apprehended 1,683 individuals for illegal entry into Indian waters. A toll-free number has been established for reporting incidents at sea, and various measures are in place to ensure coastal security.
Key Takeaways
- ICG apprehended 1,683 intruders in 10 years.
- 179 boats seized for illegal activities.
- Monitoring conducted via Coastal Surveillance Network.
- Regular interaction with fishermen for safety discussions.
- Significant investment in maritime security resources.
New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) In its efforts to safeguard the coastline, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has confiscated 179 boats and apprehended 1,683 individuals over the past decade for unlawfully entering Indian waters, as reported in Parliament on Friday.
A toll-free number, 1554, has been established for reporting any incidents at sea, stated Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in a written response to the Lok Sabha.
In response to an inquiry by Krishna Prasad Tenneti, the MoS reported that the 179 boats seized by the ICG in the last ten years were involved in unlawful activities such as poaching, narcotics smuggling, and illegal immigration.
He elaborated that surveillance of coastal regions is conducted via the Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN), along with investigations by Remote Operating Stations (ROS) and Remote Operating Centres (ROCs).
Detailing initiatives aimed at bolstering coastal security, MoS Seth mentioned that the ICG deploys 18-20 ships, 30-35 crafts, and 10-12 aircraft for routine surveillance.
The ICG allocated Rs 12,201 crore for the acquisition of ships and aircraft, while Rs 1,583.8 crore was utilized for the CSN across India, the MoS stated.
"The ICG's assets are crucial for enforcing maritime laws to enhance coastal security and uphold a rule-based order at sea. Surveillance efforts also concentrate on the Offshore Development Area (ODA) and the waters surrounding the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep," he noted.
During the past decade, the ICG carried out 300,296 Boarding Operations for deterrence and identity verification, 153 Coastal Security Exercises, 451 Coastal Security Operations, 458 Security Drills, and 3,645 Joint Coastal Patrol Sorties, according to Seth.
For national protection, Coastal Security Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been established for Coastal States/Union Territories, he indicated.
These SOPs emphasize the roles of various stakeholder agencies, operational conduct, and response management for diverse coastal security states, he added.
The MoS mentioned that the ICG also organizes regular Community Interaction Programmes with fishermen to discuss maritime safety and security.
He noted that fishermen watch groups have been formed by states to report any suspicious activities along the coast.
