The State level Committee (SlC) for coastal security held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi here on Friday discussed issues relating to strengthening of costal security, distribution of identity cards to seagoing fishermen and fixing of distress alert transmitters in boats.
Reviewing the progress made so far, Padhi requested the Director, Ministry of Home Affairs present to supply adequate number of customised boats for Odisha coast. The boats being supplied now do not fit to many places in Odisha coast.
Padhi too requested for adequate provisions for maintenance of the boats.
He stressed on speeding up of training activities for marine police for patrolling and chasing in the sea and awareness programme for fishermen about the security measures.
Home Principal Secretary Asit Tripathy said the Center has provided only 13 boats for 18 marine police stations functioning in the State. The boats need to be customised so that the requirement for jetties can be reduced.
“We are now issuing identity cards to the fishermen going into the sea. There are around three lakh fishermen and so far 2, 60,000 cards have been issued. The fishermen must carry the cards with them while going for fishing into the sea,” he said.
He said steps have been taken for installation of Distress Alter Transmitters (DAT) in the boats through which fishermen can send immediate signal about any distress condition to the coast guard or naval force so that the latter can reach them soon.
“We need around 8,000 such DAT machines for the boats. The Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Department has already supplied around 2,000 DAT machines and supply the balance soon,” he said.
DGP BK Singh, F and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, Home Special Secretary lalit Kumar Das and senior officers from Ministry of Home Affairs, Naval Force, Coastal Guard, Customs and Intelligence Bureau participated in the discussions.