Govt may allow states to have separate cadre for coastalpolice

The Centre is considering a proposal of state governments to raise separate cadre for coastal police as it has been found that local police are being deployed on the shores without any special training and understanding of coastal security.
A few state governments like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have sought Home Ministry's permission to raise the specific cadre to provide better security with a dedicated wing of coastal policemen who would have extensive training and sophisticated arms, ammunition and communication and navigational equipment.
"The Home Ministry is likely to give its nod to the proposal of separate cadre for coastal police," a senior officer said.

The move came after it was found that in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, local police without any training and understanding, were posted on coastal security duties.
It was also found that the police neither had the motivation nor proper understanding nor proper training of coastal security.
Some of the policemen were sent for immediate training under Coast Guard and the Navy. Government is also planning to set up two State Naval Police Training Academies, one on the East Coast and other on the West Coast.

Efforts are also being made for construction of coastal police stations, jetties, marine police operation centres, procurement of large vessels, rigid inflatable boats, four wheelers and motorcycles on a time-bound manner.

Top priority was given by the government to coastal security after the 2008 Mumbai-terror attack. The terrorists, who carried out the 26/11 attack, had come from Karachi through the sea which exposed chinks in the security of the country's 7,517 km coastline.
Under the coastal security scheme, the Centre, with the help of States and Union Territories having coastline, set up 73 coastal police stations, procured 204 boats with sophisticated weapons and surveillance equipment, purchased 153 vehicles and 312 two-wheelers. The first phase of coastal security scheme ended on March 31, 2011.
Subsequently, the second phase of coastal security was started with an outlay of Rs 1,579.91 crore to further supplement the states/UTs by providing more police stations (131), boats (180), large vessels, (10) and jetties (60). The scheme will also provide support for equipment, computer systems, vehicles and two-wheelers.