As part of Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) ‘Sagar Kavach’ initiative — a peace time drill — ICG with the support of Gujarat Government, Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force conducted a two-day long exercise to ensure national coastal security along the International Maritime Boundary line (IMBl) off Gujarat coast.

In the event concluded with a two-day evolution the ports, private ports, Government organisations and mariners displayed their prowess by guarding the permeable coastlines. ships, aircrafts, remotely operated pilotless aircrafts, electronic surveillance and physical mobilisation of troops made it an interesting platform to reinforce the nation’s coastal security setup. In addition, patrol boats from BSF, Marine Police, Customs, Port Security and Harbour Tugs were also deployed. The exercise covered area right from Sir Creek to Daman coast.

The porous IMBl that separates Gujarat from our antagonistic neighbour has been in the limelight lately for emerging as ‘lakshman Rekha’ for the Indian fishermen,” said an ICG statement, adding that the Department of Fisheries having adopted measures to promote the source of livelihood, usually accounts for an array of sea goers in all possible kinds of fishing crafts.

The planning and execution also integrates the State machineries and armed forces based within the State by simulating a threat and making efforts to neutralise them, all along the 1,600 km long coastline of the state. The fishermen in this exercise remain as the overall beneficiaries. The occasion to know the role of each force along with their ability to recognise an intruder in the community is encouraged with such exercises. Apart from soliciting safety drills, this also aids random check of boats, their communication and safety fitments, apart from verification of their crew’s credentials as well as the worthiness of the Boat documents, carried by them.

The hub and spoke concept of roping in fishermen in the coastal security mechanism is also to garner intelligence and monitor response from the nearest available security post. The participation by Police personnel in acquiring the marine role was also the agenda of the exercise.