'Only marginal improvement in coastal security post 26/11'

There has been only a marginal improvement in the status of coastal security post Mumbai terror attacks, former Indian Navy chief Arun Prakash said Tuesday.

"We are marginally better now (in coastal security), but there is not much difference," Admiral (retd.) Prakash said Tuesday.

"After 26/11, duties were reallocated. Police was given more boats and training to monitor the coastal lines. But the havaldars are not happy in the boat," he said on the sidelines of the Y.B. Chavan memorial lecture at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here.

"Coastal security is a state subject; there are good states and bad states. But eventually we will have to get there or there will be another 26/11 attack," he said.

Earlier, delivering the lecture on maritime security, Prakash, the navy chief from July 2004 to October 2006, said there is a need to set up a commission to advise government on improving maritime security.

Perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks entered the financial capital of India launching at least 12 coordinated attacks through the city.

The attacks, which left at least 166 people dead, raised serious question on the security of India's coastline.