Cops want to be relieved of coastal patrolling,state says no

Under the scheme,the police are responsible for patrolling waters up to five nautical miles from the shore,the Coast Guard for the zone between five and 12 nautical miles and the Navy for beyond. However,on several occasions after the 26/11 attacks,the city police have attempted to shrug off their new responsibilities,citing various reasons.

“The Mumbai Police has communicated to us that they are not happy with coastal policing since it is not their traditional duty. During discussions,the police have said that the training and mental make-up required for prolonged work on water is very different to what a normal policeman possesses. The Mumbai Police wants the Coast Guard to take over their coastal patrolling duties,” said a senior Home Department official,who did not wish to be named.

“However,we have already set up 12 coastal police stations with seven more being launched soon. We have also procured around 40 boats at a high cost. Recruitment rules have also been amended to allow ex-Navy men to be hired. We will tell the Mumbai Police that their concerns will be taken up with the Centre at an appropriate forum. But till then,the police will have to continue their coastal policing duties,” said the official.

The Coast Guard pointed out that it does not possess the vessels required for patrolling in shallow waters.

Senior maritime security officers said the two-page letter,written when the ninth Sagar Kavach maritime exercise was being planned,has not gone down well with other coastal security agencies.

Naval officials aware of the development have told the state government “it is not in the interest of the state to have a defence body like Navy or Coast Guard monitoring the land or the five nautical miles from the coast as the security equations change”.

A senior maritime security officer said,“We cannot have one city commissionerate dictating the rules when the coastal security programme is a much more complicated,multi-agency set up,with policies being defined for six states. We are aware of the letter,but refused to entertain it as it’s too late to respond to such frivolous suggestions.”