High-level committee to monitor coastal security measures
19 Jun 2009
New Delhi: A meeting convened by Indian defence minister AK Antony on Thursday decided to set up a high- level committee to strengthen the coastal security apparatus and also monitor progress in various measures taken after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The committee will be headed by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar.
Other participants at the meeting, apart from Antony and Chandrasekhar, included the national security advisor MK Narayanan and defence secretary Vijay Singh as well as coast guard director general, vice admiral Anil Chopra, the Navy's deputy chief, representatives from the petroleum and shipping ministries as well as those that are connected to sea-faring. Representatives from other maritime security agencies were also present.
"The high-level committee that has been set up under the cabinet secretary will meet frequently to review the coastal security situation," a defence ministry spokesperson said here.
The meeting also looked at the progress made with various fast-track acquisitions for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. These include fast-attack crafts, off-shore patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft and helicopters, the spokesman said.