BJD MP Baijayant Panda seeks CCA assistance to boost state’s coastal security

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda has urged the Centre for release of funds under Coastal Security Scheme (CCS) to strengthen security in the coastal belts of Odisha.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, Panda said while construction of five out of 18 sanctioned marine police stations has been completed, construction work for the remaining 13 police stations are being held up due to non-release of funds from the Centre. Besides, the Odisha government has not received any boats in the second phase of the CCS, he pointed out.

Justifying his concern, the BJD MP said a large part of coastal Odisha has an indented coastline which has made easier for non-state actors to sneak into the state borders. This has also led to illegal immigration from neighboring countries.

“These apart, recurrent instances of intrusion by foreign vessels have brought out the possibility of terror links and even narcotics trade in the region. By delaying operationalization of the sanctioned marine police stations, we risk preventable security breaches,” Panda said while requesting the Union minister to release necessary funds and offer technical support to maintain the desired level of alertness.