Two more Coast Guard stations in Kerala on anvil

Kollam, Jan 7 (UNI) New Coast Guard stations are on the anvil at Beypoor and Kollam in Kerala, Coast Guard West Region Commandant A Rajasekhar said today.

Addressing a press conference on board the high speed vessel Savitri Bai Phule off Thankasseri harbour, he said the Kerala Government should take the initiative to equip fishing vessels with Global Positioning System (GPS) and VHS radio system.

This would enable the Coast Guard to trace the vessels when it was in distress, he said, pointing out that Maharashtra and Gujarat strictly implemented the system.

However, only less than five per cent of the vessels in Kerala used the system. The Government should come forward to give subsidy to fishermen to install the system, which would cost around Rs 30,000.

UNI XR CR GD SB HT1910