Testing time for coastal security

Testing time for coastal security
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 26
Various defence and coastal security agencies will embark on exercise Sagar Kavach, this year to assess the seamless seaward security cover along Goa coast.
Government spokesman said that first such exercise was held this year in May and it would be held again, shortly.
“The objective of this exercise is to provide seamless seaward cover along the Goa coast jointly by all security agencies from coastal belt area line to the limit of territorial water which is extending upto 12 nautical miles”, the Government release mentioned. 
The exercise will also assess the effectiveness of coastal fishing community in serving as “Eyes and Ears” for early warning of seaward threat. The time the services of Dristi life guards, present at the beaches of Goa, will also be utilized for same purpose.
Officials said that coastal security, a major subset of an all encompassing subject of maritime security, has been on the centre stage, post terror attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
India, being a maritime State, has numerous interests in the maritime zones and safeguarding these interests, has thrown up fresh challenges in the fast deteriorating security environment.
The use of sea route by terrorists for attack at Mumbai has highlighted the vulnerability of our coastline and the lacunae in our existing security mechanism.
The sphere of activities in the maritime environment is vast and  thus, a number of agencies which include Indian Navy, Coast Guard, State  Marine police, Customs, Fisheries, Port authorities and other Central and State Departments are the stake holders in the maritime domain.
This multi-agency environment requires co-operation, co-ordination and understanding of each other, strengths as well as limitations, to ensure fool proof security by the optimum exploitation of limited resources.
The coastal security issue had also cropped up in the recently concluded monsoon session of the legislative session where a panel had expressed unhappiness with the security measures taken by the State Government along the 105 km long coastline.