TEAM HERALD
VASCO: The Coast Guard Headquarters District II at Goa celebrated its 38th anniversary at its head office at Mormugao Harbour on Sunday.
DIG of Coast Guard Manoj Baadkar along with two young officers cut the cake and said the Coast Guard was first formed on February 1, 1977, with four navy vessels. “From 1977 till date, the Coast Guard is having over 80 vessels, 12 hover crafts and 62 aircrafts,” he said.
“Our major responsibility is the security of the nation and safe guarding the Especial Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond 12 nautical miles. Since the inception of the Coast Guard till date, the Coast Guard has saved over 6,500 lives and seized and registered cases in gold and silver amounting to Rs 21 crore,” added Baadkar.
“I believe that the Coast Guard has apprehended gold and silver worth Rs 1.27 crore and red sandal wood worth Rs 7 crore,” said Baadkar.
Baadkar said the Coast Guard officials should not feel that their responsibility lies only in providing coastal security, but safe guarding the security and EEZ of the nation. “On this day, the Coast Guard reaffirms its commitments and want to assure the citizens that whatever duty allotted to them including aid to civil powers especially during floods, accidents at rivers, ponds, sea and during cyclones, will be fulfilled,” he assured.
Speaking to Herald, Baadkar said, “As far as search and rescue operations are concerned, the Coast Guards have ensured that every disaster call at sea has been met and lives have been saved.”
As for plans to station hovercrafts in Goa, Baadkar said the proposal has already been sent to the Coast Guard Headquarters and once it is accepted, the issue will be taken up with Goa government through the local MLA who has assured to allot a berthing place at Vasco.
