Southern states to discuss coastal security

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Feb 10 (UNI) Coastal security and mega city policing would dominate the proceedings of a meeting of the Southern Zonal Council being held in Hyderabad on Monday.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil will chair the meeting which would also review internal security situation in the southern states and communal harmony.

Coastal security has, of late, started receiving focussed attention from the Home Ministry amid intelligence inputs suggesting possibility of militant groups using the coastal areas to intrude into the country and making uninhabited tiny islands as their base.

There were also indications to suggest that militant groups were now trying to gain entry through the coastal areas, which are not yet properly guarded, in the light of strengthening of the security along the borders with India.

Kerala and other southern states had been reportedly identified by the terror groups for gaining easy entry.

Besides surveillance by Coast Guard personnel, coastal areas were guarded by the local police under the state government.

The Southern Zonal Council consists of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Their Chief Ministers are among the members of the Council.

The last meeting of the Southern Zonal Council was held in Puducherry on May 31.

There are five Zonal Councils which act as advisory bodies to provide common meeting ground to the States and Union Territories in each zone for a solution of inter-state and centre-state problems.

They also encourage cooperation for ensuring speedier and balanced regional development.

UNI

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