DMK Govt failed to strengthen coastal security: Jaya

Chennai, Jun 11 (UNI) Accusing the DMK government of failing to strengthen coastal security, opposition AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa, quoting the Centre, today said the country faced a threat from terror outfits like LTTE and Al-Qaeda through the Tamil Nadu coast.

In a statement here, she said a senior official of the Union Home Ministry and National Security Advisor have expressed apprehensions that terrorist outfits might carry out attacks through Tamil Nadu sea coast and wanted the State Government to immediately strengthen its coastal security.

She said the Group of Ministers on Reforming the National Security System, in 2005, had sanctioned for a Coastal Security Scheme to strengthen coastal security in nine coastal states, including Tamil Nadu and four Union territories.

Under the scheme, the Centre would provide Rs 400 crore as non-recurring expenditure and Rs 151 crore as recurring expenditure for setting up coastal police stations and for purchasing vehicles and boats.

While all the other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, had implemented the scheme, Tamil Nadu, which was expected to set up 12 coastal police stations, did not set up even one, she alleged.

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