PUDUCHERRY: The Indian Coast Guard District Head Quarters No 13 was inaugurated by vice admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director General of Indian Coast Guard at a function here on Thursday.The Director General’s wife, Rachana Thapliyal formally named the station at a ceremony held in the morning.
Addressing the gathering, Anurag Thapliyal said the Coast Guard DHQ No 13 will oversee maritime and coastal security as well as carry out effective monitoring of Sea Lanes of Communication passing very close to the coast. It will act as a hub for coastal security and will be responsible for co-ordinating surveillance, search and rescue and pollution response.
He said the upgradation to DHQ would enable the Coast Guard to bring the coasts of Puducherry and Karaikal under increased surveillance.Puducherry and Karaikal stations, which had been governed from Chennai so far, would be brought under the control of Coast Guard District HQ 13, which is now commanded by Commandant N Somasundaram.
The DHQ shortly will be commanded by an officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General. The DHQ will have jurisdiction within the coastal districts of Puducherry, Karaikal, Cuddalore and Villupuram. The DHQ will co-ordinate with the UT administration, customs, State Marine Police, port authorities, fisheries and Central/State agencies and local fishermen for setting up effective coastal security network.
Thapliyal said a proper study was being conducted to construct a jetty (for berthing ships) keeping in mind the fact that Puducherry was an “open” harbour and considering the tides and possibilities for drudging and de-silting.
Air Station Soon
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Satya Prakash Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), said the establishment of Coast Guard air station in Puducherry would become a reality soon. Land measuring about 8,238 square metres at the Puducherry airport had already been taken on lease from the Airports Authority of India.
Apart from air station at Puducherry, the Indian Coast Guard has plans to anchor deep-draught vessels at Karaikal port and station two hovercrafts at Puducherry.
Sharma said the DHQ, currently housed in temporary buildings, will be shifted to Coast Guard’s own building, which will come up at a 35-acre plot in Lawspet.
Earlier, the vice admiral reviewed the Guard of Honour by the Coast Guard personnel.