Mangaluru: Stating that finding a suitable place for Coast Guard infrastructure was a challenge in the state, Indian Coast Guard has requested Karnataka government to provide land at Karwar on priority.
Indian Coast Guard Region (West) Commander Inspector General SPS Basra made this request in the presence of Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala during his welcome address on the occasion of Commissioning of Air Cushion Vehicles H-196 and H-198 at Mangaluru on Monday.
“In the coming years, Indian Coast Guard will continue to induct newer platforms and build support infrastructure for these new inductions. The proposed augmentation wil take us to 150 surface platforms and 100 aircraft by 2018.
Induction of these assets will strengthen the already existing capability of Coast Guard to respond to any challenges,” he said.
“But the real challenge of Indian Coast Guard especially in Karnataka, will be to find a suitable place for Coast Guard infrastructure.
I would request the state authorities to hand over land at Karwar on priority so that these ACVs could freely operate and provide assistance to the fishermen in distress,” he said.
Activists have been opposing handing over land near Tagore Beach in Karwar to the Coast Guard arguing that people of Karwar and Ankola have already lost a large extent of land.
