Lok Sabha Question No. 67 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Coastal Security
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.67

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## COASTAL SECURITY

## *67. SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether external threat to the country through sea routes has increased;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has reviewed the system in place for coastal security and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to acquire modern equipments including radar for coastal security / monitoring and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  other  measures  taken  /  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  the coastal / maritime security in the country?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 67 FOR ANSWER ON 7.2.2018

Since the 26/11 Mumbai  attacks  in 2008, inputs from various intelligence  agencies  indicate  the  continued  likelihood  of  such  attacks. However,  presently,  there  is  no  specific  input  pertaining  to  an  increased threat to the country from the sea routes. The  National  Committee  for  Strengthening  Maritime  and  Coastal Security (NCSMCS) is a national-level forum and an apex review mechanism  for  maritime  and  coastal  security,  in  which  all  concerned ministries and government agencies are represented.  The last meeting of NCSMCS was held on 20 th October 2017. Electronic surveillance mechanism has been augmented by provisioning  of    an  electronic  /  radar  chain  called  Coastal  Surveillance Network  (CSN)  comprising  of  Chain  of  Static  Sensors  having  radar, Automatic  Identification  System  (AIS),  Long  Range  Identification  and Tracking  (LRIT),  day  /  night  cameras,  communication  systems.  These measures assist in developing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through interconnecting 51 Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard stations, which has been established to develop a Common Operational Picture.  Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) radars in ports also facilitate surveillance of port areas. The  Indian  Navy,  Indian  Coast  Guard  and  State  Marine  Police,  as a three tiered cover, along with other agencies such as Customs and Port Trusts, patrol the Maritime Zones of India, islands and adjacent seas, using ships and aircraft  to detect and check infiltration through  the sea-routes. Since '26/11'  the  Government  has  taken  a number  of  measures  to strengthen coastal, offshore and maritime security. Broadly, these measures include capacity augmentation of maritime security agencies for surveillance and patrol of the nation's maritime zones; enhanced technical surveillance of coastal and offshore areas; establishment of mechanisms for  inter-agency  coordination;  increased  regulation  of  activities  in  the maritime zones; as also integration of the fishing and coastal communities. Besides, State-wise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coordination among various agencies on coastal security issues have been formulated.  Coastal Security Exercises are being conducted regularly by Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard to assess the effectiveness of existing mechanisms and to address gaps.

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