The Hindu Business Line : Coast Guard to set up boat stations to monitor EEZ

TO enable constant monitoring, control and surveillance of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Indian Coast Guard is establishing a number of boat stations along the Indian coast.

A Coast Guard press release said here on Wednesday that such boat stations have been commissioned at Vizhinjam in Kerala, Karavathi in Lakshadweep, and Jakhau in Gujarat. Discussions are on with the respective state governments to increase the presence of Coast Guard along the sensitive coastal areas and to establish boat stations at Malpe, Beypore, Ratnagiri, Diu and Pipavav.

The release said that the Coast Guard of the Western Region monitors 1,941 km of coastline ranging from Gujarat to Kerala and 11 islets of Lakshadweep and Minicoy with an EEZ of 9,73,182 sq km.

Pollution response vessel

It said that the Coast Guard would be inducting a pollution response vessel - `Smart' - this year. The vessel is fully equipped with all the sophisticated pollution response equipment onboard and will be based at Mumbai.

In the existing scenario where the Indian EEZ has got international sea line of communication for tankers to Gulf, the possibility of accidents resulting in oil pollution cannot be ruled out, the release added.

The regional headquarters of Coast Guard in Mangalore had organised a demonstration in sea as part of the 29th Indian Coast Guard Day anniversary celebrations. Various activities, including the search and rescue operations, were conducted in the sea to mark the occasion.