Govt sanctions nine new floating vessels for BSF along WB, Gujarat

Government has sanctioned nine new 'floating' border posts to the BSF in order to enhance vigil and security along India's riverine borders along Pakistan and Bangladesh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

While six of the border posts, self-sustained troops and weapon carrying vessels, will be deployed along the Sunderbans area along the Indo-Bangladesh border, three similar floating platforms have been sanctioned for the Border Security Force along the shallow sea and marshy area of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Officials said these new vessels would be made and procured from Indian ship and vessel making firms, hopefully, within this financial year.

The BSF is the mandated border guarding force for these two important Indian frontiers.

"We have to care about both land and coastal security. It is a fact that only a secure nation can progress and same is true for India.

"I have seen the BSF working very closely in these areas and I felt there was a dearth of floating BOPs (border out posts) here and hence we have sanctioned new ones," Rajnath said while inaugurating BSF's 'Golden Jubilee' seminar here.

At present there are about five such BSF vessels at both these border areas.

The one-day seminar, held to commemorate the forces' 50 years of raising this year, is being held on the theme of "border management in India-challenges and options".

The Home Minister also said that the government's message that BSF will give a befitting reply to any unprovoked firing by Pakistan has gone down well in the country.

"India will never provoke conflict by being the first to open fire across the borders but will never back off. Our forces will give a befitting reply to shelling and gunfire from across the border," he said in the context of continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

He assured the BSF of government's commitment to provide the force with latest weaponry and equipment as he lauded the personnel for undertaking welfare activities and developmental works for the people residing in the vicinity of the borders.