Radar sensors to be set up along coastlines

The Centre has launched a Rs. 350-crore project to set up radar sensors along the country’s coastlines for surveillance to prevent terrorists from entering the nation to repeat the Mumbai-type attack.

The chain of radar sensors along the entire 7,517-km coastline, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep is being set up by the Coast Guard under a Home Ministry scheme.

The radar sensors will be fitted on light houses at 46 locations, out of which 36 are in mainland, six in Lakshadweep Islands and four in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Radar sensors use Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave to reliably detect moving or stationary objects even in extreme weather conditions.

“The government has been on continuing basis reviewing security arrangements of our coastline in the light of emerging challenges, including from terrorists. The decision to set up a chain of radar sensors has been taken to strengthen the coastal security,” an official said.

As part of the overall coastal security, the Navy has been designated as the authority responsible for overall maritime security which includes coastal and offshore security.

The Indian Coast Guard is additionally designated as the authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters, including areas patrolled by State Coastal Police.

The first phase of the Coastal Security Scheme provides for setting up of 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks, equipped with 204 vessels and vehicles in the nine coastal states and four coastal Union Territories.

Last month, the government had approved the second phase of the coastal security scheme to be implemented from April 1, 2011 at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore.

The Ministry of Shipping has also been mandated to streamline the process of registration of all types of vessels - fishing as well as non-fishing - and also to ensure fitting of navigational and communication equipment on these boats.

Of India’s total coastline, 5,423 km is along the mainland and 2,094 km in the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.