An apex level coastal security review meeting for West Bengal was held on Tuesday at INS Netaji Subhas, Hastings, between Indian Navy (Eastern Naval Command) and state government officials to discuss on the National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS).
The meeting was co-chaired by Malay Kumar De, state chief secretary, and Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
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It was also attended by state home secretary Atri Bhattacharya. During the meeting, various action points of NCSMCS towards augmentation of coastal security were reviewed and deliberated.
Matters on expeditious implementation of coastal security schemes, such as coastal mapping, common communication network, distribution of biometric identity cards, colour coding of boats, monitoring of fish landing points and crossing of International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by fishermen were discussed.
Since 2008, coastal and maritime security in the state has been strengthened substantially by implementation of various technical, organisational and procedural initiatives, by all maritime security agencies.
The Coastal Security Exercise (CSE) is conducted twice a year wherein all stakeholders actively participate. The next CSE is planned after the panchayat election.