Posted on: February 16, 2012
India's post-Mumbai 26/11 terror strike plans to have a chain of radar stations as part of its coastal security apparatus will be ready along the peninsular mainland by the end of 2012 and those in the island territories by 2013, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan has said.
"We have a chain of radar stations that have been set up for the entire coastal security network which will be ready at the end of this year along the mainland and early next year it will be ready in our island territories," Muralidharan said in Kolkata on India's east coast where he commissioned a new Inshore Patrol Vessel for the maritime security force INS Rajshree.
"Coastal security and sea-based piracy have emerged as concerns that demand rapid capacity and capability building of all maritime forces. What we can do is to enhance our presence in the sea by both naval (forces) as well as the Coast Guard. We have vessels which have been patrolling in the ocean and also we have the aircraft in the air which are continuously patrolling," he said.
The radar stations, Muralidharan said, will help the Coast Guard enhance surveillance to monitor vessels to counter sea-based piracy.
He noted that the Coast Guard was planning to increase its presence in the seas around India
"We are looking for more vessels...we are getting more units. In the next five years or so, we will reach some level," he said, pointing out that the Coast Guard would grow into a 150-vessel and over l00-aircraft maritime force by 2018.
"As of today, there are over 100 ships in various stages of construction both at the defence public shipyards and private shipyards across the country," he noted.
The long-delayed $133.75-million contract for coastal radars, to be put up by defence public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in collaboration with a foreign firm, was inked in September last year. The project envisages 36 coastal radars in the mainland, six in Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands , and four in Andaman and Nicobar Islands .
The plan is to have the radar chain for the mainland in a year and the island ones to become operational in another six months after that.
Apart from existing lighthouses on which the radars with electro-optic sensors will be installed, 13 towers are being constructed on the mainland for housing them. Under the Phase-II of the project, 45 additional radars will follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment