With the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes blowing the covers off chinks in the country’s coastal armour, the government has decided to modernise the coast guard as quickly as possible and augment its manpower, Defence Minister AK Antony said on Wednesday in Goa, while commissioning an advanced offshore patrol vessel.
Antony, who also laid the foundation stone for the modernisation of Goa Shipyard Limited, said the government has decided to modernise the armed forces and coast guard as quickly as possible because India is surrounded by "so many elements inimical to our country".
Calling for the forces to remain on a perpetual alert, Antony said: "Our armed forces must be in the state of preparedness always."
"Indian cannot have another tragedy in the sea ways. In the past, we have neglected the sea ways but now we have learnt that we cannot ignore them," he said while terming the Mumbai terror strikes a pointer towards the need to up coastal patrol capabilities.
Antony conceded that available resources were not sufficient to police the vast coastline. "We know what we have is not enough. This is less than 30 per cent of capability we require," he said.
Antony, who also laid the foundation stone for the modernisation of Goa Shipyard Limited, said the government has decided to modernise the armed forces and coast guard as quickly as possible because India is surrounded by "so many elements inimical to our country".
Calling for the forces to remain on a perpetual alert, Antony said: "Our armed forces must be in the state of preparedness always."
"Indian cannot have another tragedy in the sea ways. In the past, we have neglected the sea ways but now we have learnt that we cannot ignore them," he said while terming the Mumbai terror strikes a pointer towards the need to up coastal patrol capabilities.
Antony conceded that available resources were not sufficient to police the vast coastline. "We know what we have is not enough. This is less than 30 per cent of capability we require," he said.
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