Govt clears Rs 1,100 cr coastal security scheme

Aiming to strengthen country's security along the sealine, the government today approved a Rs 1,100 crore coastal security scheme to be implemented from April 1, 2011.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared the Home Ministry's proposal for implementating the second phase of coastal security scheme.

Under the scheme, the Centre, with the help of states having coastline, proposes to set up more coastal police stations, purchase high-speed boats, recruit security personnel and procure high-tech gadgets.

Under the first phase of the coastal security scheme, the Centre set up 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks, equipped with 204 vessels and vehicles in the nine coastal states, four coastal Union Territories.

After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, which was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who came from Pakistan taking the sea route, the government has been emphasising on securing the country's 7,517 km coastline.

The Supreme Court order to postpone pronouncement of the Ayodhya title suit verdict is also understood to have figured at the CCS meeting.

The CCS is also believed to have discussed the situation in Kashmir. An All Party Delegation led by Home Minister P Chidambaram had visited the state earlier this week.

Another CCS meeting is likely to be held next week to discuss threadbare the situation in the Valley. The demand of the J-K government on partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) may come up.