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Our Navy, Coast Guard and Police should coordinate and make fool proof arrangements to safeguard our vast coast line: Lt. Governor Bhopinder Singh Hutbay, Jan 28: The new Coast Guard station at Hutbay was commissioned today by the Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh. It was a proud moment when the commissioning pennant of the new station was broken with the last bar of the National Anthem and with 50 men impressive guard of honour. Vice Admiral DK Joshi Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Director General of Police Shri. SB Deol also graced the occasion.
Congratulating the Commander Coast Guard Region (A&N) and the Coast Guard the Lt. Governor said, “Coast Guard has been playing an important role to ensure the security of the maritime zones in and around these islands. It has been highly instrumental in undertaking various search and rescue operations from 1978, the time the first Coast Guard station was set up in these islands”.
The Lt. Governor further said, “Coast Guard is effectively engaging local people, particularly the fishing community and to make them conscious about the prevailing security environment in our coastal waters”. He therefore lauded the Coast Guard’s efforts towards integrating the other sea going agencies for augmenting the coastal security measures.
“After 26/11 we are forced to keep a strict vigil in our coastal areas to avoid any such mishap in future. Our Navy, Coast Guard and Police should therefore coordinate and make fool proof arrangements to safeguard our vast coastline”, the LG said. “The police marine force is being introduced in the islands which will be a great support to the Coast Guard”, LG added.
Lt. Governor Bopinder Singh further commended the close coordination between the Andaman Nicobar Command and the A&N Administration. This he said is a great thing and perhaps a reason for the Andaman Nicobar Command to have attained a special place in the hearts of the islanders.
Vice Admiral DK Joshi, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command in his speech highlighted the vulnerability of these islands because of their geographical separation from mainland, politico-economic and strategic development in Indian Ocean region.
“The setting up of Coast Guard station Hutbay will facilitate effective sea control and sea denial, if need so arises”, the CNC said.
The Commander-in-Chief further said that strengthening of the security system in these islands in not only critical for maintaining our strategic advantage but also to ensure our own economic and food security
Earlier DIG KR Nautiyal TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (A&N) welcomed and received the Chief Guest on arrival at new Coast Guard station at Hutbay. The Commander in his introductory speech intimated that though the Coast Guard station at Hutbay was conceptualized in mid nineties and ten acres of land was acquired for the purpose in 2001. But the process of setting up of station at the present premises was initiated in Oct 2009 and the station is commissioned within a very short time of approx three months.
The DIG expressed his gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary for their personal support and guidance to make the commissioning of this station possible at such a short time. DIG KR Nautiyal also emphasized that setting up of new station will also augment the Coast Guard surveillance capabilities in and around Little Andaman Islands and ten degree channel.
The new station will be commanded by Comdt. (JG) Anwar Khan. Fifteen subordinate officers and other ranks have been posted alongwith some additional non uniformed staff.
The programme was witnessed by Senior Coast Guard officers, DIG A. Shrivastava, TM, DIG HK Sharma and Chief of Staff DIG AK Harbola, TM. |
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