The Union Home Ministry has cancelled the order to purchase 75 speed boats for coastal security following allegations of corruption. The purchase of the high speed boats was to tighten the security in the coasts after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
“We have cancelled the order for 75 speed boats. Fresh process will be initiated to procure the vessels,” a Home Ministry official said. All the 75 speed boats were supposed to be delivered to police forces of the coastal States.
The government had revamped the entire coastal security apparatus following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as all the terrorists involved in it had come from Pakistan through sea. So far, 183 coastal police stations have been operationalised under the Comprehensive and Integrated Coastal Security Scheme (CSS).
The coastal police stations are equipped with 23 jetties, 97 check posts, 58 outposts, 30 barracks, 204 boats, 280 four wheelers and 546 two wheelers. India’s coastal line is 7,516 km. While police forces of respective coastal States and Union Territories have jurisdiction of up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have jurisdiction over the entire maritime zone of up to 200 nautical miles.