The Hindu : Karnataka News : Coast Guard to open more stations on west coast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 29, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Coast Guard to open more stations on west coast

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JUNE 28. The Indian Coast Guard would open stations at different places along the west coast, including Karnataka, by 2007 to rescue fishermen in distress at sea, the commander of the Coast Guard Region (West), S. Pradeep, said here on Monday.

Addressing presspersons, he said there were 10 Coast Guard stations along the west coast. The new stations would be opened at Vadinar, Veraval, and Zafarabad in Gujarat, Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, and Beypur in Kerala. In Karnataka, the station would be at any one of the places such as Karwar, Gangolli, or Malpe.

These stations would have small boats equipped with life-saving and latest communication equipment, he said.

Commodore Pradeep said the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code would come into effect from July. As per the code, ports were expected to make their own arrangements for security up to 12 miles in sea from the coast.

He said the Coast Guard authorities had observed that in Karnataka many a time fishermen did not follow safety norms and they ventured out for fishing without life jackets and VHF communication sets. Many fishermen used poorly maintained boats. In such circumstances, the Coast Guard personnel found it difficult to save the lives of fishermen while they were in distress at sea.

Commodore Pradeep said a majority of the fishermen were poor and therefore could not afford to have communication sets and life-saving equipment. In Gujarat, the Government was providing subsidy to fishermen for purchasing such equipment.

He said he would write to the State Government suggesting that it initiate steps to ensure that every fishing boat had life-saving equipment.

The Karnataka Government should either convince the fishermen to have such equipment or bring in legislation making it mandatory for them to have such equipment.

The Government could extend financial assistance to fishermen to purchase such equipment.

Commodore Pradeep said about 200 ships sailed on west coast every day.

To a question, he said there was no illegal deep-sea fishing on the west coast.

So far this year, the Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 3 (Mangalore) had saved 24 lives. It had introduced a toll-free number (1718) by dialling which information regarding fishermen in distress at sea could be communicated to the Coast Guard personnel.

The Coast Guard had also conducted interactive meets to educate fishermen on the safety norms to be followed at sea.

He said intelligence agencies on the west coast had come together to launch a forum for better coordination among themselves to enhance coastal security.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka