Bhubaneswar, Feb 18: The Odisha government requested the Home Ministry for a supply of adequate number of customized boats for surveillance of its coastal belt. Chief Secretary, Aditya Prasad Padhi initiated the request at the first meeting of the newly formed State Level Committee for coastal security at the State Secretariat here, to the Director of the Home Ministry. Request was also forwarded for adequate provisions for running, patrolling and maintenance of the boats. DGP KB Singh, secretary Fisheries & Animal Resource Development Bishnupada Sethi, Special Secretary, Home, Lalit Kumar Das along with senior officers from Home Ministry, Indian Navy, Coastal Guard, Customs, and Intelligence were present at the meeting.
As of now, 18 marine police stations functioning in the state have 13 boats. But the boats supplied do not fit to Odisha coast and creeks. They also need large jetties. The boats need to be customized so that the requirement for jetties can be reduced and the boats can also ply in the creeks. The Fisheries & Animal Resource Development department has already supplied around 2000 DAT machines. These machines are very helpful to spot the fishermen in distress and come to their rescue. Identity cards are being issued to the fishermen going into the sea. There are around 3 lakh fishermen of whom 2,60,000 have been provided with identity cards. The fishermen have to carry the cards with them while going for fishing into the sea.
Taking stock of the functioning of marine police, chief secretary directed the respective departments to intensify the training activities for marine police and make them robust for sea patrolling and sea chasing. He also directed to take up intensive awareness building activities for the fishermen community about the security measure they need to follow while going into the sea.
