Govt coming up with coastal security bill: D K Joshi

NEW DELHI: The government is coming up with a coastal security bill to enhance coordination between Centre and the states in the coastal areas to secure the country's maritime zone, Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi said today.

"We have prepared a draft coastal security bill to further enhance the coordination between the states and the Centre and the coordination between multiple agencies involved in this," he said at a press conference.

The Navy chief said that the draft of the bill has been prepared by the Navy and since, it involves states and local police agencies, the Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to steer it through.

"The MHA has agreed to steer it and at an appropriate time, it will be brought in the Parliament," he said.

The Navy was made the overall in-charge of coastal security in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

The Navy chief said several steps have been taken by the force to upgrade the coastal security infrastructure which includes setting up of phase-II of the Coastal Security Network and required grids for the purpose.

He said the upgrading of the coastal security network was work in progress and several steps were being taken in this direction.

Asked to comment on the rebalancing of its forces by the US in the Asia Pacific region, the Navy chief said in the recent times, "You gradually find realignment of forces who are gradually moving towards east."

On whether there was any dramatic shift in the realigning of forces, he said, "There is no dramatic shift but a gradual movement."