M.S. Pawar is new FOC, Maharashtra and Gujarat areas

Rear Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar took over as the new Flag Officer Commanding - Maharashtra and Gujarat Area - here Friday, an official announcement said.

He replaces Rear Admiral G. Ashok Kumar, who will take over as Flag Officer, Sea Training in Kochi, Kerala.

The FOMAG is responsible for the defence and security of Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts, including offshore development areas which contribute significantly to the commercial and maritime economic activity of India.

The two states alone account for about 80 percent of India's oil imports and 40 percent of the total cargo handled by Indian ports.

Hailing from Chitali, Satara district of western Maharashtra, Pawar belongs to the 1978 batch of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (Pune).

He also headed the Western Fleet as Fleet Operations Officer in 2008-2009 when the Indian Navy took its largest deployment to the Atlantic Ocean and initiated anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

Prior to his new assignment, Pawar was Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, the training command which covers seven states and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands.