Ahmedabad: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Saturday
commissioned its Veraval station to boost patrolling along the
Gujarat and Maharashtra coast.
The station was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra
and it will function under the control of Commander Coast
Guard Region (North-West), a official release of the ICG said.
"The aim of opening of coastal stations is to intensify
the coast surveillance mechanism to prevent smuggling of arms,
ammunition and explosives and infiltration of anti-national
elements," Chopra said.
"The waters off Gujarat have numerous offshore oil
platforms, vital installations and a huge quantity of maritime
trade, all of which are vulnerable to external security
threats," he added.
The new CG station at Veraval will play an effective role
in undertaking joint coastal patrol along with police, customs
and fishery department to thwart away these threats, he added.
ICG also commissioned one interceptor boat built by ABG
shipyard, Surat yesterday at Veraval Jetty. More boats
with a specialised Coast Guard rapid reaction team will be
positioned at Veraval for responding to fast developing
situations in the sea.
The ICG is pursuing urgent enhancement of its
surveillance capabilities to meet its responsibilities
effectively, the statement said, adding the present manpower
would be doubled in a few years with a corresponding
development in infrastructure.
PTI
