Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083050340100.htm

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Coastal Security Group plans to install hi-tech wireless system

S. Vijay Kumar

Provides connectivity up to 20 nautical miles Facility on 24 boats, at 8 marine police stations

CHENNAI: The Coastal Security Group has proposed to install the sophisticated ‘Network Interface Chord’ wireless system for on/offshore communication. The NIC offered by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) provides connectivity up to 20 nautical miles from the coastline.

According to the Additional-Director General of Police (Coastal Security Group), Jagan M. Seshadri, it has been proposed to the government to have the facility on all the 24 boats, at 8 marine police stations and 8 outposts.

He said villagers in fishing hamlets and fishermen could contact the NIC telephone numbers in case of an emergency.

“Since mobile phone connectivity cannot extend beyond the International Maritime Boundary Line, the BSNL has come out with this offer. The system also provides for high-speed internet connectivity,” he told The Hindu.

Mr. Seshadri said Tamil Nadu was among the first States to adopt the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for coastal police stations drafted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development and issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. “We have made some modifications to suit the requirements and conditions of our State. The government has notified the SOP that defines the jurisdiction, functional procedures and other aspects of the CSG.”

The marine police had identified a few vulnerable areas including the 21 islands spread across the Gulf of Mannar, the Vedaranyam backwaters and landing sites where surveillance was intensified.

“While conducting joint patrolling with the Navy, Coast Guard and the Forest Department, we are also focussing on creating a database on the local people, fishermen villages and crime profile.”

This information would help in many ways such as solving complaints of missing persons. “Many complaints of missing persons are still pending though some of those reported missing might have come back. We want to have a logical conclusion to complaints of missing persons. As of now, there is no record of how many fishermen or others died in the sea…we are trying to document such inputs.”

Mr. Seshadri said the CSG was sharing vital intelligence inputs with other law enforcing agencies, resulting in curbing smuggling and other unlawful activities along the coast.

“Our jurisdiction runs through 844 km covering 377 villages of fishermen. We are generating actionable intelligence reports that are being referred to the authorities concerned,” he said.