Alappuzha: The coastal security in Alappuzha is still inadequate. It was on July 9 that one of three interceptors here damaged but not replaced even after almost a year.
A coastal police official said the expert who examined the damaged boat a month later had recommended replacement. But there is no information either from the state or Union government.
The registration and maintenance works are under the home ministry.
One more coastal police station, in Arthunkal, is getting commissioned this month considering the vulnerable coastal security.
‘It will reduce the jurisdictional area of Thottapally, but it would improve accuracy," an official said. The Arthunkal is one the ten coastal police stations the government announced in 2015. It has taken two years since. The coastal police stations were set up nationwide in the backdrop of the Mumbai terror strike in 2008.
Eight stations are now functional in Kerala - Vizhinjam, Neendakara, Thottappally, Fort Kochi, Azhikode, Beypore, Azheekal and Bekal.
The Thottapally station started with 39 guards including a circle inspector, three sub-inspectors and three additional sub-inspectors in 2014.
However, the fishing community is angry at its incompetence. They remain dependent on Navy. Currently, only 23 personnel work here. “The fishers had high hopes. After a year we have realised it is incapable of doing anything for our security as guards don't know swimming and they are scared of venturing into the sea," one of them said.
"The police had been conducting no periodic mock drill or night search,” says Joy C. Kambakkaran, vice president, All India Matsya Thozhilali Federation (AITUC).
V. C. Madhu, former president, Purakkad Panchayat, says trained personnel instead of local cops should be appointed.
‘The damaged boat should be replaced at earliest," he said. The boats equipped with the latest radars and other necessary equipment costs over Rs 6 crore.
On March 1, 2013, four fishermen were killed after Singapore-flagged cargo ship M.V. Prabhu Daya rammed into their trawler. Besides, in March 2009, the spotting of an unidentified group of persons on the Pallipuram coast had raised furore, with the entire police force in the northern part of the district running into a frenzy.
On April 8, 2013, 24 fishermen miraculously escaped after their fibre boat capsized mid sea off Ambalappuzha coast. But coastal police did not come to their rescue.
