CAG report says Maharashtra Government was callous on maritime security

New Delhi, Dec.2 : The office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has in a report said that the Government of Maharashtra has been callous on ensuring proper maritime security.

The finding assumes significance in the wake of last week's terrorist attack in Mumbai, which claimed 195 lives and left 295 injured.

In its report, the CAG says Maharashtra has been one of the most callous states towards maritime security of the eight under review. Only two - Kerala and Tamil Nadu - agreed to bear the cost of operation and maintenance of patrol boats priovided by the Central Government.

Under the Marine Fishing Regulation Act (MFRA), enforced since 1993-94, the Centre provides 100 percent assistance to states on capital costs of patrol boats and communication equipment to be used for patrolling.

According to a report in a local daily, between 1995 and 2007, the Centre had provided Rs 25 crore for procurement of gadgets and patrol boats for surveillance purpose to eight states under the MFRA plan. This is over and above the Rs 400 crore Coastal Security Scheme, approved in 2006 but which is yet to take concrete shape.

It further says that the surveillance of the first 12 nautical miles of the coastline is the responsibility of the state marine police, the Coast Guard is responsible from 12 to 200 miles and the Navy beyond that.

If the threat is close to Indian shores, all three are supposed to coordinate their activities and responsibilities together to neutralise it.

ANI