Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes underlined the need for more Coast Guard stations, particularly on the West Coast, southern sector on the East Coast .and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. " At least 10 stations from the Rann of Kutch to Calicut on the West Coast are required to be built in view of the security challenges", he added. In his opening remarks in the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Defence Ministry, Mr Fernandes said that lack of funds stood in the way of realising the full potential of the Coast Guard. However, he said that the Coast Guard Development Plan 1997-2002 approved the construction of one advance offshore patrol vessel, two fast inshore patrol vessels, two interceptor boats, six Hovercraft, seven Dorniers, two Chetaks and 2 advanced light helicopters for which orders have been placed. The constructions of one more advanced offshore patrol vessel and three pollution control vessels have also been approved and orders will be placed shortly for the pollution control vessels.

Listing out the achievements, the Defence Minister said that the Indian Coast Guard created a maritime history by capturing a pirated Japanese ship in November, last year. The joint exercise of the Coast Guards of India and Japan off the Chennai Coast was due to the initiative taken by India in seizing the pirated Japanese ship. He said during the last one year, 65 foreign boats including 16 Pakistani and 14 Sri Lankan with a total crew or 723 were detained. Mr Fernandes stressed that the Coast Guard is not only preventing crimes on the high seas but also becoming the fighting arm of the Navy during the times of war. He disclosed that the Government has decided to set up a tri-services command in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as it had received information about some poachers using the islands for smuggling of arms and narcotics and indulging in undesirable activities.

A presentation on the structure, organisation and achievements of the Coast Guard was made by the Director General of the Coast Guard, Vice Admiral JC DeSilva which was appreciated by most of the committee members. The members unanimously urged the Government to allot more funds for the Coast Guard and strengthen the force in view of the country’s long coast-line.

The meeting was attended by the Members of Parliament, Mr TN Chaturvedi, Mr S Agniraj, Dr Ranjan Prasad Yadav, Mr Khagen Das, Mr Chaudhary Chunnai Lal, Mr K Kalavenkata Rao, Mr Kripal Parmar,Mr Balavant P Apte and Mr KB Krishna Murthy, all from Rajya Sabha and Mr Kunwar Akhilesh Singh, Dr Nihal Chand, Dr C Krishnan, Mr NN Krishnadas, Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Mrs Laishree Banerjee, Mr Hassan Khan, Mr Shyama Charan Shukla and Mr M Rajaiah, all from Lok Sabha.

Later, the Defence Minister and the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee witnessed an exercise by the Coast Guard off Chennai Coast.

Defence Secretary, Mr Yogendra Narain, Secretary. (Defence Production) Mr R Gupta, Additional Secretary, Mr Ajay Prasad, Financial Advisor (Defence) Mr PR SubramaQian and Commander, Cost Guard Region (East) Cmde RS Vasan also participated in the Consultative Committee meeting.