Lok Sabha Question No. 236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Coastal Security
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., S. RAJENDRAN, SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.236

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## COASTAL  SECURITY

236. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI  T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI  S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI  S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI  SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

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Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  full  spectrum  exercise  of  coastal security;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereto;
- (c) the time by which the said exercise will commence and the number of agencies / stakeholders involved in such exercise;
- (d) the other steps taken / being taken by the Government to strengthen the coastal / maritime security in the country; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  acquire  modern  equipments  for  coastal security and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam.  A large scale, pan-India coastal defence exercise, 'Sea  Vigil'  is  being  scheduled  during  the  Indian  Navy's  biennial  Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise, TROPEX-19 in January, 2019.  The

:  2  :

## main aims / objectives of the exercise are:-

- (i) Simultaneous activation of complete coastal security infrastructure.
- (ii) Gauge response and enhance interagency coordination.
- (iii) Identify gaps in the coastal security set up and means to mitigate the shortfalls.
- (iv) Test  the  information  /  data  sharing  mechanism  of  technical infrastructure related to coastal security.
- (v) Identify lessons to further strengthen the existing set up.

The exercise would involve participation from all stake holders in the nation's coastal security  framework including the  Indian Coast  Guard, all coastal States, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Department Animal  Husbandry,  Dairying  &  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Finance  (for of Customs) and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Threats  to  the  security  of  the  country  through  the  sea  route  are assessed at regular intervals.  Monitoring, review and assessment of the coastal security  construct  is an ongoing process and is undertaken on a periodic  basis.    The  Government  is  implementing  the  Coastal  Security Scheme  in  phases  since  2005  to  augment  capacity  &  infrastructure  of Police forces of Coastal States / UTs. National Committee on Strengthening  Maritime  and  Coastal  Security  (NCSMCS)  monitors  the progress in respect of coastal security initiatives, any shortfall encountered, and decides on measures to plug the gaps.

A  coastal  security  ring  all  along  our  coast  is  provided  by  Marine Police,  Indian  Coast  Guard  and  Indian  Navy.    Other  measures  include improving surveillance mechanism, enhanced patrolling and joint operational  exercises  conducted  on  regular  basis  among  Indian  Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Customs and others.  Patrolling the EEZ [Indian  Navy  and  Indian  Coast  Guard]  and  territorial  waters  (ICG)  by surface  and  air  assets,  electronic  surveillance  of  the  maritime  zones  is undertaken  using  Coastal  Radars,  Automatic  Identification  System  (AIS), Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT), etc.

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