nIn view of possible fallout after revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Odisha Government has sounded high alert and tightened security in coastline to thwart possible terror attacks. The police are giving extra vigil at all coastal harbours, fishing jetties, ports and coastal boundaries.
The State has a 485km long coastline from Baleswar to Ganjam and the vulnerable shoreline needs protection and implementation of strict security measures. Consequently, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have put all their warships and key assets on high alert to face any eventuality. Meanwhile, the marine police and the Fisheries Department personnel have been pressed into service.
Ironically, three marine police stations functioning in coastal regions of Jagatsinghpur district are running short of required manpower and sophisticated arms. Due to the glaring inadequacies, they are unable to deliver coastal security service promptly.
Shortage of manpower, lack of interceptor boats, infrastructure, arms and ammunitions, electronic gadgets and training to marine police have been compromising with coastal security by marine stations, reports said.
Three marine police stations have been set up in Jagatsinghpur district at Paradip, Jatadhari river mouth near Erasama and Bandar under Balikuda coast but the trio lacks required jetty for starting sea surveillance and stationing interceptor boat.
The Paradip marine police station uses Paradip fishing harbour for sea voyage. Interestingly, two interceptor boats supplied to the marine police station are standing idle due to technical snag for last two years. The marine crews are still waiting for the boats to be repaired. One inspector rank police officer has been appointed along with a few junior cops in Paradip marine police station.
In Bandar marine police station, the officer- in- charge post has been lying vacant for a year. An assistant sub inspector supported by one Habildar and four constables in the police station have been supplied with four Lathis, two bikes and two guns. This makes it amply clear how can they maintain marine security. Even the police station does not have an interceptor boat.
Bandar marine police station possesses a well-furnished building, 10 km away from sea shore, which lacks water and electric facilities and quarters for marine cops. As a result, crews use police station as home and traverse nearby villages arranging drinking water. Ironically, no wireless telephone facility has been supplied to the coastal police station since its beginning in the year 2015.
Reports said that the Union Government had launched a coastal security scheme in the year 2005 under which marine police stations were set up in Odisha for coastline policing. The Centre provides 100 per cent assistance for infrastructure creation like purchase of interceptor boats, vehicles, arms and ammunitions, electronic devices etc, while the State only shares manpower.
However, Jagatsinghpur SDPO Prakash Chandra Pal said “The handicaps in the marine police stations have not come in the way of coastal security as we launch joint drives at seaside taking the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department personnel.