New Delhi, Oct 14: Defence Minister George Fernandes today conceded that not much progress has been made in the last several years to enable the coast guard remove its shortcomings like manpower shortage and need for ships and aircraft. "Many of the problems that you have brought out in your speech are issues we have been discussing over many years ....I think this is the fifth (conference) I am attending and it is the same issues that have figured ... Not much progress has been made and this has to be acknowledged by me," he told the 22nd coast guard commanders' conference here.

He said, "once again the issues are taken here via the Ministry of Defence ... And wait for the next annual conference to articulate them once again".
However, the minister assured the conference that at least a commitment should be made by government so that the coast guard can provide for most of their needs.

"All I can say at this moment is that this year, we should use, which means I am talking about this financial year that is yet to conclude, we must see that if not actual allocation there is at least a commitment which even after the financial year closes, enables us to provide coast guard most of their needs", he told the conference in a frank speech.
Bureau Report