Three power boats supplied to the Marine police station in Paradip for conducting regular patrolling in deep sea to ensure coastal security are lying unused at the fishing harbour. The boats, equipped with modern gadgets like night vision binoculars, radars, eco-sounders, GPS and walkie-talkies, are gathering dust with the police rarely putting them to use.
The Marine police station was established at Paradip in 2009 to augment coastal security. The State Government had supplied one 12-tonne capacity power boat in 2010. A few months later, two more power boats of five-tonne capacity each were provided to the police station.
The three power boats are worth `5.50 crore. Sources said as police are not conducting patrolling regularly, the boats are not put to use. In the absence of maintenance, those have developed rust coming in contact with saline air and water at the fishing harbour. In 2011, the 12-tonne capacity power boat had developed two large holes due to lack of maintenance.
Fishermen at the harbour said the other two boats too would meet similar fate if cops do not use them.
Sources further said the Marine police station does not have enough staff to conduct patrolling which is why the boats are not used.
Of 83 staff sanctioned for the Marine police station, there are just 13 personnel including an Inspector, two ASIs and eight constables. When contacted, IIC of Marine police station Radha Charan Pattnaik refused to comment.
