Coastal security: Odisha seeks hi-tech power boats

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has sought hi-tech power boats to guard the coastal belts in the state.

Talking to media persons after a videoconferencing with Union Cabinet secretary at the State Secretariat here, State principal secretary, Home, Asit Tripathy said at present 18 marine police stations are in operation along the Odisha coast while the state government has set up 13 new marine police stations.

“The power boats we had received from the Centre in the first phase are not suitable for the shallow creeks. Taking note of this, we requested the Union Cabinet secretary to provide hi-tech power boats for the 13 new marine police stations which can easily move through the shallow creeks and mangrove forest areas having low water level,” he added.

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Tripathy also said the Union cabinet secretary was informed that the state government has provided biometric cards to 90 percent of marine fishermen. “To complete the process, we have requested the Centre to issue 43,000 biometric cards which will be provided to the remaining fishermen,” he pointed out.

Director General of Police and senior officials of the concerned departments were present at the videoconferencing.