Need to safeguard coastline from external threats: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stressed upon the need to safeguard not only industrial, commercial establishments and strategic installations, but also the entire coastline from external threats from sea routes.

While chairing the meeting of home ministers, chief secretaries and directors general of police (DGPS) of coastal states and union territories, Rajnath convened to review the coastal security of India.

During the meeting, he also reviewed all aspects of security along the country's 7,516 km long coastline.

The Union Minister has said that steps have been initiated post 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, wherein the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is designated as the authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters.

He also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines to the coastal states and union territories in regard to security of non-major ports.

Further, he informed that in order to track illegal movement, registration of fishing vessels has been made compulsory and for sensitizing fishermen on safety issues, community interaction programmes are conducted by the Indian Coast Guard.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and senior officers of the ministry also attended the meeting organised by the Department of Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs.