By DeshGujarat News, New Delhi, 30 March, 2012

In reply to Rajya Sabha MPs from Gujarat, the central government said that the coastline of Gujarat is sensitive from security point of view and the Single Point Moorings (SPM) situated along the coastline of Gujarat are handling around 70 per cent crude imports of the country.

In his reply to Gujarat MPs Natuji Thakor and Smriti Irani, Minister of state in the ministry of Home Affairs Shri Mullappaly Ramachandran said, “Ministry of Shipping has issued instructions to all the SPMs owners and Port Authorities to adopt the Paradip Model of Security for SPMs. At Paradip SPM, the owner M/s. Indian Oil Corporation Limited has engaged a maintenance vessel for watch and ward on 24 hours basis.”

“There are 6-8 persons on boat continuously on shift basis looking after the security of SPM. Two High Speed Patrol Boats with armed Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Guards are making at least 6 sorties to SPM area from main harbor on daily basis,” the minister added.

“Electronic surveillance of the area is done found the clock basis by Radars and Automatic Identification System (AIS). The Coast Guard patrols the area nearby SPM regularly. The overall responsibility of the security arrangement lies with the concerned Port Trust,” he further added.

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