AP Chief Secretary discusses coastal security with officials

Initiatives on coast security, functioning conditions of radar stations, monitoring of fishing boats, issuing identity cards to fishermen were the major issues discussed in a meeting today by Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao with officials from Navy and Coast Guard among others.
Officials of fisheries and ports were also present for the meeting here to discuss issues related to coastal security along the 974 km coastline of Andhra Pradesh, an official release said.
Biometric identity cards have been issued to 69 per cent of fishermen under a central scheme, officials said.
Rao has directed the state fisheries department to coordinate with the Centre's Ministry of Fisheries to ensure that identity cards are issued to rest of the fishermen.

It is mandatory for the fishermen to carry the cards while going for fishing in the sea.
Commissioner of Customs (AP) S K Rahman said the Customs Department conducted co-ordination and awareness meetings on anti-smuggling with the people living in the coastal villages, it added.
The Chief Secretary asked all the coastal district fisheries officers to regularly organise awareness programmes with the help of Coast Guard authorities, coastal security police and naval authorities on security-related aspects such as online registration of boats, carrying boat registration certificates and biometric cards while going for fishing in the sea, painting of fishing vessels as per the colour code assigned to Andhra Pradesh.

The awareness programmes would also cover important issues like restrictions on fishing in security channels, port limits, oil platforms, offshore installations, identification and intimation about unknown fishing boats, anti-social elements to coastal security police, Coast Guard by phone, the release added.