Porbandar, 15 November 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel today praised Indian Coast Guards(ICG) for its preparedness to protect and meet any eventualities along the 1600 Kms long coastal line of Gujarat.

Speaking at the function organized to incept three new boats — ‘Charlie 409, 411 and 412’ – for ICG in the Indian sea waters at port-towns of Porbandar, the Chief Minister said, the ICG is not just protecting the Indian sea borders but also offering helping hands to the local administrations in serving and protecting the citizens in the time of eventualities.

These three news boats are equipped with the latest communication and navigation gadgets to enable the ICG to make prompt responses in the time of crisis.

Mrs. Patel said, the state government was determined to strengthen security along its long coastal line. Therefore, under the Coastal Security Scheme her government has made a separate allocation of fund in the state budget.Elaborating this further, the Chief Minister said, “To prevent infiltration and protecting security of state’s coastal line, Gujarat Government has set up 23 Marine Police Stations and ‘Special Marine Commando Force’ in Gujarat. In addition to these, a land is also allocated at free-of-costs for National Marine Police Academy near religion town of Dwarka.”

Gujarat Government’s these measures have also yielded good results such as Gujarat’s emergence as an important place for commercial activities through its sea-route and terminals ports like Mundra and L.N.G., she added.

The Chief Minister also expressed a hope that with inception of these three new boats, the ICG would be able to give better protections to Indian fishermen at deep-sea against the threat of being kidnapped by the Pakistani Coast Guards.

Later, Mrs. Patel along with Inspector General of Police Commandant (Western Wing) of ICG Mr. Kuldeep Singh paid a visit to new three boats and ICG ship ‘Vijeet’ at deep-sea.

Others who graced the occasion included Gujarat Agriculture Minister Mr. Babubhai Bokhiriya, Minister of State for Home Mr. Rajani Patel, Member of Parliament Mr. Viththalbhai Radadiya, District Collector Mr. Chudasma and others.