IAf Coast Guard, Navy setting up radar along Indian coast

Chennai, Mar 28 (UNI) The Indian Air Force (IAF), Coast Guard and Navy will set up radar all along the Indian coastline to monitor the skies in the wake of aerial attacks on a Sri Lankan military air base by the LTTE.

When contacted, highly placed sources told UNI that efforts were on to set up the radar, including one at Rameswaram in the forest areas of the tiny Sundaramudaiyan village.

Setting up of radar along the coastline assumes significance in the wake of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's warning that the LTTE's air strike capability was a threat to the entire South Asian region, particularly India.

It may be noted that Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram was the entry point to Sri Lanka by sea. Boats carrying Tamil refugees drop them at Dhanushkodi, from where they would come to Rameswaram.

Five acre forest land had been acquired at Seeniappa Dargah in the village located between Uchipuli and Mandapam.

This was the first time that such a radar was being fixed on Rameswaram coast, the sources said and added teams had already reached there.

'The installation work has already started. It will take at least 10 to 15 days to install it', the sources said and added the radar would monitor the movement of various types of aircraft that fly over the Indian coastline.

The sources denied reports that radar had already been installed and that trials for getting signals had begun.

'No it is not true. The work is on. In the next 10 to 15 days, the radar will be set up in Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district.' UNI