To avert incidents like the Mundra port drug overhaul, the Modi government has implemented a comprehensive multi-agency communication coordination plan for effective coastal border security management.
The common communication plan, or COMPLAN, for coastal security, has been promulgated by the department of border management of the Union home ministry for “coordination among various agencies for the coastal security of the country”, the government said.
Fifteen agencies of the Central and state government, including the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), are coordinating to ensure a better security grid around India’s coastal borders.
Apart from the Navy, Customs/Immigration, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or the Border Security Force (BSF), state police or state marine police as may be the case, directorate general of shipping, department of fisheries, ports/state maritime boards, department of fisheries are working to share inputs crucial for maritime security.
Other agencies part of the COMPAN include the department of forest and environment, state/UT governments, intelligence agencies, oil handling agencies, the directorate general of lighthouse and lightship, and director general of shipping, minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
In a written reply to a question raised by Padma Vibhushan MP Dr Sonal Mansingh, the minister listed illegal migrants, narcotics, and smuggling as some of the major threats to India’s coastal security.
Other threats include the transgression of fishermen across the international maritime borderline and the safety and protection of offshore terminals, minister Bhatt said.
The plan or COMPLAN – as it is nicknamed – envisages integrating marine law enforcement agencies into a single network for better coordination and seamless exchange of mission-critical information.
COMPLAN will be able to integrate all coastal security agencies in a common communication network with a dedicated spectrum for the purpose, according to a senior Indian Navy officer.
Security experts have hailed it as a “big step” towards boosting maritime security. As part of this plan, a dedicated spectrum with a common band will be used for common communication.
Coastal security structure involves joint exercises and operations and activities which require coordination between multiple agencies at the command and control centre level offices of the Navy.